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 operetta films in the 1920s and 1930s.

Biography

Friedrich Zelnik was born into a

Jewish Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...

family in Czernowitz, today in

Ukraine Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...

, at the time the capital of the

Duchy of Bukovina The Duchy of Bukovina (german: Herzogtum Bukowina; ro, Ducatul Bucovinei; uk, Герцогство Буковина) was a constituent land of the Austrian Empire from 1849 and a Cisleithanian crown land of Austria-Hungary from 1867 until 1918 ...

in the Austrian part of the

Austro-Hungarian Monarchy 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 1 ...

. After studying in

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

, Friedrich Zelnik worked as an actor in theaters in

Nürnberg Nuremberg ( ; german: link=no, Nürnberg ; in the local East Franconian dialect: ''Nämberch'' ) is the second-largest city of the German state of Bavaria after its capital Munich, and its 518,370 (2019) inhabitants make it the 14th-largest ci ...

Aachen Aachen ( ; ; Aachen dialect: ''Oche'' ; French and traditional English: Aix-la-Chapelle; or ''Aquisgranum''; nl, Aken ; Polish: Akwizgran) is, with around 249,000 inhabitants, the 13th-largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia, and the 28th- ...

Worms Worms may refer to: *Worm, an invertebrate animal with a tube-like body and no limbs Places *Worms, Germany, a city **Worms (electoral district) *Worms, Nebraska, U.S. *Worms im Veltlintal, the German name for Bormio, Italy Arts and entertainme ...

Prague Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 million people. The city has a temperate ...

and finally

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...

- in the theaters Theater an der Königsgrätzer Straße, Berliner Theater, and Komödienhaus. In 1914 Friedrich Zelnik began acting in films, and after 1915 producing and directing movies while still appearing in roles as an actor in other director'films. In 1918 he married a young Polish ballet dancer turned film actress named

Lya Mara Lya Mara (born Aleksandra Gudowicz; 1 August 1897 – 1 March 1960) was a Polish actress. She was one of the biggest stars of the German silent cinema. Biography Lya Mara was born Aleksandra Gudowicz in a Polish family in Riga, Governorate of ...

and promoted her to stardom by producing and directing movies for her. In 1920 he established a film production firm Zelnik-Mara-Film GmbH. Popular, operetta style costume films like ''

The Blue Danube "The Blue Danube" is the common English title of "An der schönen blauen Donau", Op. 314 (German for "By the Beautiful Blue Danube"), a waltz by the Austrian composer Johann Strauss II, composed in 1866. Originally performed on 15 Februa ...

'', '' The Bohemian Dancer'', ''

Dancing Vienna ''Dancing Vienna'' (German: ''Das tanzende Wien'') is a 1927 German silent comedy film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Lya Mara, Ben Lyon and Alfred Abel. The film's art direction was by Andrej Andrejew, Ferdinand Bellan and Erich Ket ...

'', ''

Mariett Dances Today ''Mariett Dances Today'' (German: ''Heut tanzt Mariett'') is a 1928 German silent romance film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Lya Mara, Fred Louis Lerch and Harry Halm.Nelmes & Selbo It was shot at the Staaken Studios in Berlin and o ...

'' brought

and Zelnik enormous success in Germany and beyond. Several of his collaborators, such as cameraman

Frederik Fuglsang Frederik Fuglsang (1887–1953) was a Danish cinematographer who worked largely in the German film industry. Fuglsang was employed by Nordisk Film, who initially brought him to Germany. He worked frequently during the Weimar era on films such as ...

and production designer

André Andrejew André Andrejew (21 January 1887 – 13 March 1967) was one of the most important art directors of the international cinema of the twentieth century. He had a distinctive, innovative style. His décors were both expressive and realistic. French writ ...

are perceived today as important artists of the German silent cinema. Upon the introduction 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 ...

, Friedrich Zelnik became the first director in Europe to postsynchronize a movie, '' The Crimson Circle'' (1929), using the DeForest

Phonofilm Phonofilm is an optical sound-on-film system developed by inventors Lee de Forest and Theodore Case in the early 1920s. Introduction In 1919 and 1920, Lee De Forest, inventor of the audion tube, filed his first patents on a sound-on-film process, ...

sound-on-film Sound-on-film is a class of sound film processes where the sound accompanying a picture is recorded on photographic film, usually, but not always, the same strip of film carrying the picture. Sound-on-film processes can either record an analog ...

process. In 1930, Zelnik traveled to

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, ...

and upon his return to Germany, directed his first full sound film, a new version of his silent success '' The Bohemian Dancer''. After

Hitler Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Germany from 1933 until his death in 1945. He rose to power as the leader of the Nazi Party, becoming the chancellor in 1933 and then ...

took power in 1933, Zelnik and

left Germany for

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 ...

. In the following years, Zelnik continued to direct and produce movies in Great Britain and The Netherlands. He also legally changed his name to Frederic Zelnik and took British citizenship. Zelnik died in 1950 in London.

Selected filmography

Director

* ''

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 ...

'' (1918) * ''

Charlotte Corday Marie-Anne Charlotte de Corday d'Armont (27 July 1768 – 17 July 1793), known as Charlotte Corday (), was a figure of the French Revolution. In 1793, she was executed by guillotine for the assassination of Jacobin leader Jean-Paul Marat, who w ...

'' (1919) * ''

The Heiress of the Count of Monte Cristo ''The Heiress of the Count of Monte Cristo'' (german: Die Erbin des Grafen von Monte Christo) is a 1919 German silent film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Lya Mara, Werner Funck, and Vilma von Mayburg. The film's sets were designed by t ...

'' (1919) * ''

Anna Karenina ''Anna Karenina'' ( rus, «Анна Каренина», p=ˈanːə kɐˈrʲenʲɪnə) is a novel by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy, first published in book form in 1878. Widely considered to be one of the greatest works of literature ever writte ...

'' (1920) * ''

Kri-Kri, the Duchess of Tarabac ''Kri-Kri, the Duchess of Tarabac'' (german: Kri-Kri, die Herzogin von Tarabac) is a 1920 German silent film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Lya Mara, Johannes Riemann, and Gisela Werbisek. It premiered at the Marmorhaus in Berlin. Cast ...

'' (1920) * ''

Fanny Elssler Fanny Elssler (born Franziska Elßler; 23 June 181027 November 1884) was an Austrian ballerina of the Romantic Period. Life and career She was born in Gumpendorf, a neighborhood of Vienna. Her father Johann Florian Elssler was a second ge ...

'' (1920) * ''

Count Varenne's Lover ''Count Varenne's Lover'' (german: Die Geliebte des Grafen Varenne) is a 1921 German silent comedy film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Lya Mara, Josef Commer, and Johannes Riemann. It premiered at the Marmorhaus in Berlin Berlin ...

'' (1921) * '' The Girl from Piccadilly'' (1921) * ''

Trix, the Romance of a Millionairess ''Trix, the Romance of a Millionairess'' (german: Trix, der Roman einer Millionärin) is a 1921 German silent romance film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Lya Mara, Ernst Hofmann, and Ilka Grüning. It premiered at the Marmorhaus in Ber ...

'' (1921) * ''

Miss Beryll ''Miss Beryll'' (german: Miss Beryll ... die Laune eines Millionärs) is a 1921 German silent film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Lya Mara, Erich Kaiser-Titz Heinrich Felix Erich Kaiser-Titz (7 October 1875 – 22 November 1928) was ...

'' (1921) * ''

Memoirs of a Film Actress ''Memoirs of a Film Actress'' (german: Aus den Memoiren einer Filmschauspielerin) is a 1921 German silent film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Lya Mara, Ernst Hofmann and Wilhelm Diegelmann. It premiered at the Marmorhaus in Berlin. The ...

'' (1921) * '' Count Festenberg'' (1922) * ''

Napoleon's Daughter ''Napoleon's Daughter'' (German: ''Die Tochter Napoleons'') is a 1922 German silent historical film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Lya Mara, Ludwig Hartau and Ernst Hofmann. It premiered at the Marmorhaus in Berlin. The film's sets w ...

'' (1922) * ''

The Mistress of the King ''The Mistress of the King'' (German: ''Die Geliebte des Königs'') is a 1922 German silent film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Lya Mara and Hans Albers. It premiered at the Marmorhaus in Berlin. The film's sets were designed by the ar ...

'' (1922) * ''

Insulted and Humiliated ''Insulted and Humiliated'' (German: ''Erniedrigte und Beleidigte'') is a 1922 German silent drama film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Lya Mara, Erich Kaiser-Titz and Ralph Arthur Roberts. It is an adaptation of the 1861 novel ''Humili ...

'' (1922) * '' Yvette, the Fashion Princesss'' (1922) * '' The Marriage of Princess Demidoff'' (1922) * ''

Tania, the Woman in Chains ''Tania, the Woman in Chains'' (german: Tanja, die Frau an der Kette) is a 1922 German silent film, silent drama film directed by Friedrich Zelnik and starring Lya Mara, Erich Kaiser-Titz, and Heinrich Peer. The film's sets were designed by the ...

'' (1922) * ''

Lyda Ssanin ''Lyda Ssanin'' is a 1923 German silent film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Lya Mara, Hans Albers and Rudolf Forster.Bock & Bergfelder p.8 The film's sets were designed by the art director Fritz Lederer. Cast In alphabetical order ...

'' (1923) * ''

Resurrection Resurrection or anastasis is the concept of coming back to life after death. In a number of religions, a dying-and-rising god is a deity which dies and is resurrected. Reincarnation is a similar process hypothesized by other religions, which ...

'' (1923) * ''

The Men of Sybill ''The Men of Sybill'' (German: ''Die Männer der Sybill'') is a 1923 German silent drama film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Lya Mara, Carl Auen and Rudolf Forster. It was screened at the Marmorhaus in Berlin. The film's sets were des ...

'' (1923) * ''

Irene of Gold ''Irene of Gold'' (German: ''Irene d'Or'') is a 1923 German silent film directed by Karl Sander and Frederic Zelnik and starring Margarete Schlegel, Yelena Polevitskaya and Hans Albers. Cast *Margarete Schlegel *Yelena Polevitskaya *Hans Albers ...

'' (1923) * ''

The Girl from Hell ''The Girl from Hell'' (german: Das Mädel aus der Hölle) is a 1923 German silent film, silent drama film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Lya Mara, Carl Auen and Harald Paulsen.Bock & Bergfelder p. 549 It premiered at the Marmorhaus in ...

'' (1923) * '' Daisy'' (1923) * ''

The Girl from Capri ''The Girl from Capri'' (German: ''Das Mädel von Capri'') is a 1924 German silent comedy film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Lya Mara, Ulrich Bettac and Robert Scholz. It premiered in Berlin on 10 July 1924. Cast *Lya Mara *Ulrich ...

'' (1924) * '' The Sailor Perugino'' (1924) * ''

Marionettes of the Princess ''Marionettes of the Princess'' (german: Die Marionetten der Fürstin) is a 1924 German silent drama film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Gertrude Welcker, Rudolf Forster and Erich Kaiser-Titz. Cast * Gertrude Welcker *Rudolf Forster ...

'' (1924) * '' The Mistress of Monbijou'' (1924) * ''

Nelly, the Bride Without a Husband ''Nelly, the Bride Without a Husband'' (german: Nelly, die Braut ohne Mann) is a 1924 German silent comedy film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Lya Mara, Erich Kaiser-Titz and Else Berna. The film's sets were designed by the art direct ...

'' (1924) * ''

By Order of Pompadour ''By Order of Pompadour'' (german: Auf Befehl der Pompadour) is a 1924 German silent historical film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Alwin Neuß, Lya Mara, and Frida Richard. The film's sets were designed by the art director Willi He ...

'' (1924) * ''

Athletes An athlete (also sportsman or sportswoman) is a person who competes in one or more sports that involve physical strength, speed, or endurance. Athletes may be professionals or amateurs. Most professional athletes have particularly well-develo ...

'' (1925) * ''

Letters Which Never Reached Him ''Letters Which Never Reached Him'' (German: ''Briefe, die ihn nicht erreichten'') is a 1925 German silent film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Albert Bassermann, Marcella Albani and Mia Pankau. The film's sets were designed by the art ...

'' (1925) * ''

Women You Rarely Greet ''Women You Rarely Greet'' (german: Frauen, die man oft nicht grüßt) is a 1925 German silent film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Lya Mara, Alfons Fryland, and Leo Connard Leo Connard (born Isak Leopold Kohn; 28 August 1860 – after ...

'' (1925) * ''

The Venus of Montmartre ''The Venus of Montmartre'' (German:''Die Venus vom Montmartre'' or ''Die Venus von Montmartre'') is a 1925 German silent film, silent drama film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Lya Mara, Hans Albers, Jack Trevor, and Olga Tschechowa.Gra ...

'' (1925) * '' The Bohemian Dancer'' (1926) * ''

The Mill at Sanssouci ''The Mill at Sanssouci'' (german: Die Mühle von Sanssouci) is a 1926 German silent historical film directed by Siegfried Philippi and Frederic Zelnik and starring Otto Gebühr, Lissi Lind and Jakob Tiedtke. The film is part of the popular cycl ...

'' (1926) * ''

The Violet Eater ''The Violet Eater'' (German: ''Der Veilchenfresser'') is a 1926 German silent comedy film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Lil Dagover, Harry Liedtke and Ernö Verebes.Grange p.235 It was shot at the Staaken Studios in Berlin. The f ...

'' (1926) * ''

Fadette ''Fadette'' (german: Die lachende Grille) is a 1926 German silent film, silent historical film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Lya Mara, Yvette Guilbert and Eugen Klöpfer.Grange p. 242 The film's sets were designed by the art directors ...

'' (1926) * ''

The Weavers The Weavers were an American folk music quartet based in the Greenwich Village area of New York City originally consisting of Lee Hays, Pete Seeger, Ronnie Gilbert, and Fred Hellerman. Founded in 1948, the group sang traditional folk songs fro ...

'' (1927) * ''

The Gypsy Baron ''The Gypsy Baron'' () is an operetta in three acts by Johann Strauss II which premiered at the Theater an der Wien on 24 October 1885. Its German libretto by Ignaz Schnitzer is based on the unpublished 1883 story ''Saffi'' by Mór Jókai. Jokai ...

'' (1927) * ''

'' (1928) * '' Mary Lou'' (1928) * ''

My Heart is a Jazz Band ''My Heart is a Jazz Band'' (German: ''Mein Herz ist eine Jazzband'') is a 1929 German silent drama film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Lya Mara, Raimondo Van Riel and Heinrich Gotho. The film's art direction was by Andrej Andrejew. ...

'' (1929) * '' The Crimson Circle'' (1929) * '' The Forester's Daughter'' (1931) * ''

Everyone Asks for Erika ''Everyone Asks for Erika'' (german: Jeder fragt nach Erika) is a 1931 German musical comedy film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Lya Mara, Alexander Murski and Walter Janssen. The film's sets were designed by the art director Robert Ne ...

'' (1932) * ''

The Dancer of Sanssouci ''The Dancer of Sanssouci'' (german: Die Tänzerin von Sans Souci) is a 1932 German historical drama film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Otto Gebühr, Lil Dagover, and Rosa Valetti. Set at the court of Frederick the Great, the film is p ...

'' (1932) * ''

Happy Happiness, in the context of mental or emotional states, is positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. Other forms include life satisfaction, well-being, subjective well-being, flourishing and eudaimonia. Sinc ...

'' (1933) * '' The Emperor's Waltz'' (1933) * ''

Southern Roses ''Southern Roses'' is a 1936 British musical comedy film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring George Robey, Gina Malo and Chili Bouchier. It was shot at Denham Studios.Wood p.92 The film's sets were designed by the art director Frederick P ...

'' (1936) * ''

The Lilac Domino ''Der lila Domino'' (''The Lilac Domino'') is an operetta in three acts composed by Charles Cuvillier. The original German libretto is by Emmerich von Gatti and Bela Jenbach, about a gambling count who falls in love at a masquerade ball with a n ...

'' (1937) * '' Daddy Long Legs'' (1938) * ''

Tomorrow It Will Be Better ''Tomorrow It Will Be Better'' ( nl, Morgen gaat het beter) is a 1939 Dutch film directed by Frederic Zelnik. Cast *Lily Bouwmeester as Willy Verhulst, het schoolmeisje *Paul Steenbergen as Alfred Herder, programmaleider van radio-omroep *Theo ...

'' (1939) * ''

I Killed the Count ''I Killed the Count'' is a 1937 play by Alec Coppel. Its success launched Coppel's career. 1937 London production Cast *Eric Maturin as Count Victor Mattoni *Athole Stewart as Viscount Sorrington *Alec Clunes as Detective Raines *Anthony Holle ...

'' (1939)

Producer

* '' The Lost Paradise'' (1917) * ''

The Serenyi ''The Serenyi'' (German: ''Die Serenyi'') is a 1918 German silent film directed by Alfred Halm and starring Lya Mara, Erich Kaiser-Titz, and Conrad Veidt.Soister p.316 It is a lost film. Cast * Lya Mara * Erich Kaiser-Titz * Conrad Veidt * Lupu ...

'' (1918) * ''

The Peruvian ''The Peruvian'' (German: ''Die Peruanerin'') is a 1919 German silent drama film directed by Alfred Halm and starring Mady Christians, Reinhold Schünzel, and Paul Graetz.Bock & Bergfelder p.433 Cast * Mady Christians as Fernades Matamorer * R ...

'' (1919) * ''

The Yellow Diplomat ''The Yellow Diplomat'' (German: ''Der gelbe Diplomat'') is a 1920 German silent film directed by Fred Sauer and starring Käthe Haack, Nien Soen Ling and Nien Tso Ling.Bock & Bergfelder p.549 Cast * Käthe Haack * Nien Soen Ling * Nien Tso ...

'' (1920) * ''

The Princess of the Nile ''The Princess of the Nile'' (German: ''Die Prinzessin vom Nil'') is a 1920 German silent film directed by Martin Zickel and starring Lya Mara, Julius Falkenstein and Lotte Stein.Bock & Bergfelder p.549 The film's sets were designed by the art ...

'' (1920) * '' The Law of the Desert'' (1920) * ''

The Convict of Cayenne ''The Convict of Cayenne'' (German: ''Der Sträfling von Cayenne'') is a 1921 German silent drama film directed by Léo Lasko and starring Frederic Zelnik and Loni Nest.Bock & Bergfelder p.549 It premiered in Berlin at the Marmorhaus. Cast In a ...

'' (1921) * '' The Buried Self'' (1921) * ''

The Bank Crash of Unter den Linden ''The Bank Crash of Unter den Linden'' (german: Der Bankkrach unter den Linden) is a 1926 German silent film directed by Paul Merzbach and starring Alfred Abel, Hans Albers, and Margarete Schlegel.Bock & Bergfelder p. 8 It was produced by the Ge ...

'' (1926)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Zelnik, Friedrich 1885 births 1950 deaths Mass media people from Chernivtsi People from the Duchy of Bukovina Bukovina Jews German people of Austrian-Jewish descent Silent film directors German film people German male film actors German male silent film actors 20th-century German male actors Jewish emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United Kingdom Artists from Chernivtsi