Hans-Joachim Preil
Encyclopedia
Hans-Joachim Preil was an East German comedian.
, Aschersleben
, Bernburg
and Magdeburg
. During 1951, he met fellow actor Rolf Herricht
. The two founded a comedy duo, 'Herricht & Preil', making their first sketch, 'The Chess Match', in 1953. In their act, Herricht was the 'comic' while Preil served as the 'straight man'. During the 1950s, Preil worked as artistic director in the theaters of Magdeburg and Bernburg, while continuing to perform in sketches with Herricht. By 1959, Deutscher Fernsehfunk
had broadcast one of their acts, which was highly successful with the audience. They began appearing regularly on television, and turned to the most recognized comedians of the German Democratic Republic
.
During the 1960s, the pair appeared in two DEFA comedy films the plot of which centered around their comical skills: the first one, Hands Up Or I'll Shoot (1966), that portrayed Herricht as a mentally unstable detective called Holmes and Preil as an antique expert, was banned by the 11th Plenum of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany
for being deemed critical of the law enforcement system, and only released in 2009. The second, My Friend Sybille
(1967), presented the two as a junior and senior travel guides in a cruise at the Black Sea
. In addition to his acting career, he also worked as an assistant-director in the Babelsberg Studios
of DEFA, and wrote several plays for theater.
Preil was awarded the Art Prize of the German Democratic Republic
on 13 May 1977.
After Herricht's death in 1981, Preil stopped appearing in comedy live sketches, but continued directing and playing on television. He retired in 1991. At 1998, he received the Golden Hen Award for Lifetime Achievement, in the presence of President Roman Herzog
.
As writer
As assistant director
As director
Biography
Preil begun studying acting at 1939. He later appeared on the stages of theaters in QuedlinburgQuedlinburg
Quedlinburg is a town located north of the Harz mountains, in the district of Harz in the west of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. In 1994 the medieval court and the old town was set on the UNESCO world heritage list....
, Aschersleben
Aschersleben
Aschersleben is a town in the Salzlandkreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated approx. 22 km east of Quedlinburg, and 45 km northwest of Halle .-Pre-20th century:...
, Bernburg
Bernburg
Bernburg is a town in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, capital of the district of Salzlandkreis. It is situated on the river Saale, approx. 30 km downstream from Halle. The town is dominated by its huge Renaissance castle featuring a museum as well as a popular, recently updated bear pit in its...
and Magdeburg
Magdeburg
Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
. During 1951, he met fellow actor Rolf Herricht
Rolf Herricht
Rolf Oskar Ewald Günter Herricht , was an East German comedian.-Early life:Herricht graduated from school in 1943 after passing a 'War Abitur', a form of an Abitur designated to free school pupils to be mobilized...
. The two founded a comedy duo, 'Herricht & Preil', making their first sketch, 'The Chess Match', in 1953. In their act, Herricht was the 'comic' while Preil served as the 'straight man'. During the 1950s, Preil worked as artistic director in the theaters of Magdeburg and Bernburg, while continuing to perform in sketches with Herricht. By 1959, Deutscher Fernsehfunk
Deutscher Fernsehfunk
Deutscher Fernsehfunk , known from 1972 to 1990 as Fernsehen der DDR , was the state television broadcaster in East Germany.-Foundation:...
had broadcast one of their acts, which was highly successful with the audience. They began appearing regularly on television, and turned to the most recognized comedians of the German Democratic Republic
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
.
During the 1960s, the pair appeared in two DEFA comedy films the plot of which centered around their comical skills: the first one, Hands Up Or I'll Shoot (1966), that portrayed Herricht as a mentally unstable detective called Holmes and Preil as an antique expert, was banned by the 11th Plenum of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany
Socialist Unity Party of Germany
The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology...
for being deemed critical of the law enforcement system, and only released in 2009. The second, My Friend Sybille
Meine Freundin Sybille
Meine Freundin Sybille is an East German film. It was released in 1967.-Cast:* Rolf Herricht: Hurtig* Hanns-Michael Schmidt: Ronny* Evelyn Opoczynski: Sybille* Eva-Maria Hagen: Helena* Helga Göring: Mrs. Mücke* Arthur Jopp: Sybille's father...
(1967), presented the two as a junior and senior travel guides in a cruise at the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
. In addition to his acting career, he also worked as an assistant-director in the Babelsberg Studios
Babelsberg Studios
The Studio Babelsberg, located in Potsdam-Babelsberg, Germany, is the oldest large-scale film studio in the world. Founded in 1912, it covers an area of about . Hundreds of films, including Fritz Lang's Metropolis and Josef von Sternberg's The Blue Angel were filmed there...
of DEFA, and wrote several plays for theater.
Preil was awarded the Art Prize of the German Democratic Republic
Art Prize of the German Democratic Republic
The Art Prize of the German Democratic Republic was an East German state award bestowed on individuals for contributions in various fields of art.-History:...
on 13 May 1977.
After Herricht's death in 1981, Preil stopped appearing in comedy live sketches, but continued directing and playing on television. He retired in 1991. At 1998, he received the Golden Hen Award for Lifetime Achievement, in the presence of President Roman Herzog
Roman Herzog
Roman Herzog is a German politician as a member of the Christian Democratic Union, and served as President of Germany from 1994 to 1999...
.
Filmography
As actor- 1961 Das StacheltierDas StacheltierDas Stacheltier was a satirical series of short films that was produced by the East German DEFA Film Studios from 1953 to 1964. The short films were meant to be shown in film theaters preceding the newsreel and the main feature...
- Mit der NATO durch die Wand - 1961 Mord an Rathenau (TV movie)
- 1961 Justizmord (TV movie)
- 1961 Geheime Front durchbrochen (TV series)
- 1961 Der Tag des Ludger Snoerrebrod (TV movie)
- 1962 Hulla di Bulla (TV movie)
- 1962 Eva und der neue Adam (TV movie)
- 1962 Kubinke (TV movie)
- 1962 Geheime Fäden (TV movie)
- 1962 Tempel des Satans (TV movie)
- 1962/II Der tolle Tag (TV movie)
- 1963 Der Talisman (TV movie)
- 1963 Der arme Jonathan (TV movie)
- 1964 Schlafwagen Paris-München (TV movie)
- 1964 Ein Mann für meine Frau (TV movie)
- 1966 Blaulicht (TV series)
- 1966/2009 Hände hoch oder ich schieße
- 1967-1976 Der Staatsanwalt hat das Wort (TV series)
- 1967 Meine Freundin SybilleMeine Freundin SybilleMeine Freundin Sybille is an East German film. It was released in 1967.-Cast:* Rolf Herricht: Hurtig* Hanns-Michael Schmidt: Ronny* Evelyn Opoczynski: Sybille* Eva-Maria Hagen: Helena* Helga Göring: Mrs. Mücke* Arthur Jopp: Sybille's father...
- 1969 Tolle Tage (TV movie)
- 1969 Die Rosenholzmöbel (TV movie)
- 1970 Unser Haus steht Kopp (TV movie)
- 1971 Pygmalion XII (TV movie)
- 1971 Salut Germain (TV series)
- 1974 Alle Haare wieder (TV movie)
- 1977 DEFA-Disko 77
- 1977 Pension Schöller (TV movie)
- 1978 Ich bin nicht meine Tante (TV movie)
- 1979 Kille, kille Händchen (TV movie)
- 1979 Die Rache des Kapitäns Mitchell (TV movie)
- 1979 Irrtum ausgeschlossen (TV movie)
- 1980 Niemand liebt dich - wieso ich? (TV movie)
- 1980 Der Keiler von Keilsberg (TV movie)
- 1981 Martin XIII. (TV movie)
- 1982 Schöne Aussichten (TV movie)
- 1983 Der Angler auf dem Dach (TV movie)
- 1985 Die Leute von Züderow (TV series)
- 1986-1989 Ferienheim Bergkristall (TV series)
- 1987 Kleine Fische (TV movie)
- 1990 Wenn du groß bist, lieber Adam
As writer
- 1960 2 x Madeleine (TV movie)
- 1969 Tolle Tage (TV movie)
- 1970 Unser Haus steht Kopp (TV movie)
- 1974 Alle Haare wieder (TV movie)
- 1977 DEFA-Disko 77
- 1979 Tatzeit 19.00 Uhr (TV movie)
- 1980 Ja, so ein Mann bin ich! (TV movie)
- 1981 Doppelt gebacken (TV movie)
- 1982 Wo gibt's denn so was? (TV movie)
- 1983 Haste Töne (TV movie)
- 1984-1989 Ferienheim Bergkristall (TV series)
As assistant director
- 1961 Der Arzt von Bothenow
As director
- 1979 Tatzeit 19.00 Uhr (TV movie)
- 1980 Ja, so ein Mann bin ich! (TV movie)
- 1981 Doppelt gebacken (TV movie)
- 1982 Wo gibt's denn so was? (TV movie)
- 1983 Haste Töne (TV movie)
- 1984-1989 Ferienheim Bergkristall (TV series)
External links
- Hans-Joachim Preil on the IMDb.