Werner Finck
Encyclopedia
Werner Finck was a German
comedian
, an actor
with "comic bones". He could read the phone book and it would seem extremely funny.
, he began his career as an itinerant storyteller of fairy tales in the 1920s. He took acting lessons and began a mediocre career in the theater. However, it was when he met a friend who had contacts in the Berlin
cabaret
that he found his true calling.
He founded the cabaret "Die Katakombe" (The Catacombs") with some friends in 1929. He, and the cabaret, became successful because of his critical and subtly impudent remarks against the Nazis, proving to be an early thorn in their side. Finck had an ability to be seemingly lost for words when saying something and the audience, playing along, finished his sentences. He often defied authority by daring police informers in the audience to write down every word he said; as to whether they could keep along (writing down his jokes) or whether he could come along (with them). According to one anecdote
, Finck once noticed an officer from the Gestapo
taking notes. He confronted the informer asking with seeming innocence, "Am I talking too fast? Do you want me to slow down so you can follow?" The way Finck presented his jokes made it very difficult for authorities to nail him down. His exploits made him a legend in his lifetime, to an extent that when he introduced himself to British
and American
journalists after the war
, he was met with disbelief, for they believed that "Werner Finck" who joked against the Nazis was a fairy-tale figure.
However, the Katakombe was closed on 10 May 1935 upon the order of Joseph Goebbels
; Finck and his colleagues were interned for six weeks in KZ Esterwegen
. They took this in good stride, because they still performed despite their imprisonment. They reasoned that before the cabaret closed down they performed with uneasiness due of the fear of incarceration; now they did not fear performing because they were already in prison! It was due to the intervention of his friend, the actress Käthe Dorsch
, who talked to Hermann Göring
that he was released with the condition that he not work in public for a year.
Despite this he continued performing before live audiences, as well as in film, where he had a successful, if mediocre, career beginning in 1931. However, when he was threatened with arrest again, he joined the Wehrmacht
as a common soldier to avert imprisonment. He later used his wartime exploits for a cabaret programme: Der brave Soldat schweigt (The Good Soldier Shuts Up - also in reference to Jaroslav Hasek
's The Good Soldier Svejk
).
After the war he resumed his career in cabaret, founding the Nebelhorn in Zurich
and the Mausefalle in Stuttgart
. He continued his film career as well until 1972. He remained active in live performances, notably with a tour in the United States in 1968. He died in Munich
.
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...
comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, an 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...
with "comic bones". He could read the phone book and it would seem extremely funny.
Life
Born in GörlitzGörlitz
Görlitz is a town in Germany. It is the easternmost town in the country, located on the Lusatian Neisse River in the Bundesland of Saxony. It is opposite the Polish town of Zgorzelec, which was a part of Görlitz until 1945. Historically, Görlitz was in the region of Upper Lusatia...
, he began his career as an itinerant storyteller of fairy tales in the 1920s. He took acting lessons and began a mediocre career in the theater. However, it was when he met a friend who had contacts in the Berlin
Berlin
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...
cabaret
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
that he found his true calling.
He founded the cabaret "Die Katakombe" (The Catacombs") with some friends in 1929. He, and the cabaret, became successful because of his critical and subtly impudent remarks against the Nazis, proving to be an early thorn in their side. Finck had an ability to be seemingly lost for words when saying something and the audience, playing along, finished his sentences. He often defied authority by daring police informers in the audience to write down every word he said; as to whether they could keep along (writing down his jokes) or whether he could come along (with them). According to one anecdote
Anecdote
An anecdote is a short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person. It may be as brief as the setting and provocation of a bon mot. An anecdote is always presented as based on a real incident involving actual persons, whether famous or not, usually in an identifiable place...
, Finck once noticed an officer from the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
taking notes. He confronted the informer asking with seeming innocence, "Am I talking too fast? Do you want me to slow down so you can follow?" The way Finck presented his jokes made it very difficult for authorities to nail him down. His exploits made him a legend in his lifetime, to an extent that when he introduced himself to British
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...
and American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalists after the war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was met with disbelief, for they believed that "Werner Finck" who joked against the Nazis was a fairy-tale figure.
However, the Katakombe was closed on 10 May 1935 upon the order of 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...
; Finck and his colleagues were interned for six weeks in KZ Esterwegen
Esterwegen
Esterwegen is a municipality in the Emsland district, in Lower Saxony, Germany.In 1933 a concentration camp was established in Esterwegen. In 1936 the camp was dissolved and used till 1945 as a prisoner camp, for political prisoners and later for prisoners of the decree Nacht und Nebel.- Well known...
. They took this in good stride, because they still performed despite their imprisonment. They reasoned that before the cabaret closed down they performed with uneasiness due of the fear of incarceration; now they did not fear performing because they were already in prison! It was due to the intervention of his friend, the actress Käthe Dorsch
Käthe Dorsch
Käthe Dorsch was a German actress.-External links:*...
, who talked to Hermann Göring
Hermann Göring
Hermann Wilhelm Göring, was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He was a veteran of World War I as an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as "The Blue Max"...
that he was released with the condition that he not work in public for a year.
Despite this he continued performing before live audiences, as well as in film, where he had a successful, if mediocre, career beginning in 1931. However, when he was threatened with arrest again, he joined the Wehrmacht
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:...
as a common soldier to avert imprisonment. He later used his wartime exploits for a cabaret programme: Der brave Soldat schweigt (The Good Soldier Shuts Up - also in reference to Jaroslav Hasek
Jaroslav Hašek
Jaroslav Hašek was a Czech humorist, satirist, writer and socialist anarchist best known for his novel The Good Soldier Švejk, an unfinished collection of farcical incidents about a soldier in World War I and a satire on the ineptitude of authority figures, which has been translated into sixty...
's The Good Soldier Svejk
The Good Soldier Švejk
The Good Soldier Švejk , also spelled Schweik or Schwejk, is the abbreviated title of a unfinished satirical/dark comedy novel by Jaroslav Hašek. It was illustrated by Josef Lada and George Grosz after Hašek's death...
).
After the war he resumed his career in cabaret, founding the Nebelhorn in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
and the Mausefalle in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
. He continued his film career as well until 1972. He remained active in live performances, notably with a tour in the United States in 1968. He died in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
.
Partial filmography
Werner Finck made a lot of film and TV appearances in a career spanning about forty years, many of which are but brief appearances that showcased his talent:- HanussenHanussen (1955 film)Hanussen is a 1955 German war film directed by and starring O. W. Fischer.-Cast:* O. W. Fischer - Eric Jan Hanussen* Liselotte Pulver - Hilde Graf* Theodor Danegger* Maria Dominique - Grace Coligny* Werner Finck - Der Sachverständige...
(1955) - Heute heiratet mein Mann (1956)
- Zürcher Verlobung, Die (1957)
- Vater, Mutter und neun Kinder (1958)
- Rosen für den Staatsanwalt (1959)
- And That on Monday MorningAnd That on Monday MorningAnd That on Monday Morning is a 1959 German comedy film directed by Luigi Comencini. It was entered into the 9th Berlin International Film Festival.-Cast:* O. W. Fischer - Alois Kessel* Ulla Jacobsson - Delia Mond* Vera Tschechowa - Monika...
(1959) - Im weißen Rößl (1960)
- Sturm im Wasserglas (1960)
- Es muss nicht immer Kaviar sein (1961)
- Love at TwentyLove at TwentyLove at Twenty is a 1962 French-produced omnibus project of Pierre Roustang, consisting of five segments directed by five directors from five different countries...
(1962) - Hurra, die Schule brennt (1969)