Olaf Fønss
Encyclopedia
Olaf Fønss was a Danish
actor
, director
, producer
, film censor
and one of Denmark
and Germany's
biggest stars of the silent film
era.
made his face recognizable to movie fans. His role as the mad-scientist monster in the German
Homunculus
film series earned him status as a top matinee idol in Europe
. In his later years, Fønss became politically active by directing two films for Denmark's Socialdemokratiske Parti (Social Democracy Party)
. He was president of the Danish Actor's Union from 1933–1947 and was a censor for the National Film Censor of Denmark for 14 years. Fønss was the older brother of actors Johannes and Aage Fønss
.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, 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:...
, 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...
, film censor
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
and one of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and Germany's
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...
biggest stars 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.
Biography
Fønss' leading role in the 1913 Danish classic AtlantisAtlantis (1913 film)
Atlantis is a 1913 Danish silent film directed by August Blom, the head of production at the Nordisk Film company, and was based upon the 1912 novel by Gerhart Hauptmann. It starred an international cast headlined by Danish matinee actor Olaf Fønss and Austrian opera diva Ida Orloff. The film was...
made his face recognizable to movie fans. His role as the mad-scientist monster in the German
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...
Homunculus
Homunculus
Homunculus is a term used, generally, in various fields of study to refer to any representation of a human being. Historically, it referred specifically to the concept of a miniature though fully formed human body, for example, in the studies of alchemy and preformationism...
film series earned him status as a top matinee idol in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. In his later years, Fønss became politically active by directing two films for Denmark's Socialdemokratiske Parti (Social Democracy Party)
Social Democrats (Denmark)
The Social Democrats , is a Danish political party committed to the political ideology of social democracy. It is the major coalition partner in Denmark's government since the 2011 parliamentary election, and party leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt is the current Prime Minister of Denmark...
. He was president of the Danish Actor's Union from 1933–1947 and was a censor for the National Film Censor of Denmark for 14 years. Fønss was the older brother of actors Johannes and Aage Fønss
Aage Fønss
Aage Fønss was a Danish opera singer and actor. He was the younger brother of actor Johannes Fønss and director/producer Olaf Fønss.-Filmography:*Panserbasse - 1936*Mille, Marie og mig - 1937...
.
As Actor
- Vask, videnskab og velvære (1932)
- Die Seltsame Vergangenheit der Thea Carter (1929) ... aka The Unusual Past of Thea Carter (International: English title)
- Ich lebe für Dich (1929) ... aka Triumph of Love (USA)
- Die Waise von Lowood (1926) ... aka Orphan of Lowood (International: English title)
- Spitzen (1926)
- Vajsenhusbarn (1926)
- Fra Piazza del Popolo (1925)... aka Mists of the Past (UK)
- Das Unbekannte Morgen (1923) ... aka The Unknown Tomorrow
- Das Indische Grabmal: Die Sendung des Yoghi (1921) ... aka The Indian Tomb: Part I, the Mission of the Yogi (USA: video title)
- Ehrenschuld (1921)
- Der Gang in die Nacht (1921) ... aka The Dark Road (USA)
- Elskovs Magt (1921)
- Hendes Fortid (1921)
- Das Indische Grabmal: Der Tiger von Eschnapur (1921) ... aka The Indian Tomb: Part II, the Tiger of Bengal (USA: video title)
- Munkens Fristelser (1921)
- Bajadser (1919)
- Præsten fra Havet (1918)
- Dommens dag (1918)
- Hævneren (1918)
- Lægen (1918)
- Fangen fra Erie County (1918)
- Gengældelsens Ret (1917)
- HomunculusHomunculusHomunculus is a term used, generally, in various fields of study to refer to any representation of a human being. Historically, it referred specifically to the concept of a miniature though fully formed human body, for example, in the studies of alchemy and preformationism...
(1916) - Selskabsdamen (1916)
- Verdens UndergangVerdens UndergangThe End of the World is a 1916 Danish science fiction drama film directed by August Blom and written by Otto Rung, starring Olaf Fønss and Ebba Thomsen. The film depicts a worldwide catastrophe when an errant comet passes by Earth and causes natural disasters and social unrest...
(1916) ... aka The End of the World (USA) - Gentlemansekretæren (1916)
- Syndens datter (1916)
- Hendes ungdomsforelskelse (1916)
- Homunculus, 3. Teil - Die Liebestragödie des Homunculus (1916)
- Homunculus, 4. Teil - Die Rache des Homunculus (1916)
- Homunculus, 5. Teil - Die Vernichtung der Menschheit (1916)
- Homunculus, 6. Teil - Das Ende des Homunculus (1916)
- Cowboymillionæren (1915)
- Lille Teddy (1915)
- Den Hvide Rytterske (1915)
- Ned Med Vaabnene (1914) ... aka Down with Weapons (USA)
- Af Elskovs Naade (1914)
- En Stærkere Magt (1914)
- AtlantisAtlantis (1913 film)Atlantis is a 1913 Danish silent film directed by August Blom, the head of production at the Nordisk Film company, and was based upon the 1912 novel by Gerhart Hauptmann. It starred an international cast headlined by Danish matinee actor Olaf Fønss and Austrian opera diva Ida Orloff. The film was...
(1913) - Under Mindernes Træ (1913)
- Zigeurnerorkestret (1912)
- Bryggerens Datter (1912) ... aka The Brewer's Daughter (literal English title)
- Dødsridtet (1912)
As Director
- Hævneren (1919)
- Samvittighedskvaler (1920)
- B.T.'s amatørfilm (1923)
- Den store Dag (1930)
- Under den gamle Fane (1932)