Ewald André Dupont
Encyclopedia
Ewald André Dupont was a German
film director, one of the founders of the German film industry. He was frequently credited as E. A. Dupont.
A newspaper columnist in 1916, Dupont became a screenwriter and began directing his own crime-story scripts in 1918. After several successes in his native Germany in silent film
s, he worked in London
and in Hollywood, California. One of his greatest successes was the silent film Varieté
(1925). This film, about an ex-trapeze artist, was noted for its innovative camerawork with highly expressive movement through space, accomplished by the prolific expressionist cinematographer Karl Freund
. Varieté
even did well in the United States, screening for 12 weeks at New York's Rialto Theatre. Dupont's success was noticed by Carl Laemmle
at Universal
, who offered Dupont a lucrative contract. His first project was Love Me and the World Is Mine
in the early summer of 1926, which ran well over budget ($350,000) and was not a success.
His film Piccadilly
(1929), a late silent, is noted for the central performance of the Chinese-American actress Anna May Wong
. Atlantic
(also 1929) is seen as one of the most innovative uses of sound film
technology available at the time.
After his successes in the UK
, Dupont returned to Hollywood in 1933, though he directed only a handful of films after 1939.
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, one of the founders of the German film industry. He was frequently credited as E. A. Dupont.
A newspaper columnist in 1916, Dupont became a screenwriter and began directing his own crime-story scripts in 1918. After several successes in his native Germany in 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...
s, he worked in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and in Hollywood, California. One of his greatest successes was the silent film Varieté
Varieté
Variety is a 1925 silent drama film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont based on the novel Der Eid des Stephan Huller by . Jannings portrays "Boss Huller," an ex-trapeze artist who runs a seedy carnival with his wife and child...
(1925). This film, about an ex-trapeze artist, was noted for its innovative camerawork with highly expressive movement through space, accomplished by the prolific expressionist cinematographer Karl Freund
Karl Freund
Karl W. Freund, A.S.C. was a cinematographer and film director most noted for photographing Metropolis , Dracula , and television's I Love Lucy .-Early life:...
. Varieté
Varieté
Variety is a 1925 silent drama film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont based on the novel Der Eid des Stephan Huller by . Jannings portrays "Boss Huller," an ex-trapeze artist who runs a seedy carnival with his wife and child...
even did well in the United States, screening for 12 weeks at New York's Rialto Theatre. Dupont's success was noticed by Carl Laemmle
Carl Laemmle
Carl Laemmle , born in Laupheim, Württemberg, Germany, was a pioneer in American film making and a founder of one of the original major Hollywood movie studios - Universal...
at Universal
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
, who offered Dupont a lucrative contract. His first project was Love Me and the World Is Mine
Love Me and the World Is Mine
Love Me and the World Is Mine is a 1927 romantic film directed by Ewald André Dupont.-Plot:Hannerl is a young woman growing up in Old Vienna. She falls in love with two men: A young army officer who can provide her love and security and an old wealthy man who can provide her a high-class life...
in the early summer of 1926, which ran well over budget ($350,000) and was not a success.
His film Piccadilly
Piccadilly (film)
Piccadilly is a British film directed by Ewald André Dupont, written by Arnold Bennett and starring Gilda Gray, Anna May Wong, and Jameson Thomas. The film was produced by British International Pictures and released by Wardour Films Ltd...
(1929), a late silent, is noted for the central performance of the Chinese-American actress Anna May Wong
Anna May Wong
Anna May Wong was an American actress, the first Chinese American movie star, and the first Asian American to become an international star...
. Atlantic
Atlantic (1929 film)
Atlantic is a British black-and-white film, directed and produced by Ewald André Dupont and starring Franklin Dyall and Madeleine Carroll. Three versions were made, one in the United Kingdom, one in Germany, and one in France...
(also 1929) is seen as one of the most innovative uses of sound film
Sound film
A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades would pass before sound motion pictures were made commercially...
technology available at the time.
After his successes in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Dupont returned to Hollywood in 1933, though he directed only a handful of films after 1939.