Ewald André Dupont (25 December 1891 – 12 December 1956) was a German

film director A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, p ...

, one of the pioneers of the

German film industry The film industry in Germany can be traced back to the late 19th century. German cinema made major technical and artistic contributions to early film, broadcasting and television technology. Babelsberg Studio, Babelsberg became a household synon ...

. He was often credited as E. A. Dupont.

Early career

A newspaper columnist in 1916, Dupont became a screenwriter and began directing his own crime-story scripts in 1918. After several successes in his native Germany in

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, when ...

s, he worked in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

and in

Hollywood, California Hollywood is a neighborhood in the central region of Los Angeles, California. Its name has come to be a shorthand reference for the U.S. film industry and the people associated with it. Many notable film studios, such as Columbia Pictures, ...

. One of his greatest successes was the silent film ''

Varieté ''Variety'' (german: Varieté , also known by the alternative titles ''Jealousy'' or ''Vaudeville'') is a 1925 German silent drama film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont based on the 1912 novel '' The Oath of Stephan Huller'' by Felix Hollaender ...

'' (1925). This film, about an ex-trapeze artist, was noted for its innovative camerawork with highly expressive movement through space, accomplished by the expressionist cinematographer Karl Freund. ''

'' even did well in the United States, screening for 12 weeks at New York's Rialto Theatre.

United States

Dupont's success was noticed by

Carl Laemmle Carl Laemmle (; born Karl Lämmle; January 17, 1867 – September 24, 1939) was a film producer and the co-founder and, until 1934, owner of Universal Pictures. He produced or worked on over 400 films. Regarded as one of the most important o ...

Universal Universal is the adjective for universe. Universal may also refer to: Companies * NBCUniversal, a media and entertainment company ** Universal Animation Studios, an American Animation studio, and a subsidiary of NBCUniversal ** Universal TV, a ...

, who offered Dupont a lucrative contract. His first project was '' Love Me and the World Is Mine'' in the early summer of 1926, which ran well over budget ($350,000) and was not a success.

Britain

Dupont then headed to Britain and made the film ''

Piccadilly Piccadilly () is a road in the City of Westminster, London, to the south of Mayfair, between Hyde Park Corner in the west and Piccadilly Circus in the east. It is part of the A4 road that connects central London to Hammersmith, Earl's Court, ...

'' (1929), a late silent, which is remembered for the central performance of the Chinese-American actress

Anna May Wong Wong Liu Tsong (January 3, 1905 – February 3, 1961), known professionally as Anna May Wong, was an American actress, considered the first Chinese-American movie star in Hollywood, as well as the first Chinese-American actress to gain intern ...

. ''

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...

'' (also 1929) is a retelling of the

Titanic disaster The sank in the early morning hours of 15 April 1912 in the North Atlantic Ocean, four days into her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. The largest ocean liner in service at the time, ''Titanic'' had an estimated 2,224 pe ...

and is seen as one of the most innovative uses of

sound film A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades passed before ...

technology available at the time. Dupont made several more films in Britain and a few in Germany and France.

Later career

After a brief return to Germany, the Jewish director emigrated to the United States in 1933, where he was assigned to several

B movies A B movie or B film is a low-budget commercial motion picture. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified films intended for distribution as the less-publicized bottom half of a double feature ...

and low budget "programmer" films. Unhappy with the lack of opportunities afforded him in Hollywood, Dupont became a talent agent in 1940.Hal Erickson, Rovi
/ref> Dupont returned to filmmaking when he wrote and directed '' The Scarf'' (1951). In 1952 and 1953, he wrote 23 episodes for the TV series ''

Big Town ''Big Town'' is a popular long-running radio drama featuring a corruption-fighting newspaper editor initially played from 1937 to 1942 by Edward G. Robinson in his first radio role, with echoes of the conscience-stricken tabloid editor he had ...

'' (1950–56) and directed two of those episodes, "Tape Recorder" (19 June 1952) and "The Story of Jerry Baxter" (1 January 1953). Dupont directed several more low-budget films, such as ''

The Neanderthal Man ''The Neanderthal Man'' is a 78-minute, 1953 American black-and-white science fiction film produced independently by Aubrey Wisberg and Jack Pollexfen, as Global Productions Inc., from their own original screenplay. It starred Robert Shayne, Ri ...

'' (1953).

Selected filmography

Director

* ''

Europe, General Delivery ''Europe, General Delivery'' or ''Europe poste restante'' (German: ''Europa postlagernd'') is a 1918 German silent mystery film directed by Ewald André Dupont and starring Max Landa, Viktor Senger and Lu Synd. It was part of a series of films st ...

'' (1918) * ''

Midnight Midnight is the transition time from one day to the next – the moment when the date changes, on the local official clock time for any particular jurisdiction. By clock time, midnight is the opposite of noon, differing from it by 12 hours. ...

'' (1918) * ''

The Devil Satan,, ; grc, ὁ σατανᾶς or , ; ar, شيطانالخَنَّاس , also known as the Devil, and sometimes also called Lucifer in Christianity, is an entity in the Abrahamic religions that seduces humans into sin or falsehood ...

'' (1918) * ''

The Japanese Woman ''The Japanese Woman'' (German: ''Die Japanerin'') is a 1919 German silent mystery film directed by Ewald André Dupont and starring Max Landa, Tzwetta Tzatschewa and Conrad Veidt.Soister p.62 The film's sets were designed by the Hungarian art ...

'' (1919) * ''

The Secret of the American Docks ''The Secret of the American Docks'' (German: ''Das Geheimnis des Amerika-Docks'') Is a 1919 German silent mystery film directed by Ewald André Dupont and starring Max Landa, Gustav Botz, and Reinhold Schünzel. The film's sets were designed ...

'' (1919) * '' The Mask'' (1919) * '' The Spies'' (1919) * ''

The Apache of Marseilles ''The Apache of Marseilles'' (german: Die Apachen) is a 1919 German silent thriller film directed by Ewald André Dupont and starring Max Landa, Hanni Weisse Hanni Weisse (16 October 1892 – 13 December 1967) was a German stage and film act ...

'' (1919) * '' The Derby'' (1919) * ''

Alkohol ''Alkohol'' ( en, Alcohol, link=yes, italic=yes) is a 1919 German silent drama film directed by Ewald André Dupont and Alfred Lind and starring Wilhelm Diegelmann, Ernst Rückert, and Georg H. Schnell. The film was begun by Lind but finished by ...

'' (co-director:

Alfred Lind Søren Estrup Alfred Lind (27 March 1879 – 29 April 1959) was a Danish cinematographer, screenwriter, and film director of the silent era. Lind was a prominent director in early Scandinavian cinema, and also worked in the German film industry. ...

, 1919) * ''

World by the Throat ''World by the Throat'' (German: ''Der Würger der Welt'') is a 1920 German silent crime film directed by E. A. Dupont and starring Max Landa, Hanni Weisse and Ernst Rückert. The film's sets were designed by the art director Robert A. Dietrich ...

'' (1920) * ''

The Grand Babylon Hotel ''The Grand Babylon Hotel'' is a novel by Arnold Bennett, published in January 1902, about the mysterious disappearance of a German prince. It originally appeared as a serial in the ''Golden Penny''. The titular Grand Babylon was modelled on the ...

'' (1920) * ''

The White Peacock ''The White Peacock'' is the first novel by D. H. Lawrence, published in 1911, though with 1910 on the title page. Lawrence started the novel in 1906 and then rewrote it three times. The early versions had the working title of ''Laetitia.'' Ma ...

'' (1920) * ''

Whitechapel Whitechapel is a district in East London and the future administrative centre of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is a part of the East End of London, east of Charing Cross. Part of the historic county of Middlesex, the area formed ...

'' (1920) * '' Hearts are Trumps'' (1920) * ''

Murder Without Cause ''Murder Without Cause'' (german: Der Mord ohne Täter) is a 1921 German silent crime film directed by E. A. Dupont and starring Hermann Vallentin, Paul Richter and Hanni Weisse. The film's sets were designed by the art directors Robert A. ...

'' (1921) * ''

Children of Darkness ''Children of Darkness'' is a 1983 American documentary film on PBS produced by Ara Chekmayan and Richard Kotuk. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. It is about mentally ill and emotionally troubled children an ...

'' (1921) * '' The Vulture Wally'' (1921) * ''

Kinder der Finsternis ''Children of Darkness'' (german: Kinder der Finsternis) is a German silent drama film directed by E. A. Dupont and starring Grit Hegesa, Hans Mierendorff, and Sybil Smolova. It was released in two separate parts ''Der Mann aus Neapel'' in Dec ...

'' (1921) * '' She and the Three'' (1922) * ''

The Green Manuela ''The Green Manuela'' (German: ''Die grüne Manuela'') is a 1923 German silent drama film directed by Ewald André Dupont and starring Lucie Labass, Josef Winter and Grete Berger. The film is based on a novel by Clara Ratzka. A gypsy dancer b ...

'' (1923) * ''

The Ancient Law ''The Ancient Law'' (german: Das alte Gesetz) is a 1923 German silent drama film directed by E. A. Dupont and starring Henny Porten, Ruth Weyher and Hermann Vallentin. The son of an Orthodox Rabbi faces hostility from his father when he decide ...

'' (1923) * ''

The Humble Man and the Chanteuse ''The Humble Man and the Chanteuse'' (German: ''Der Demütige und die Tänzerin'') is a 1925 German silent film directed by E. A. Dupont and starring Lil Dagover, Olga Limburg and Margarete Kupfer. It was based on a novel by Felix Hollaender. ...

'' (1925) * ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' (1925) * '' Love Me and the World Is Mine'' (1927) * ''

Moulin Rouge Moulin Rouge (, ; ) is a cabaret in Paris, on Boulevard de Clichy, at Place Blanche, the intersection of, and terminus of Rue Blanche. In 1889, the Moulin Rouge was co-founded by Charles Zidler and Joseph Oller, who also owned the Paris Ol ...

'' (1928) * ''

'' (1929) * ''

'' (English-language film, 1929) ** '' Atlantik'' (German-language film, 1929) ** ''

Atlantis Atlantis ( grc, Ἀτλαντὶς νῆσος, , island of Atlas (mythology), Atlas) is a fictional island mentioned in an allegory on the hubris of nations in Plato's works ''Timaeus (dialogue), Timaeus'' and ''Critias (dialogue), Critias'' ...

'' (French-language film, 1930) * '' Two Worlds'' (English-language film, 1930) ** '' Two Worlds'' (German-language film, 1930) ** '' Les deux mondes'' (French-language film, 1930) * '' Menschen im Käfig '' (German-language film, 1930) ** ''

Le cap perdu ''Le cap perdu'' (''The Lost Cape'') is a 1931 British-made drama film directed by Ewald André Dupont and starring Harry Baur, Henri Bosc and Jean-Max. It was a French-language version of the film '' Cape Forlorn'' made by British Internation ...

'' (French-language film, 1931) ** '' Cape Forlorn '' (English-language film, 1931) * '' Salto Mortale'' (French-language film, 1931) ** '' Salto Mortale'' (German-language film, 1931) * '' Peter Voss, Thief of Millions'' (1932) * ''

The Marathon Runner ''The Marathon Runner'' (german: Der Läufer von Marathon) is a 1933 German sports film directed by Ewald André Dupont and starring Brigitte Helm, Hans Brausewetter and Ursula Grabley. It was based on a 1928 novel by Werner Scheff, adapted by ...

'' (1933) * ''

Ladies Must Love ''Ladies Must Love'' is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy film directed by E. A. Dupont and written by John Francis Larkin. The film stars June Knight, Neil Hamilton, Sally O'Neil, Dorothy Burgess, Mary Carlisle and George E. Stone. The fil ...

'' (1933) * '' The Bishop Misbehaves'' (1935) * '' Forgotten Faces'' (1936) * ''

A Son Comes Home ''A Son Comes Home'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by E.A. Dupont and starring Mary Boland, Julie Haydon and Donald Woods. It was one of three films made by Dupont for Paramount Pictures.St. Pierre p.23 Plot Partial cast * Mary Boland ...

'' (1936) * '' Night of Mystery'' (1937) * '' On Such a Night'' (1937) * ''

Love on Toast ''Love on Toast'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Ewald André Dupont. It was John Payne's fourth film. Cast *Stella Adler as Linda Craven * John Payne as Bill Adams * Grant Richards as Clark Sanford *Kathryn Kane as Polly Marr *Ben ...

'' (1937) * ''

Hell's Kitchen Hell's Kitchen, also known as Clinton, is a neighborhood on the West Side of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is considered to be bordered by 34th Street (or 41st Street) to the south, 59th Street to the north, Eighth Avenue to the ea ...

'' (1939) * '' The Scarf'' (1951) * '' Pictura: An Adventure in Art'' (1951, co-director) * '' Problem Girls'' (1953) * '' The Neanderthal Man '' (1953) * ''

The Steel Lady ''The Steel Lady'' (also known as ''Treasure of Kalifa'') is a 1953 American action film directed by Ewald André Dupont starring Rod Cameron and Tab Hunter. In the film, four Americans are stranded in the deserts of North Africa. They discover a ...

'' (1953) * '' Return to Treasure Island'' (1954)

Screenwriter

* '' Vengeance Is Mine'' (dir.

Rudolf Meinert Rudolf Meinert (1882–6 March 1943) was an Austrian screenwriter, film producer and film director, director. Meinert was born Rudolf Bürstein in Vienna, but worked for most of his career in the Cinema of Germany, German film industry. He became ...

, 1916) * ''

The Onyx Head ''The Onyx Head'' (German: ''Der Onyxknopf'') is a 1917 German silent crime film directed by Joe May and starring Max Landa, Bruno Kastner and Leopoldine Konstantin. It was part of a series of Joe Deebs detective films. The film's sets were d ...

'' (dir.

Joe May Joe May (born Joseph Otto Mandl; 7 November 1880 – 29 April 1954) was an Austrian film director and film producer and one of the pioneers of German cinema. Biography After studying in Berlin and a variety of odd jobs, he began his career a ...

, 1917) * ''

Let There Be Light "Let there be light" is an English translation of the Hebrew (''yehi 'or'') found in Genesis 1:3 of the Torah, the first part of the Hebrew Bible. In Old Testament translations of the phrase, translations include the Greek phrase (''genēth ...

'' (dir.

Richard Oswald Richard Oswald (5 November 1880 – 11 September 1963) was an Austrian film director, producer, screenwriter, and father of German-American film director Gerd Oswald. Early career Richard Oswald, born in Vienna as Richard W. Ornstein, began h ...

, 1917) * ''

Ferdinand Lassalle Ferdinand Lassalle (; 11 April 1825 – 31 August 1864) was a Prussian-German jurist, philosopher, socialist and political activist best remembered as the initiator of the social democratic movement in Germany. "Lassalle was the first man in Ger ...

'' (dir.

, 1918) * ''

His Majesty the Hypochondriac ''His Majesty the Hypochondriac'' (german: Durchlaucht Hypochonder) is a 1918 German silent comedy film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Lisa Weise, Karl Beckersachs, and Grete Diercks. Cast * Lisa Weise as Serene Hypochondriac *Karl ...

'' (dir.

Frederic Zelnik Frederic Zelnik (born Friedrich Zelnik, 17 May 1885 – 29 November 1950) was an Austrian producer, director, and actor. He was one of the most important producers-directors of the German silent cinema. Zelnik achieved success through period oper ...

, 1918) * ''

'' (dir.

, 1919) * ''

Patience (or forbearance) is the ability to endure difficult circumstances. Patience may involve perseverance in the face of delay; tolerance of provocation without responding in disrespect/anger; or forbearance when under strain, especially when faced ...

'' (dir.

Felix Basch Felix Basch (1885–1944) was an American-Austrian actor, screenwriter and film director. He first acted in Vienna, and he was a producer and director for the German film production company UFA GmbH, U. F. A. Following the Nazi takeover of powe ...

and

Paul Leni Paul Leni (born Paul Josef Levi; 8 July 1885 – 2 September 1929) was a German filmmaker and a key figure in German Expressionism, making ''Hintertreppe'' (1921) and '' Waxworks'' (1924) in Germany, and '' The Cat and the Canary'' (1927), ''Th ...

, 1920) * ''

Madame Pompadour Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour (, ; 29 December 1721 – 15 April 1764), commonly known as Madame de Pompadour, was a member of the French court. She was the official chief mistress of King Louis XV from 1745 to 1751, and rema ...

'' (dir.

Herbert Wilcox Herbert Sydney Wilcox Order of the British Empire, CBE (19 April 1890 – 15 May 1977) was a British film producer and film director, director. He was one of the most successful British filmmakers from the 1920s to the 1950s. He is best know ...

, 1927) * ''

Magic Fire ''Magic Fire'' is a 1955 American biographical film about the life of composer Richard Wagner, released by Republic Pictures. Directed by William Dieterle, the film made extensive use of Wagner's music, which was arranged by Erich Wolfgang Korng ...

'' (dir.

William Dieterle William Dieterle (July 15, 1893 – December 9, 1972) was a German-born actor and film director who emigrated to the United States in 1930 to leave a worsening political situation. He worked in Cinema of the United States, Hollywood primarily a ...

, 1955) * ''

Please Murder Me ''Please Murder Me!'' is a 1956 American film noir directed by Peter Godfrey (director), Peter Godfrey and starring Angela Lansbury, Raymond Burr and Dick Foran. The film contains an incomplete copyright notice omitting mention of its claimant an ...

'' (dir. Peter Godfrey, 1956)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Dupont, Ewald Andre 1891 births 1956 deaths Burials at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery People from Zeitz People from the Province of Saxony Film directors from Saxony-Anhalt Jewish emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United States