Karl Grune
Encyclopedia
Karl Grune was an Austrian film director
and writer who made many silent films in the 1920s.
Grune was born in Vienna
, where he later attended drama school. He volunteered in the First World War, where an injury temporarily deprived him of the ability to speak in 1918.
After the war he made his directing debut in 1919 with Menschen in Ketten ("People in Chains"). In 1923 he made Schlagende Wetter with Liane Haid
and Eugen Klöpfer in the leading roles. The film is a notable early example of naturalism in film making, at a time when expressionism
was the norm. Also that year he made Die Straße
("The Street"), which considered Grune's most notable film. In 1926 he made Die Brüder Schellenberg ("The Brothers Schellenberg") with Conrad Veidt
and Lil Dagover
. Many of his early films are now lost
.
He emigrated to England in 1933 and there made Abdul, the Damned with Fritz Kortner
in 1935, and in 1936 he filmed Ruggiero Leoncavallo's opera Pagliacci
with Richard Tauber
.
In his later career he turned to producing films
in the 1940s. He died in Bournemouth
, England in 1962.
Grune was also a writer for Aus eines Mannes Mädchenjahren, Der Mädchenhirt, Mann über Bord, Die Straße, Die Brüder Schellenberg and Am Rande der Welt. He also cowrote Manon. Das hohe Lied der Liebe (1919) and Wer unter Euch ohne Sünde ist... (1921) with Beate Schach.
Cinema of Austria
Austria has had an active cinema industry since the early 20th century. Sascha Kolowrat-Krakowsky was among the Austrian pioneers of this art. Several Austrians pursued a career in pre-Nazi Germany and later in the United States, among them Fritz Lang, Josef von Sternberg, Billy Wilder, Fred...
and writer who made many silent films in the 1920s.
Grune was born in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, where he later attended drama school. He volunteered in the First World War, where an injury temporarily deprived him of the ability to speak in 1918.
After the war he made his directing debut in 1919 with Menschen in Ketten ("People in Chains"). In 1923 he made Schlagende Wetter with Liane Haid
Liane Haid
Liane Haid was an Austrian actress who has often been referred to as Austria's first movie star.Born in Vienna, Haid trained both as a dancer and singer and became the epitome of the Süßes Wiener Mädel and a popular pin-up throughout the 1920s and 30s...
and Eugen Klöpfer in the leading roles. The film is a notable early example of naturalism in film making, at a time when expressionism
German Expressionism
German Expressionism refers to a number of related creative movements beginning in Germany before the First World War that reached a peak in Berlin, during the 1920s...
was the norm. Also that year he made Die Straße
Die Straße
Die Straße , also known as The Street, is a German film, directed by Karl Grune.-Cast:*Eugen Klöpfer ... Lower middle-class man*Lucie Höflich ... Wife of man*Anton Edthofer ... Pimp*Aud Egede-Nissen ... Harlot...
("The Street"), which considered Grune's most notable film. In 1926 he made Die Brüder Schellenberg ("The Brothers Schellenberg") with Conrad Veidt
Conrad Veidt
Conrad 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...
and Lil Dagover
Lil Dagover
Lil Dagover was a German stage, film and television actress whose career spanned nearly six decades.-Early life:...
. Many of his early films are now lost
Lost film
A lost film is a feature film or short film that is no longer known to exist in studio archives, private collections or public archives such as the Library of Congress, where at least one copy of all American films are deposited and catalogued for copyright reasons...
.
He emigrated to England in 1933 and there made Abdul, the Damned with Fritz Kortner
Fritz Kortner
Fritz 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...
in 1935, and in 1936 he filmed Ruggiero Leoncavallo's opera Pagliacci
Pagliacci
Pagliacci , sometimes incorrectly rendered with a definite article as I Pagliacci, is an opera consisting of a prologue and two acts written and composed by Ruggero Leoncavallo. It recounts the tragedy of a jealous husband in a commedia dell'arte troupe...
with Richard Tauber
Richard Tauber
Richard Tauber was an Austrian tenor acclaimed as one of the greatest singers of the 20th century. Some critics commented that "his heart felt every word he sang".-Early life:...
.
In his later career he turned to producing films
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...
in the 1940s. He died in Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
, England in 1962.
Films
Grune directed the following films in his career:- PagliacciPagliacci (1936 film)Pagliacci is a 1936 British musical film directed by Karl Grune and starring Richard Tauber, Steffi Duna and Diana Napier. It is an adaptation of the 1892 opera Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo.-Cast:* Richard Tauber - Canio Salvatini...
(1936) - The Marriage of Corbal (1936)
- Abdul the DamnedAbdul the DamnedAbdul the Damned is a 1935 British drama film directed by Karl Grune and starring Fritz Kortner, Nils Asther and John Stuart. It was made by British International Pictures. It set in the Ottoman Empire in the years before the First World War where the Sultan and the Young Turks battle for power...
(1935) - Das gelbe Haus des King-Fu (1931)
- La maison jaune de Rio (1931)
- Katharina Knie (1929)
- WaterlooWaterloo (1929 film)Waterloo is a 1929 German war film directed by Karl Grune and starring Charles Willy Kayser, Charles Vanel and Otto Gebühr. It depicts the Allied forces victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.-Cast:...
(1929) - Marquis d'Eon, der Spion der Pompadour (1928)
- Königin Luise, Part 2 (1928)
- Am Rande der Welt (1927)
- Königin Luise, Part 1: Die Jugend der Königin Luise (1927)
- Die Brüder Schellenberg (1926)
- Eifersucht (1925)
- Komödianten (1925)
- Arabella (1924)
- Die Straße (1923)
- Schlagende Wetter (1923)
- Der Graf von Charolais (1922)
- Frauenopfer (1922)
- Der Stärkste Trieb (1922)
- Die Nacht der Medici (1922)
- Die Jagd nach der Wahrheit (1921)
- Die Nacht ohne Morgen (1921)
- Nachtbesuch in der Northernbank (1921)
- Mann über Bord (1921)
- Aus eines Mannes Mädchenjahren (1919)
- Der Mädchenhirt (1919)
- Menschen in Ketten (1919)
Grune was also a writer for Aus eines Mannes Mädchenjahren, Der Mädchenhirt, Mann über Bord, Die Straße, Die Brüder Schellenberg and Am Rande der Welt. He also cowrote Manon. Das hohe Lied der Liebe (1919) and Wer unter Euch ohne Sünde ist... (1921) with Beate Schach.