Paul Wegener
Acting
Biography
Paul Wegener was a German actor known for his pioneering roles in Expressionist films. He can also be considered a father of horror for his breakout role in The Student of Prague (1913). Wegener maintained a career throughout and after the Nazi era, starring in his last film in 1948.
Born: December 11, 1874
Place of Birth: Arnoldsdorf, West Prussia, Germany [now Jarantowice, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Poland]
Known For
Dr. Terror's House of Horrors
A man of mystery known only as Doctor Terror recounts seven stories from his casebook of personal encounters with evil and the supernatural.
The Film in the Film
The only surviving excerpt of a documentary on film production in Weimar Germany, featuring the different personalities of several famous directors of the era at work on the set including Fritz Lang, Robert Wiene, and E.A. Dupont.
The Golem: How He Came Into the World
In 16th-century Prague, a rabbi creates the Golem - a giant creature made of clay. Using sorcery, he brings the creature to life in order to protect the Jews of Prague from persecution.
The Weavers
Die Weber (1927), a rousing German tale of the 1844 weavers’ revolution.
Hochzeit auf Bärenhof
The Great King
King Frederick II (aka "Frederick the Great") of Prussia is engaged in a major battle against the Austrian army at Kunersdorf, and things aren't going well. The Austrians are inflicting major casualties, and his army is beginning to crumble. Defeat seems inevitable when a combination of events gives him hope that he may pull victory from the jaws of defeat after all.
The Golem
This mostly lost film is often confused with director Paul Wegener third and readily available interpretation of the legend; Der Golem, wie er in die Welt kam (1920). In this version of the golem legend, the golem, a clay statue brought to life by Rabbi Loew in 16th century Prague to save the Jews from the ongoing brutal persecution by the city's rulers, is found in the rubble of an old synagogue in the 20th century. Brought to life by an antique dealer, the golem is used as a menial servant. Eventually falling in love with the dealer's wife, it goes on a murderous rampage when its love for her goes unanswered.
Only a Comedian
A moving actor at the rococo era shows the power-hungry-crude minister of a small state prince in the barriers, while he makes use of his resemblance to the sovereign and slips in his role. - Double role for Rudolf Forster who plays his figures very much chilly.
The Immortal Heart
Nuremberg durting the time of Albrecht Durer and the famous geographer Martin Behaim: the locksmith Peter Henlein is looking for a way to make bullets more accurate by designing a new form. Just as he welds together two round balls into an elongated shape, he believes he's discovered that his assistant Konrad is trying to alienate his wife from him. There is a struggle, during which Henlein's new kind of bullet strikes him in the chest. The doctor, unaware that there are two bullets lodged in his body, because there was only one shot, only removes one.
The Loves of Pharaoh
The Ethiopian King offers his daughter to a powerful Pharaoh to secure peace between the two countries.
Filmography
as The Golem (archive footage)
as The Golem
as Prof. Mochmann
as Loucadou
as The Mad Inventor
as Direktor Buz
as Leonhard von Krakow
as Gen. Czernitscheff
as Sir George Beverley
as Förster Kuhnert
as Herr von Salurn, Schloßgutsbesitzer in Tirol
as Dr. Schedel
as Morrow
as Wiegant, Präsident der Industrie-Bank
as Staatsminister von Creven
as Ship Stoker
as Bankier Seemann
as Kuprikoff
as Mörder
as Professor Reutlinger
as Professor ten Brinken
as Svengali
as Fabrikant Dreißiger
as Vautrin
as Oliver Haddo
as Großlama
as Self
as Jack
as Guido Gursino
as Herzog Ferrante
as Micheletto
as Gouverneur von Turin
as Samlak
as Eugen Roswolsky
as The Golem
as Der alte Scheich
as Thomas Bezug
as Fahrender Spielmann (Traveling Minstrel)
as Hans Trutz
as Yogi / Rasmus
as Ruebezahl
as Golem
as Balduin - A Student / Self