Emil Jannings
About
Biography
Filmography
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Biography
Imposing silent star who first gained prominence with Max Reinhardt's Berlin theater in the teens. Jannings appeared in several superior early German films, particularly those directed by Ernst Lubitsch, and was outstanding as the humiliated doorman in F.W. Murnau's "The Last Laugh" (1924). He moved to Hollywood in 1926 and won an Academy Award for Josef Von Sternberg's "The Last Command" (1928), but after the advent of sound his inadequate English forced a return to Germany. There he turned in his most famous performance, as Professor Rath in Von Sternberg's "The Blue Angel" (1930). In 1938 Jannings accepted Goebbels' invitation to head the Tobis Film Company, which produced Nazi propaganda features such as Veidt Harlan's "Der Herrscher" (1937) and Hans Steinhoff's "Ohm Kruger" (1941). The Allied authorities refused to allow Jannings to work after the war, though a subsequent inquiry into his fascist affiliations cleared him of any serious involvement with the Nazi regime.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Film Production - Main (Feature Film)
Life Events
1914
Motion picture debut, "Im Shutzengraben"
1917
First collaboration with director, screenwriter Ernst Lubitsch, "Wenn vier deasselbe tun"
1926
Starred in the feature length silent, "Faust"
1927
Signed contract with Paramount Pictures and moved to Hollywood CA
1927
US feature debut, "The Way of All Flesh"
1928
Final collaboration with Ernst Lubitsch, appeared in the silent version of "The Patriot"
1930
Returned to Europe, and made sound debut in Josef Von Sternberg's "The Blue Angel"
1934
Appointed head of State-Theater in Germany
1937
Debut as production supervisor, also acted in, "The Ruler/Der Herrscher"
1938
Appointed by Dr. Goebbels to chair Germany's Tobis Film Company
1941
Named "Artist of the State"
1942
First and only feature as producer, also appeared in, "Die Entlassung"
1943
Final feature appearance, "Altes Herz wird weider jung"
1946
Forbidden to perform in Germany after WWII, but was officially "denazified"
1947
Relocated to Austria and became naturalized citizen
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