Curt Bois (born Kurt Boas; April 5, 1901 – December 25, 1991) was a German actor with a career spanning over 80 years. He is best remembered for his performances as the pickpocket in ''

Casablanca Casablanca, also known in Arabic as Dar al-Bayda ( ar, الدَّار الْبَيْضَاء, al-Dār al-Bayḍāʾ, ; ber, ⴹⴹⴰⵕⵍⴱⵉⴹⴰ, ḍḍaṛlbiḍa, : "White House") is the largest city in Morocco and the country's econom ...

'' (1942) and the poet Homer in ''

Wings of Desire ''Wings of Desire'' (, ; ) is a 1987 romantic fantasy film written by Wim Wenders, Peter Handke and Richard Reitinger, and directed by Wenders. The film is about invisible, immortal angels who populate Berlin and listen to the thoughts of its ...

'' (1987).

Life and career

Curt Bois-John Abbott in The Woman in White

Bois was born to a

German Jewish The history of the Jews in Germany goes back at least to the year 321, and continued through the Early Middle Ages (5th to 10th centuries CE) and High Middle Ages (''circa'' 1000–1299 CE) when Jewish immigrants founded the Ashkenazi Jewish ...

family in Berlin and began acting in 1907, becoming one of the

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

world's first child actors, with a role in the

silent movie ''Silent Movie'' is a 1976 American satirical comedy film co-written, directed by and starring Mel Brooks, released by 20th Century Fox in the summer of 1976. The ensemble cast includes Dom DeLuise, Marty Feldman, Bernadette Peters, and Sid Cae ...

''Bauernhaus und Grafenschloß''. In 1909, he played the title role in ''Der Kleine Detektiv'' ('The Little Detective'). Bois performed in theatre, cabaret, musicals, silent films, and "talkies" over his long acting career. He performed under

Max Reinhardt Max Reinhardt (; born Maximilian Goldmann; 9 September 1873 – 30 October 1943) was an Austrian-born Theatre director, theatre and film director, theater manager, intendant, and theatrical producer. With his innovative stage productions, he i ...

and found success in 1928 in a Viennese stage production of "

Charley's Aunt ''Charley's Aunt'' is a farce in three acts written by Brandon Thomas. The story centres on Lord Fancourt Babberley, an undergraduate whose friends Jack and Charley persuade him to impersonate the latter's aunt. The complications of the plot inc ...

" at the Josefstadt Theater. He was a successful character comic, and for a while film studios tried to make him into a "German

Harold Lloyd Harold Clayton Lloyd, Sr. (April 20, 1893 – March 8, 1971) was an American actor, comedian, and stunt performer who appeared in many silent comedy films.Obituary ''Variety'', March 10, 1971, page 55. One of the most influential film co ...

". In 1934, institutionalized

Anti-Semitism Antisemitism (also spelled anti-semitism or anti-Semitism) is hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against Jews. A person who holds such positions is called an antisemite. Antisemitism is considered to be a form of racism. Antis ...

forced the Jewish Bois to leave his home in

Nazi Germany Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...

for the United States. There he found work on stage on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

. By 1937, he had made his way to Hollywood and began acting in films, the best-known being ''

'' (1942), in which he warns a befuddled English gentleman to be on guard against pickpockets ("vultures everywhere") while stealing the man's wallet. He had a notable supporting role in ''

Caught Caught is a method of dismissing a batsman in cricket. A batsman is out caught if the batsman hits the ball, from a legitimate delivery, with the bat, and the ball is caught by the bowler or a fielder before it hits the ground. If the ball h ...

'' (1949), starring

Robert Ryan Robert Bushnell Ryan (November 11, 1909 – July 11, 1973) was an American actor and activist. Known for his portrayals of hardened cops and ruthless villains, Ryan performed for over three decades. He was nominated for the Academy Award for ...

Barbara Bel Geddes Barbara Bel Geddes (October 31, 1922 – August 8, 2005) was an American stage and screen actress, artist, and children's author whose career spanned almost five decades. She was best known for her starring role as Miss Ellie Ewing in the t ...

, and James Mason; Ryan played a megalomaniacal industrialist openly based on

Howard Hughes Howard Robard Hughes Jr. (December 24, 1905 – April 5, 1976) was an American business magnate, record-setting pilot, engineer, film producer, and philanthropist, known during his lifetime as one of the most influential and richest people in th ...

and Bois was Ryan's conflicted fixer, Franzi Kartos. Most of his Hollywood roles were small, but nevertheless Bois was in demand. After

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, Bois decided it was safe to return to Germany, which he did in 1950. Bois finished his life and career in Germany, first in the

East East or Orient is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sun rises on the Earth. Etymology As in other languages, the word is formed from the fa ...

, and then in the

West West or Occident is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sunset, Sun sets on the Earth. Etymology The word "west" is a Germanic languages, German ...

. He appeared at the

Schiller Theater The Schiller Theater is a theatre building in Berlin, Germany. It is located in the central Charlottenburg district at Bismarckstraße 110, near Ernst-Reuter-Platz. Opened in 1907, the building served as a second venue for the Prussian State ...

and the

Theater des Westens The Theater des Westens (Theatre of the West) is one of the most famous theatres for musicals and operettas in Berlin, Germany, located at 10–12 in Charlottenburg. It was founded in 1895 for plays. The present house was opened in 1896 and de ...

for many years. One of his final performances was in

Wim Wenders Ernst Wilhelm "Wim" Wenders (; born 14 August 1945) is a German filmmaker, playwright, author, and photographer. He is a major figure in New German Cinema. Among many honors, he has received three nominations for the Academy Award for Best Docum ...

' ''Der Himmel über Berlin'' (''

'') in 1987, portraying the aged poet Homer "who endlessly wanders Berlin in the hope of properly capturing the city on paper".Curt Bois
at Allmovie He won the

European Film Award The European Film Awards (or European Film Academy Awards) have been presented annually since 1988 by the European Film Academy to recognize excellence in European cinematic achievements. The awards are given in 19 categories, of which the mo ...

for Best Supporting Actor for this role. He played his last role in the 1989 short film ''Das letzte Band'', ending a film career of 82 years. Bois died in Berlin, the city of his birth, at the age of 90.

Complete filmography

* ''Bauernhaus und Grafenschloß'' (1907, Short) * ''Der fidele Bauer – 1. Terzett: Ein Infant'rist, ein Artill'rist'' (1908, Short) * ''Der fidele Bauer – 2. Terzett: Bauernmarsch'' (1908, Short) * ''Der fidele Bauer – 3. Duettino zwischen Liesl und Heinerle'' (1908, Short) * ''Der kleine Detektiv'' (1909, Short) * ''Mutterliebe'' (1909, Short) * ''Klebolin klebt alles'' (1909, Short) * ''Ein neuer Erwerbszweig'' (1912, Short) * ''Des Pfarrers Töchterlein'' (''The Minister's Daughter'') (1913, Short) * ''Das Geschenk des Inders'' (1914) as Child * ''Streichhölzer, kauft Streichhölzer!'' (1916) * ''BZ-Maxe & Co.'' (1916) * ' (1916) * ''Tante Röschen will heiraten'' (1916) * ''Die Spinne'' (1917) * ''Abenteuer im Warenhaus'' (1917, Short) * ' (1917) * ''Das Unruhige Hotel'' (1917) * ''Der Dieb'' (1918) as Hellmuth * ' (1918) * ''Der Gast aus der vierten Dimension'' (1918) * ''So'n kleiner Schwerenöter'' (1918, Short) * ''

The Oyster Princess ''The Oyster Princess'' (german: Die Austernprinzessin) is a 1919 German silent comedy film directed by Ernst Lubitsch and starring Victor Janson, Ossi Oswalda and Harry Liedtke. It is a grotesque comedy in four acts about an American milliona ...

'' (1919) as Conductor * '' She and the Three'' (1922) as Der Hilfsregisseur * ''

When She Starts, Look Out ''When She Starts, Look Out'' (german: Wehe wenn sie losgelassen) is a 1926 German silent comedy film directed by Carl Froelich and starring Henny Porten, Bruno Kastner, and Curt Bois. It was shot at the EFA Studios in Berlin. The film's sets w ...

'' (1926) as Ali ben Mokka * ''Der goldene Schmetterling'' (''The Golden Butterfly'') (1926) as André Dubois, Ballettmeister * ''

The Young Man from the Ragtrade ''The Young Man from the Ragtrade'' (german: Der Jüngling aus der Konfektion) is a 1926 German silent comedy film directed by Richard Löwenbein and starring Curt Bois, Maria Paudler, and Frida Richard. Bois' character of an ambitious young ma ...

'' (1926) as Moritz Spiegel * ''

Countess Ironing-Maid ''Countess Ironing-Maid'' (German: ''Gräfin Plättmamsell'') is a 1926 German silent comedy film directed by Constantin J. David and starring Ossi Oswalda, Curt Bois, and Robert Garrison.Bock & Bergfelder p.353 The film's sets were designed ...

'' (1926) * ''

The Prince of Pappenheim ''The Prince of Pappenheim'' (German: ''Der Fürst von Pappenheim'') is a 1927 German silent comedy film directed by Richard Eichberg and starring Mona Maris, Curt Bois and Dina Gralla. Bois' character of an ambitious young man was closely mode ...

'' (1927) as Egon Fürst * ''

The Transformation of Dr. Bessel ''The Transformation of Dr. Bessel'' (German: ''Dr. Bessels Verwandlung '') is a 1927 German silent film directed by Richard Oswald and starring Jakob Tiedtke, Sophie Pagay and Hans Stüwe. The film was based on a novel by . It premiered at the ...

'' (1927) as Simche Regierer * ''Majestät schneidet Bubiköpfe'' (1928) * ''Anschluß um Mitternacht'' (''Call at Midnight'') (1929) as Emil * ''Der Schlemihl'' (1931) as Hartwig * ''Ein steinreicher Mann'' (''

A Tremendously Rich Man ''A Tremendously Rich Man'' (German: ''Ein steinreicher Mann'') is a 1932 German comedy film directed by Steve Sekely and starring Curt Bois, Dolly Haas and Adele Sandrock. It premiered on 13 February 1932. The film was a co-production between ...

'') (1932) as Curt * ''

Hollywood Hotel The Hollywood Hotel was a famous hotel, society venue of early Hollywood, and landmark A landmark is a recognizable natural or artificial feature used for navigation, a feature that stands out from its near environment and is often visible fr ...

'' (1937) as Dress Designer * '' Tovarich'' (1937) as Alfonso * ''

Romance in the Dark ''Romance in the Dark'' is a 1938 American comedy musical film directed by H. C. Potter and starring Gladys Swarthout, John Boles, John Barrymore, and Claire Dodd. It is one of five films produced by Paramount in the 1930s featuring Gladys Swa ...

'' (1938) as Von Hemisch * ''

Gold Diggers in Paris ''Gold Diggers in Paris'' is a 1938 Warner Bros. movie musical directed by Ray Enright with musical numbers created and directed by Busby Berkeley, starring Rudy Vallee, Rosemary Lane, Hugh Herbert, and Allen Jenkins. Plot Maurice Giraud (He ...

'' (1938) as Padrinsky * ''

The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse ''The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse'' is a 1938 American crime film directed by Anatole Litvak and starring Edward G. Robinson, Claire Trevor and Humphrey Bogart. It was distributed by Warner Bros. and written by John Wexley and John Huston, based o ...

'' (1938) as Rabbit * '' Boy Meets Girl'' (1938) as Dance Director (uncredited) * '' Garden of the Moon'' (1938) as Maharajah of Sund * '' The Great Waltz'' (1938) as Kienzl * ''

Hotel Imperial The Hotel Imperial, also known as The Imperial, is a five-star luxury hotel in Vienna, Austria. It is located on the Vienna Ring Road (''Ringstraße'') at Kärntner Ring 16, in the Innere Stadt district. Description The Hotel Imperial's faça ...

'' (1939) as Anton * ''

The Hunchback of Notre Dame ''The Hunchback of Notre-Dame'' (french: Notre-Dame de Paris, translation=''Our Lady of Paris'', originally titled ''Notre-Dame de Paris. 1482'') is a French Gothic novel by Victor Hugo, published in 1831. It focuses on the unfortunate story o ...

'' (1939) as Student * ''

The Lady in Question ''The Lady in Question'' is a 1940 American comedy-drama romance film directed by Charles Vidor and starring Brian Aherne, Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford. This was the first of five films in which Glenn Ford and Rita Hayworth appeared together, m ...

'' (1940) as Henri Lurette * ''

Boom Town A boomtown is a community that undergoes sudden and rapid population and economic growth, or that is started from scratch. The growth is normally attributed to the nearby discovery of a precious resource such as gold, silver, or oil, although ...

'' (1940) as Ferdie * ''

He Stayed for Breakfast ''He Stayed for Breakfast'' is a 1940 American romantic comedy film directed by Alexander Hall, based on the 1934 play ''Ode to Liberty'' by Sidney Howard, itself adapted from the French play ''Liberté provisoire'' by Michel Duran. Plot In Par ...

'' (1940) as Comrade Tronavich * '' Hullabaloo'' (1940) as Armand Francois * '' Bitter Sweet'' (1940) as Ernst * ''

That Night in Rio ''That Night in Rio'' is a 1941 Technicolor American musical comedy film directed by Irving Cummings and starring Alice Faye, Don Ameche (in a dual role as an American entertainer and an aristocratic businessman he is asked to impersonate temp ...

'' (1941) as Salles * ''

Hold Back the Dawn ''Hold Back the Dawn'' is a 1941 American romantic drama film in which a Romanian gigolo marries an American woman in Mexico in order to gain entry to the United States, but winds up falling in love with her. It stars Charles Boyer, Olivia de Havi ...

'' (1941) as Bonbois * ''

Blue, White and Perfect ''Blue, White and Perfect'' is a 1942 American mystery film directed by Herbert I. Leeds and starring Lloyd Nolan, Mary Beth Hughes, and Helene Reynolds. It is part of Twentieth Century Fox's Michael Shayne film series. The basis of the plot cam ...

'' (1942) as Friedrich Gerber, alias Nappy Dubois * ''

The Tuttles of Tahiti ''The Tuttles of Tahiti'' is a 1942 American adventure comedy romance film directed by Charles Vidor and starring Charles Laughton and Jon Hall. It was based on the novel ''No More Gas'' by James Norman Hall and Charles Nordhoff. Plot When mer ...

'' (1942) as Jensen * ''

My Gal Sal ''My Gal Sal'' is a 1942 American musical film distributed by 20th Century Fox and starring Rita Hayworth and Victor Mature. The film is a biopic of 1890s composer and songwriter Paul Dresser and singer Sally Elliot. It was based on a biographi ...

'' (1942) as De Rochemont * ''

Pacific Rendezvous ''Pacific Rendezvous'' is a 1942 American mystery film directed by George Sidney. It stars Lee Bowman and Jean Rogers. The previous film version was the 1935 film '' Rendezvous'', starring William Powell and Rosalind Russell, directed by William ...

'' (1942) as Kestrin * ''

'' (1942) as Pickpocket * ''

Destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, manoeuvrable, long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against powerful short range attackers. They were originally developed in ...

'' (1943) as Yasha (uncredited) * '' Paris After Dark'' (1943) as Max (uncredited) * ''

Princess O'Rourke ''Princess O'Rourke'' is a 1943 American romantic comedy film directed and written by Norman Krasna (in Krasna's directorial debut), and starring Olivia de Havilland, Robert Cummings and Charles Coburn. Krasna won the 1944 Oscar for Best Origina ...

'' (1943) as Count Peter de Candome * '' Swing Fever'' (1943) as Nick Sirocco * ''

The Desert Song ''The Desert Song'' is an operetta with music by Sigmund Romberg and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, Otto Harbach and Frank Mandel. It was inspired by the 1925 uprising of the Riffs, a group of Moroccan fighters, against French colonia ...

'' (1943) as François * ''

Cover Girl A cover girl is a woman whose photograph features on the front cover of a magazine. She may be a model, celebrity or entertainer. The term would generally not be used to describe a casual, once-off appearance by a person on the cover of a maga ...

'' (1944) as Chef at Danny McGuire's * ''

Gypsy Wildcat ''Gypsy Wildcat'' is a 1944 Technicolor adventure film directed by Roy William Neil starring Maria Montez, Jon Hall and Peter Coe. It was co-written by James M. Cain. Plot A king's messenger ( Jon Hall) protects a Gypsy dancer (Maria Montez) ...

'' (1944) as Valdi * '' Blonde Fever'' (1944) as Brillon * ''

The Spanish Main ''The Spanish Main'' is a 1945 American adventure film starring Paul Henreid, Maureen O'Hara, Walter Slezak and Binnie Barnes, and directed by Frank Borzage. It was RKO's first all-Technicolor film since ''Becky Sharp'' ten years before. Cin ...

'' (1945) as Paree * ''

Saratoga Trunk ''Saratoga Trunk'' is a 1945 American Western film (or historical romance film, per the American Film Institute) directed by Sam Wood and starring Gary Cooper, Ingrid Bergman, and Flora Robson. Written by Casey Robinson, based on the novel '' ...

'' (1945) as Augustin Haussy * ''

Jungle Flight ''Jungle Flight'' is a 1947 American adventure film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Whitman Chambers. The film stars Robert Lowery, Ann Savage, Barton MacLane, Douglas Fowley, Robert Kent and Curt Bois. The film was released on August 2 ...

'' (1947) as Pepe * ''

The Woman from Tangier ''The Woman from Tangier'' is a 1948 American crime thriller film directed by Harold Daniels and starring Adele Jergens, Stephen Dunne and Ian MacDonald. It was one of a number of Hollywood films set in Tangier during the International Zone era. ...

'' (1948) as Parquit * '' Arch of Triumph'' (1948) as Tattooed Waiter * '' French Leave'' (1948) as Marcel * '' The Woman in White'' (1948) as Louis * ''

Up in Central Park ''Up in Central Park'' is a Broadway musical with a book by Herbert Fields and Dorothy Fields, lyrics by Dorothy Fields, and music by Sigmund Romberg. The musical, originally called "Central Park" before Broadway (see image of sheet music), was Ro ...

'' (1948) as Maitre d' (uncredited) * ''

Let's Live a Little ''Let's Live a Little'' is a 1948 American romantic comedy film directed by Richard Wallace and starring Hedy Lamarr and Robert Cummings. Written by Howard Irving Young, Edmund L. Hartmann, Albert J. Cohen, and Jack Harvey, the film is about an o ...

'' (1948) as Chemist (uncredited) * ''

'' (1949) as Franzi Kartos * '' Kiss in the Dark'' (1949) as Hugo Schloss * ''

The Lovable Cheat ''The Lovable Cheat'' is a 1949 American historical comedy film directed by Richard Oswald and starring Charles Ruggles, Peggy Ann Garner and Richard Ney. It is based on the 1848 play '' Mercadet Le Faiseur'' by Honoré de Balzac. It was the fin ...

'' (1949) as Count de la Brive * ''

The Great Sinner ''The Great Sinner'' is a 1949 American film noir drama film directed by Robert Siodmak. Based on the 1866 short novel '' The Gambler'' written by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, the film stars Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Frank Morgan, Ethel Barrymore, Walte ...

'' (1949) as Jeweler / Money Lender * '' Oh, You Beautiful Doll'' (1949) as Zaltz (uncredited) * ''

Joe Palooka Meets Humphrey ''Joe Palooka Meets Humphrey'' is a 1950 film in the ''Joe Palooka'' series. It was directed by Jean Yarbrough. Plot When their car veers off the road en route to their honeymoon, Joe Palooka and new wife Anne are rescued by a sweet lummox, Hum ...

'' (1950) as Pierre * '' Fortunes of Captain Blood'' (1950) as King Charles II * ''Androklus und der Löwe'' (''Androcles and the Lion'') (1958, TV film) as Androklus * '' Herr Puntila and His Servant Matti'' (1955–1960) as Johannes Puntila * '' The Haunted Castle'' (1960) as Hugo * ''Flüchtlingsgespräche'' (1964, TV film) as Ziffel * ''Der eingebildete Kranke'' (1964, TV film) as Argan * ' (''A Scoundrel's Honor'') (1966) as Emil * ''Die hundertste Nacht'' (1966, TV film) as Iwakichi * ''Bert Brecht vor dem McCarthy-Ausschuß'' (1966, TV film) * ''Der Zauberberg'' (1968, TV film) as Naphta * ''Amerika oder der Verschollene'' (1968, TV film) as Karl Roßmann's father * ''Der Pott'' (1971, TV film) as Simon Norton * ''Der trojanische Sessel'' (1971, TV film) as Franz Seider * ''Strychnin und saure Drops'' (1974 TV film) * ''Das Rentenspiel'' (1977, TV film) as Grandfather * ''Das Idol von Mordassow'' (1979, TV film) * ''Liebe, Tod und Heringshäppchen'' (1979, TV film) as Friedrich Schlick * ''Die Alten kommen'' (1980, TV film) * ''Wochenendgeschichten'' (1980, TV film) * ''Bühne frei für Kolowitz'' (1980, TV film) as Benjamin Weiß * ''Der Mond scheint auf Kylenamoe'' (1980, TV film) * ''Gesucht wird... Drei Geschichten um nicht ganz ehrenwerte Herren'' (1980, TV film) * '' Das Boot ist voll'' (1981) as Lazar Ostrowskij * '' Flächenbrand'' (1981, TV film) as Bühler * ''Der Schützling'' (1981, TV film) as Leiser * ''Die feine englische Art: Täglich eine gute Tat'' (1982, TV film) as

Lord Emsworth Clarence Threepwood, 9th Earl Emsworth, commonly known as Lord Emsworth, is a recurring fictional character in the Blandings Castle series of stories by British comic writer P. G. Wodehouse. He is the amiable and somewhat absent-minded head of t ...

* ''Die feine englische Art: Hundeglück'' (1982, TV film) as Lord Emsworth * ''Die feine englische Art: Die Lady frißt'' (1982, TV film) as Lord Emsworth * ''Die feine englische Art: Blut wird fließen'' (1982, TV film) as Lord Emsworth * ''

The Roaring Fifties ''The Roaring Fifties'' (german: Die wilden Fünfziger ) is a 1983 West German comedy film directed by Peter Zadek and starring Juraj Kukura, Boy Gobert and Peter Kern. It is based on the novel ''Hurra, wir leben noch'' by Johannes Mario Simmel. ...

'' (1983) (uncredited) * ''

'' (1987) as Homer

References

Bibliography

*John Holmstrom, ''The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995'', Norwich, Michael Russell, 1996, pp. 18–19.

External links

* * * * *
Curt Bois biography
fro

* ttp://film.virtual-history.com/person.php?personid=1166 Photographs of Curt Bois {{DEFAULTSORT:Bois, Curt 1901 births 1991 deaths 20th-century German male actors Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany European Film Awards winners (people) German expatriate male actors in the United States German male film actors German male silent film actors Jewish German male actors Jewish emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United States Male actors from Berlin