Herbert Selpin
Encyclopedia
Herbert Selpin was a German film director and screenplay author.
. After his medical studies in the same city, Selpin worked as a dancer, boxer, librarian, and art seller before he obtained, in the mid-1920s, an internship at the Ufa
film studios. Selpin was subsequently employed by the European subsidiary of the Fox Film Corporation, where he held several different positions, including—in 1927—that of director's assistant to Walther Ruttmann on the set of Berlin. Sinfonie einer Großstadt.
After several positions as editor, Selpin received an assignment as director for Chauffeur Antoinette, released in 1931 by Excelsior Films. In the following two years, Selpin ran into conflict with the National Socialists for his sympathetic portrayals of the British. From 1933 onwards he was making propaganda films for the Ufa studios, which was by then under the control of the Propaganda Ministry. After several propaganda films that were not well received (Schwarzhemden in 1933, Die Reiter von Deutsch-Ostafrika in 1934, and Alarm in Peking in 1937), Selpin was successful in 1941 with Carl Peters, an anti-British film. This was followed by another propaganda film Geheimakte WB 1 in 1941–1942.
On the set of Titanic
in 1942, Selpin made several remarks critical of the military
. He was denounced by his fellow screenwriter and personal friend Walter Zerlett-Olfenius, and—upon failing to retract his statements during a subsequent meeting with Joseph Goebbels
—was arrested on July 31, 1942. Herbert Selpin was found dead in his cell a day later. Titanic was to be completed by an uncredited Werner Klingler
.
Biography
Herbert Selpin was born on May 29, 1902 (or 1904) in BerlinBerlin
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...
. After his medical studies in the same city, Selpin worked as a dancer, boxer, librarian, and art seller before he obtained, in the mid-1920s, an internship at the Ufa
Universum Film AG
Universum Film AG, better known as UFA or Ufa, is a film company that was the principal film studio in Germany, home of the German film industry during the Weimar Republic and through World War II, and a major force in world cinema from 1917 to 1945...
film studios. Selpin was subsequently employed by the European subsidiary of the Fox Film Corporation, where he held several different positions, including—in 1927—that of director's assistant to Walther Ruttmann on the set of Berlin. Sinfonie einer Großstadt.
After several positions as editor, Selpin received an assignment as director for Chauffeur Antoinette, released in 1931 by Excelsior Films. In the following two years, Selpin ran into conflict with the National Socialists for his sympathetic portrayals of the British. From 1933 onwards he was making propaganda films for the Ufa studios, which was by then under the control of the Propaganda Ministry. After several propaganda films that were not well received (Schwarzhemden in 1933, Die Reiter von Deutsch-Ostafrika in 1934, and Alarm in Peking in 1937), Selpin was successful in 1941 with Carl Peters, an anti-British film. This was followed by another propaganda film Geheimakte WB 1 in 1941–1942.
On the set of Titanic
Titanic (1943 film)
Titanic was a 1943 Nazi propaganda film made during World War II in Berlin by Tobis Productions for UFA, which was later banned from Nazi Germany by Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels. The film used the sinking of the RMS Titanic as a setting for an attempt to discredit British and American...
in 1942, Selpin made several remarks critical of the military
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
. He was denounced by his fellow screenwriter and personal friend Walter Zerlett-Olfenius, and—upon failing to retract his statements during a subsequent meeting with Joseph Goebbels
Joseph Goebbels
Paul Joseph Goebbels was a German politician and Reich Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. As one of Adolf Hitler's closest associates and most devout followers, he was known for his zealous oratory and anti-Semitism...
—was arrested on July 31, 1942. Herbert Selpin was found dead in his cell a day later. Titanic was to be completed by an uncredited Werner Klingler
Werner Klingler
Werner Klingler was a German film director and actor. He directed 29 films between 1936 and 1968.He was born in Stuttgart, Germany and died in Berlin, Germany.-Selected filmography:* Titanic...
.
Filmography
- Die Abenteuer eines Zehnmarkscheines (1926) - director's assistant
- Ariane (1930/31) - editor
- So lang' noch ein Walzer von Strauß erklingt (1931) - editor
- Opernredoute (1931) - editor
- Eine Nacht im Grandhotel (1931) - editor
- Die Sache August Schulze (1931) - editor
- Der ungetreue Eckehart (1931) - editor
- Chauffeur Antoinette (1931) - director
- Der Läufer von Marathon (1932–1933) - editor, director's assistant
- Camicia Nera/Schwarzhemden (1933 documentary) – director of the German version
- Zwischen zwei Herzen (1933–1934) - director
- Mädels von heute (1933) - director
- Kleiner Mann - was nun? (1933) - editor, screenplay, director's assistant
- Der Traum vom Rhein (1933) - director
- Die Reiter von Deutsch-Ostafrika (1934) - director
- Der Springer von Pontresina (1934) - director
- Le domino vertThe Green DominoThe Green Domino is a 1935 French/German drama film directed by Henri Decoin and Herbert Selpin, based on play by Erich Ebermayer. It tells the story of a rich heiress who falls in love with an art critic after his wife has been murdered...
(1935) - director - Ein idealer Gatte (1935) - director
- Der grüne Domino (1935) - director
- Spiel an Bord (1936) - director, screenplay
- Romanze (1936) - director
- Die Frau des Anderen (1936) - director
- Die rote Mütze (1937) - director
- Alarm in Peking (1937) - director, screenplay
- Wasser für Canitoga (1938–1939) - director
- Sergeant Berry (1938) - director
- Ich liebe Dich (1938) - director, writer
- Ein Mann auf Abwegen (1939–1940) - director
- Trenck, der Pandur (1940) - director
- Carl Peters (Film) (1940–1941) - director, screenplay
- Geheimakte WB 1 (1941–1942) - director, screenplay
- TitanicTitanic (1943 film)Titanic was a 1943 Nazi propaganda film made during World War II in Berlin by Tobis Productions for UFA, which was later banned from Nazi Germany by Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels. The film used the sinking of the RMS Titanic as a setting for an attempt to discredit British and American...
(1942) - director, screenplay