Carl Wilhelm
Encyclopedia
Carl Wilhelm was a prolific German
film director
, film producer
and screenwriter
of the silent film
era, at the end of which his career apparently entirely faded away and he vanished into obscurity.
in 1909, Wilhelm worked for many other Berlin
production companies. For example, in the years before World War I
, he filmed for Deutsche Mutoskop- und Biograph GmbH in Lankwitz
and BB-Film-Fabrikation Bolten-Baeckers in Steglitz a series of comedies starring the silent film star Leo Peukert.
The two comedies he shot in 1913 and 1914 with Ernst Lubitsch
- Die Firma heiratet and Der Stolz der Firma - were very successful. As late as 1919 a critic could write: "Die Firma heiratet and Meyer aus Berlin are still our best films."
In 1915, with his company Cewe-Films, and in 1920/21, with Carl-Wilhelm-Film GmbH, he also operated as his own producer. In 1917 and 1918 he made a number of films in Hungarian
. Carl Wilhelm remained a sought-after director until the end of the silent film period. He then ceased to work almost entirely - he is last heard of as a production assistant in 1935 - and nothing is known of the date or place of his death.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
and screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
of the silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
era, at the end of which his career apparently entirely faded away and he vanished into obscurity.
Life
After his first work, the short documentary film Ein vergnügter Wintertag im Berliner Grunewald, made for the producer Oskar MessterOskar Messter
Oskar Messter was a German inventor and film tycoon in the early years of cinema.-Biography:He was born in Berlin, where his father had founded a company selling and manufacturing optical equipment in 1859...
in 1909, Wilhelm worked for many other Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
production companies. For example, in the years before World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he filmed for Deutsche Mutoskop- und Biograph GmbH in Lankwitz
Lankwitz
Lankwitz is a German locality within the borough of Steglitz-Zehlendorf, Berlin. Until 2001 it was part of the former borough of Steglitz.-History:The locality was first mentioned in 1239 with the name of Lankowice...
and BB-Film-Fabrikation Bolten-Baeckers in Steglitz a series of comedies starring the silent film star Leo Peukert.
The two comedies he shot in 1913 and 1914 with Ernst Lubitsch
Ernst Lubitsch
Ernst Lubitsch was a German-born film director. His urbane comedies of manners gave him the reputation of being Hollywood's most elegant and sophisticated director; as his prestige grew, his films were promoted as having "the Lubitsch touch."In 1947 he received an Honorary Academy Award for his...
- Die Firma heiratet and Der Stolz der Firma - were very successful. As late as 1919 a critic could write: "Die Firma heiratet and Meyer aus Berlin are still our best films."
In 1915, with his company Cewe-Films, and in 1920/21, with Carl-Wilhelm-Film GmbH, he also operated as his own producer. In 1917 and 1918 he made a number of films in Hungarian
Hungarian language
Hungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
. Carl Wilhelm remained a sought-after director until the end of the silent film period. He then ceased to work almost entirely - he is last heard of as a production assistant in 1935 - and nothing is known of the date or place of his death.
As director
- 190gay: Ein vergnügter Wintertag im Berliner Grunewald like weeenner
- 1911: Leibeigenschaft (with Leo Peukert)
- 1912: Der abgeführte Liebhaber
- 1912: Brüderchens Heldentat
- 1912: Das elfte Gebot: Du sollst nicht stören Deines Nächsten Flitterwochen
- 1912: Die Hand des Schicksals (with Leopoldine KonstantinLeopoldine KonstantinLeopoldine Konstantin was an Austrian actress. She took acting lessons with Alexander Strakosch, whom she married shortly afterwards, and made her debut in the Deutsches Theater in Berlin in 1907...
) – co-director with Heinrich Bolten-Baeckers - 1912: Leo, der Witwenfreund / Leo als Witwenfreund (with Leo Peukert)
- 1912: Mama: Roman aus dem Leben einer Schauspielerin
- 1912: Die Nachbarskinder – co-director with Heinrich Bolten-Baeckers
- 1912/13: Leo, der schwarze Münchhausen (with Leo Peukert)
- 1913: Die Kunstschützin (with Leo Peukert) – also actor; co-director with Heinrich Bolten-Baeckers
- 1913: Der Shylock von Krakau (with Rudolph SchildkrautRudolph SchildkrautRudolph Schildkraut was an American film and theatre actor.- Life :Born in the Ottoman Empire as the child of a Jewish hotelier, he grew up in Brăila , Romania. In Vienna he received acting lessons from Friedrich Mitterwurzer...
); screenplay: Felix SaltenFelix SaltenFelix Salten was an Austrian author and critic in Vienna. His most famous work is Bambi .-Life:...
) – also actor) - 1913: Tangofieber
- 1913/14: Die Firma heiratet (with Ernst LubitschErnst LubitschErnst Lubitsch was a German-born film director. His urbane comedies of manners gave him the reputation of being Hollywood's most elegant and sophisticated director; as his prestige grew, his films were promoted as having "the Lubitsch touch."In 1947 he received an Honorary Academy Award for his...
, Ressel Orla) - 1914: Fräulein Leutnant / Fräulein Feldgrau (also screenplay together with Walter Turszinsky)
- 1914: Die Marketenderin (with Else Eckersberg; also screenplay together with Arno Arndt)
- 1914: Der Stolz der Firma. Die Geschichte eines Lehrlings (with Ernst LubitschErnst LubitschErnst Lubitsch was a German-born film director. His urbane comedies of manners gave him the reputation of being Hollywood's most elegant and sophisticated director; as his prestige grew, his films were promoted as having "the Lubitsch touch."In 1947 he received an Honorary Academy Award for his...
)
- 1915: Der Barbier von Flimersdorf (with Oscar Sabo) – also screenplay
- 1915: Berlin im Kriegsjahr (documentary film produced by Erich PommerErich PommerErich Pommer was a German-born film producer and executive. He was involved in the German Expressionist film movement during the silent era as the head of production at Decla, Decla-Bioscop and from 1924 to 1926 at Ufa responsible for many of the best known movies of the Weimar Republic such as...
on commission from the Verein der Zentralstelle für den Fremdenverkehr) - 1915: Carl und Carla (with Lisa Weise)
- 1915: Frau Annas Pilgerfahrt. Episode aus dem Wien-Berliner Leben 1914/15 – also screenplay together with Julius Wilhelm, and production
- 1916: Sami, der Seefahrer
- 1916: Ein Zirkusmädel
- 1917: Albert läßt sich scheiden
- 1917: Doktor Lauffen
- 1917: Az elátkozott család
- 1917: Fabricius úr leánya
- 1917: Fekete gyémántok
- 1918: A Gazdag szegények
- 1918: A Szerelem bolondjai
- 1919: Die Himmelskönigin / Du meine Himmelskönigin (with Margarete SchönMargarete SchönMargarete Schön was a German stage and film actress whose career spanned nearly fifty years. She is possibly best recalled internationally for her role as Kriemhild in director Fritz Lang's 1924 series of two silent fantasy films Die Nibelungen - Die Nibelungen: Siegfried and Nibelungen:...
, Gustav Adolf SemlerGustav Adolf SemlerGustav Adolf Semler was a German film actor of the silent era. He appeared in 41 films between 1918 and 1929.-Selected filmography:* Alraune, die Henkerstochter, genannt die rote Hanne...
) – also screenplay - 1919: Die Pflicht zu leben
- 1919: Prinzessin Tatjana oder Wenn ein Weib den Weg verliert
- 1919/20: Der gelbe Tod – 1. Teil (with Gustav Adolf SemlerGustav Adolf SemlerGustav Adolf Semler was a German film actor of the silent era. He appeared in 41 films between 1918 and 1929.-Selected filmography:* Alraune, die Henkerstochter, genannt die rote Hanne...
, Rosa ValettiRosa ValettiRosa Valetti , born Rosa Vallentin, was a German actress, cabaret performer and singer.- Biography :Rosa Valetti was born in Berlin, the daughter of industrialist Felix Vallentin and sister of actor Hermann Vallentin. She played her first roles in the theatres of suburban Berlin...
) - 1919/20: Der gelbe Tod – 2. Teil (with Ernst DeutschErnst DeutschErnst Deutsch aka Ernest Dorian was an Austrian actor. In 1916 he played the protagonist in the world première of Walter Hasenclever's Expressionist play The Son in Dresden to great acclaim...
, Margarete SchönMargarete SchönMargarete Schön was a German stage and film actress whose career spanned nearly fifty years. She is possibly best recalled internationally for her role as Kriemhild in director Fritz Lang's 1924 series of two silent fantasy films Die Nibelungen - Die Nibelungen: Siegfried and Nibelungen:...
, Gustav Adolf SemlerGustav Adolf SemlerGustav Adolf Semler was a German film actor of the silent era. He appeared in 41 films between 1918 and 1929.-Selected filmography:* Alraune, die Henkerstochter, genannt die rote Hanne...
) - 1920: Anständige Frauen
- 1920: Die Augen der Welt (with Conrad VeidtConrad VeidtConrad Veidt was a German actor best remembered for his roles in films such as The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari , The Man Who Laughs , The Thief of Bagdad and Casablanca...
) – also screenplay together with Ruth Goetz, and production - 1920: Das Götzenbild der Wahrheit
- 1920: Der langsame Tod / Die nach Liebe schmachten (with Lucie HöflichLucie HöflichLucie Höflich was a German actor, teacher and head of the Staatliche Schauspielschule in Berlin. She was born Helene Lucie von Holwede on 20 February 1883 in Hannover and died in 9 October 1956 in Berlin...
, Eduard von Winterstein) – also screenplay together with Ruth Goetz, production - 1920: Die Sippschaft - also screenplay together with Ruth Goetz, production
- 1920/21: Das Haus der Qualen – also screenplay and production
- 1921: Das gestohlene Millionenrezept – also production
- 1921: Landstraße und Großstadt / Musikanten des Lebens (with Carola Toelle, Fritz KortnerFritz KortnerFritz Kortner was an Austrian-born stage and film actor and theatre director.Kortner was born in Vienna as Fritz Nathan Kohn. He studied at the Vienna Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. After graduating, he joined Max Reinhardt in Berlin in 1911 and then Leopold Jessner in 1916. Also in that year...
, Conrad VeidtConrad VeidtConrad Veidt was a German actor best remembered for his roles in films such as The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari , The Man Who Laughs , The Thief of Bagdad and Casablanca...
) – also production - 1921: Der Liebling der Frauen – also production
- 1921: Perlen bedeuten Tränen / Tragische Abenteuer des Japaners Dr. Rao (with Albert SteinrückAlbert SteinrückAlbert Steinrück was a German film actor of the silent era. He appeared in 88 films between 1910 and 1929...
, Aud Egede-NissenAud Egede-NissenAud Richter was a Norwegian actress, appearing in many early 20th century German films.- Biography :...
) - 1921: Unrecht Gut
- 1921/22: Menschenopfer (with Hans AlbersHans AlbersHans Philipp August Albers was a German actor and singer. He was the single biggest male movie star in Germany between 1930 and 1945 and one of the most popular German actors of the twentieth century.- Life and work :...
) - 1922: Lumpaci Vagabundus / Der böse Geist Lumpaci Vagabundus (with Hans AlbersHans AlbersHans Philipp August Albers was a German actor and singer. He was the single biggest male movie star in Germany between 1930 and 1945 and one of the most popular German actors of the twentieth century.- Life and work :...
) – also screenplay
- 1924: Soll und Haben (with Theodor LoosTheodor LoosTheodor August Konrad Loos was a German actor.The son of a watchmaker and instruments manufacturer, he left secondary school prematurely and worked for three years at an export firm for music instruments in Leipzig, and after that for his uncle, an art dealer in Berlin...
, Olga Tschechowa) - also screenplay, together with Karl Figdor based on the novel by Gustav FreytagGustav FreytagGustav Freytag was a German novelist and playwright.-Life:Freytag was born in Kreuzburg in Silesia...
- 1925: Nick, der König der Chauffeure
- 1925: Die vertauschte Braut (with Ida WüstIda WüstIda Wüst was a German stage and film actress, whose career was most prominent in the 1920s and 1930s with Universum Film AG .-Life and career:...
)
- 1926: Die dritte Eskadron (with Claire Rommer, Ralph Arthur RobertsRalph Arthur Roberts-Selected filmography:* The Crazy Countess * Call at Midnight * Einbrecher * My Wife the Champion Shot * Heiratsinstitut Ida & Co * My Daughter Doesn't Do That -External links:...
, Camilla SpiraCamilla SpiraCamilla Spira was a German film actress. She appeared in 68 films between 1924 and 1986.She was born in Hamburg, Germany and died in Berlin, Germany.-Selected filmography:* Piccadilly Zero Hour 12...
) – also screenplay together with Bobby E. Lüthge - 1926: Mikoschs letztes Abenteuer – also screenplay
- 1926: Wenn der junge Wein blüht – also screenplay, together with Max Jungk based on a story by Bjørnstjerne BjørnsonBjørnstjerne BjørnsonBjørnstjerne Martinius Bjørnson was a Norwegian writer and the 1903 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate. Bjørnson is considered as one of The Four Greats Norwegian writers; the others being Henrik Ibsen, Jonas Lie, and Alexander Kielland...
- 1927: Es zogen drei Burschen … / Drei Seelen – ein Gedanke / (with Hans AlbersHans AlbersHans Philipp August Albers was a German actor and singer. He was the single biggest male movie star in Germany between 1930 and 1945 and one of the most popular German actors of the twentieth century.- Life and work :...
, Hertha von WaltherHertha von WaltherHertha von Walther was a German film actress. She appeared in 80 films between 1921 and 1983.-Selected filmography:* Joyless Street * Ways to Strength and Beauty * Secrets of a Soul...
) - 1927: Die Pflicht zu schweigen (with Gustav Fröhlich, Kurt GerronKurt GerronKurt Gerron was a German Jewish actor and film director.-Life:Born Kurt Gerson into a well-off merchant family in Berlin, he initially studied medicine but was called up for military service in World War I. Seriously wounded he qualified as a military doctor of the German Army...
) – also screenplay
- 1928: Kaczmarek
- 1928/29: Der Zigeunerprimas – also screenplay
- 1929: Drei machen ihr Glück / Teure Heimat (with Renate MüllerRenate MüllerRenate Müller was a German singer and actress in both silent films and sound films, as well as on stage.One of the most successful actresses in German films from the early 1930s, she was courted by the Nazi Party to appear in films that promoted their ideals, but refused...
, Hans BrausewetterHans BrausewetterHans Brausewetter was a German film actor of the silent era. He appeared in 135 films between 1922 and 1945. He appeared in the 1923 film The Treasure, which was directed by Georg Wilhelm Pabst...
, Hans AlbersHans AlbersHans Philipp August Albers was a German actor and singer. He was the single biggest male movie star in Germany between 1930 and 1945 and one of the most popular German actors of the twentieth century.- Life and work :...
, Lotte Werkmeister) - produced by Erich Engels - 1929: Ruhiges Heim mit Küchenbenutzung / Das Mädel von der Operette (with Henry Bender, Ida WüstIda WüstIda Wüst was a German stage and film actress, whose career was most prominent in the 1920s and 1930s with Universum Film AG .-Life and career:...
, Albert Paulig) – also screenplay, together with Bobby E. Lüthge
- 1930: Die Firma heiratet (with Ralph Arthur RobertsRalph Arthur Roberts-Selected filmography:* The Crazy Countess * Call at Midnight * Einbrecher * My Wife the Champion Shot * Heiratsinstitut Ida & Co * My Daughter Doesn't Do That -External links:...
, Charlotte AnderCharlotte AnderSinger/actress Charlotte Ander was the daughter of German stage/film couple Rudolf Andersch and Ida Perry. Ander was trained at the Berliner Staatstheater. Charlotte was a star in the silent era before making the transition to sound...
, Oskar Karlweis, Ida WüstIda WüstIda Wüst was a German stage and film actress, whose career was most prominent in the 1920s and 1930s with Universum Film AG .-Life and career:...
, Theo LingenTheo LingenTheo Lingen , born Franz Theodor Schmitz, was a German actor, director and screenwriter. He appeared in over 230 films between 1929 and 1978, and directed 21 films between 1936 and 1960.-Life and career:...
, Julius Falkenstein, Trude Westerberg)
Other
- 1910: Hexenlied (with Henny Porten; directed by Franz Porten) – actor
- 1910: Die Vernunft des Herzens (directed by Charles Decroix) – actor
- 1910: Pro patria. Ein Unterseebootsfilm (with Leo Peukert; directed by Charles Decroix) – director's assistant
- 1910/11: Vater und Sohn (directed by Walter Schmidthässler) – actor
- 1911: Das Herz einer Gattin (directed by Charles Decroix) – actor
- 1913/14: Eine venezianische Nacht (directed by Max ReinhardtMax Reinhardt----Max Reinhardt was an Austrian theater and film director and actor.-Biography:...
) – director's assistant
- 1932: Im Bann des Eulenspiegels (directed by Frank Wisbar) – "collective direction", together with Herbert Ephraim
- 1935: J'aime toutes les femmes (directed by Carl Lamač) – production assistant
External links
Short article about the "Deutsche Mutoskop- und Biograph GmbH" ("Muto") incl photo of Carl Wilhelm Deutsches Filminstitut: photo of Carl WilhelmSources
- Fritz, Walter, 1996. Im Kino erlebe ich die Welt – 100 Jahre Kino und Film in Österreich. Verlag Christian Brandstätter: Vienna. ISBN 3-85447-661-2