Erzsi Paál (1912–1973) was a Hungarian
stage actress, who also appeared in several films. She was born Erzsébet Polacsek in
Lugoj, then in the
Austro-Hungarian Empire
Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...
but subsequently ceded to
Romania, to
Hungarian parents. After establishing herself in as a
soubrette in
Budapest, she moved to Italy and appeared at the
Teatro Eliseo
The Teatro Eliseo (literally "Eliseus Theater") is a theatre located in Rome, Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Medit ...
in
Rome and the Teatro Odeon in
Milan. She also starred alongside comedian
Totò in his debut film ''
Fermo con le mani
''Hands Off Me!'' () is a 1937 Italian " white-telephones" comedy film directed by Gero Zambuto.Moliterno p.179
The film is notable for being the screen début of Totò. Its most famous scenes include one in which he tries to give a haircut to a ...
'' in 1937.
[Pistolese p.79] She married the actor
John Bartha
János Bartha (6 February 1915 – 1991), better known as John Bartha, was a Hungarian film actor who appeared primarily in Spaghetti Westerns in the 1960s and 1970s. He is probably most recognizable in western cinema for his role as the Sheriff ...
, a fellow Hungarian who was also based in Italy. Her final screen appearance was in the 1971
giallo film
In Italian cinema, ''Giallo'' (; plural ''gialli'', from ''giallo'', Italian for yellow) is a genre of mystery fiction and thrillers that often contains slasher, crime fiction, psychological thriller, psychological horror, sexploitation, and, l ...
''
A Lizard in a Woman's Skin''
Selected filmography
* ''
Vica the Canoeist
''Vica the Canoeist'' (Hungarian: ''Vica, a vadevezös'') is a 1933 Hungarian comedy film directed by Béla Gaál and starring Erzsi Paál, Sándor Radó and Dezsõ Kertész.''Filmévkönyv''. Magyar Filmtudományi Intézet és Filmarchívum, 1986 ...
'' (1933)
* ''
Romance of Ida
''Romance of Ida'' (Hungarian:''Ida regénye'') is a 1934 Hungarian drama film directed by Steve Sekely and starring Gábor Rajnay, Irén Ágay and Pál Jávor. It is based on a novel by Géza Gárdonyi.
Cast
* Gábor Rajnay - Ó Péter
* Ir ...
'' (1934)
* ''
A Lizard in a Woman's Skin'' (1971)
References
Bibliography
* Enyedi, Sándor. ''Rivalda nélkül: a határon túli magyar színjátszás kislexikona''. Teleki László Alapítvány, 1999.
*Pistolese, Paolo . ''Totò, Stars & Stripes''. Cinecittà, 2000.
External links
*
*https://www.hangosfilm.hu/filmenciklopedia/paal-erzsi
1912 births
1973 deaths
Hungarian stage actresses
Hungarian film actresses
Hungarian emigrants to Italy
People from Lugoj
{{Hungary-actor-stub
hu:Paál Erzsi