Jan Fethke (26 February 1903 – 16 December 1980) was a
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
** Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
-
Polish
Polish may refer to:
* Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe
* Polish language
* Poles
Poles,, ; singular masculine: ''Polak'', singular feminine: ''Polka'' or Polish people, are a West Slavic nation and ethnic group, w ...
film director and, under the pen name Jean Forge, a successful author. He also was a famous proponent of the language
Esperanto.
Life
Born in
Oppeln,
Silesia
Silesia (, also , ) is a historical region of Central Europe that lies mostly within Poland, with small parts in the Czech Republic and Germany. Its area is approximately , and the population is estimated at around 8,000,000. Silesia is split ...
, Jan Fethke attended Oppeln's grammar school. Together with his brothers Stefan and Edmond, Fethke learned
Esperanto in 1919, when aged sixteen. After leaving grammar school, he edited the periodical ''Esperanto Triumfonta'' for several years.
Between 1923 and 1924 studied at Technical University of
Danzig and worked for a local newspaper before moving to
Berlin
Berlin ( , ) is the capital and List of cities in Germany by population, largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's List of cities in the European Union by population within ci ...
.
In 1921, aged 18, he penned his first novel, the German language ''Der ausgestopfte Papagei'' (''The Stuffed Parrot''). After 1923, he wrote his novels in Esperanto and used the pseudonym ''Jean Forge''. His most important Esperanto works are ''
Abismoj'' (''Abysses'', 1923), ''
Saltego trans jarmiloj'' (''A Leap across the Millennia'', 1924) and ''
Mr. Tot Aĉetas Mil Okulojn'' (''Mr. Tot Buys a Thousand Eyes'', 1931), which have been translated into several languages. His books were inventive, rich in ideas, and a witty representative of enjoyable light literature with a talent for psychological observation and a precise knowledge of effects.
After moving to Berlin in 1928, Fethke worked as a writer and assistant for
Ufa
Ufa ( ba, Өфө , Öfö; russian: Уфа́, r=Ufá, p=ʊˈfa) is the largest city and capital city, capital of Bashkortostan, Russia. The city lies at the confluence of the Belaya River (Kama), Belaya and Ufa River, Ufa rivers, in the centre-n ...
. His most successful films were ''Mutter Krausens Fahrt ins Glück'' (''Mommy Krause's Trip into Happiness'') and ''Jenseits der Straße'' (''On the Far Side of the Street''), for which he wrote the screenplay. At Ufa, he also made the acquaintance of
Fritz Lang
Friedrich Christian Anton Lang (; December 5, 1890 – August 2, 1976), known as Fritz Lang, was an Austrian film director, screenwriter, and producer who worked in Germany and later the United States.Obituary ''Variety'', August 4, 1976, p. 6 ...
, who later used his ''Mr. Tot'' novel for his last film, ''
The Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse
''The Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse'' (German language, German ''Die 1000 Augen des Dr. Mabuse'') is a 1960 black-and-white crime film, crime thriller (genre), thriller film directed by Fritz Lang in his final film. A West German/French/Italian co-p ...
'' (1960).
He also continued his work in Esperanto. In 1932 began to teach courses in Sweden, using the
Cseh-method. In 1934 he dubbed the German film ''Morgen beginnt das Leben'' (''Life will Start Tomorrow'') into Esperanto and, under the title ''Morgaŭ ni komencos la vivon'', exhibited during the 26th World Esperanto Congress in Stockholm.
After the
Second World War
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 opposi ...
, Fethke achieved fame as a film director in Poland. In 1960, he moved to
West Berlin
West Berlin (german: Berlin (West) or , ) was a political enclave which comprised the western part of Berlin during the years of the Cold War. Although West Berlin was de jure not part of West Germany, lacked any sovereignty, and was under mi ...
.
He was a collaborator of the review ''
Literatura Mondo
''Literatura Mondo'' (''Literary World'') was a literary Esperanto periodical and publishing house in Budapest, Hungary between 1922 and 1949. It became the focal point of the so-called Budapest School of Esperanto literature. It was founded by T ...
'' (''Literary World'') and many other periodicals.
Selected works
Novels
* ''
Abismoj'' (''Abysses''), 1923
* ''
Saltego trans Jarmiloj'' (''A Leap across the Millennia''), 1924
* ''
Mr. Tot Aĉetas Mil Okulojn'' (''Mr. Tot Buys a Thousand Eyes''), 1931
Collection of novellas
* ''
La verda raketo
LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States.
La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment Music
* La (musical note), or A, the sixth note
* "L.A.", a song by Elliott Smith on ''Figur ...
'' ("The green rocket") 1961
* ''
Mia verda breviero'' ("My green prayer book"), 1974
Films
*''
Mother Krause's Journey to Happiness'', 1929 (screenplay).
* ''
Beyond the Street
''Beyond the Street'' (german: Jenseits der Straße) is a 1929 German silent drama film directed by Leo Mittler and starring Lissy Arna, Paul Rehkopf, and Fritz Genschow.
The film is in the Weimar tradition of "street films", which examined the ...
'' (1929) (screenplay together with
Willy Döll
Willy or Willie is a masculine, male given name, often a diminutive form of William or Wilhelm, and occasionally a nickname. It may refer to:
People Given name or nickname
* Willie Aames (born 1960), American actor, television director, and scree ...
).
*''
Schön ist es, verliebt zu sein Schön may refer to:
* Schön (surname), German surname
* Schön!, English-language fashion magazine
* Schön Klinik, clinic group based in Prien am Chiemsee, Germany
* Schön Palace, palace in Sosnowiec, Poland
* Schön Properties, real estate ...
'', 1933/34 (screenplay).
*''
Carlos schönstes Abenteuer
Carlos may refer to:
Places
;Canada
* Carlos, Alberta, a locality
;United States
* Carlos, Indiana, an unincorporated community
* Carlos, Maryland, a place in Allegany County
* Carlos, Minnesota, a small city
* Carlos, West Virginia
;Elsewher ...
'', 1934 (screenplay).
*''Morgaŭ ni komencos la vivon'', an Esperanto version of ''
Morgen beginnt das Leben
''Life Begins Tomorrow'' (german: Morgen beginnt das Leben) is a 1933 German drama film directed by Werner Hochbaum and starring Erich Haußmann, Hilde von Stolz and Harry Frank.Bock & Bergfelder p. 202
After working on the film, the left-wing ...
'', 1934 (dubbing).
*', 1935 (screenplay).
*', 1935 (screenplay).
*''
Papa się żeni
''Daddy Gets Married'' or ''Papa się żeni'' is a 1936 Polish comedy film directed by Michał Waszyński.
Cast
*Lidia Wysocka ... Lili
* Jerzy Sulima-Jaszczolt
*Mira Zimińska ... Mira Stella
* Jadwiga Andrzejewska ... Jadzia
* Klara Belska ...
'', 1936 (screenplay)
*''
Dodek na froncie
''Dodek na froncie'' is a 1936 Polish comedy film directed by Michał Waszyński.
Cast
*Adolf Dymsza ... Dodek Wedzonka
* Alicja Halama ... Zofia Majewska
* Mieczysław Cybulski ... Lt. Jerzy Majewski
* Helena Grossówna ... Zuzia, the m ...
'', 1936 (screenplay)
*''
Robert i Bertrand'', 1938 (screenplay)
*''
Zapomniana melodia'', 1938 (directed together with
Konrad Tom
Konrad Tom (9 April 1887 – 9 August 1957), born Konrad Runowiecki, a Polish Jewish actor, writer, singer and director, born in Warsaw. Wrote song lyrics in Polish and in Yiddish for stage, film and cabaret, including '' szmonces''. His wife was ...
)
*''
Bogurodzica'', 1939 (director)
*''
Przez łzy do szczęścia'', 1939 (director, screenplay)
*''
Złota Maska'', 1939/40 (director, screenplay)
*''
Bravo, kleiner Thomas'', 1943/44 (director).
*''
Ulica graniczna Ulica may refer to the following places in Poland:
* Ulica Sezamkowa, Polish version of the children's television series Sesame Street.
* Zielona Ulica, village in Poland.
* Places called Ulica ''(listed in Polish Wikipedia)''
* Ulica meant "stree ...
'', 1948 (screenplay)
*''
Załoga'', 1951 (director, screenplay)
*''
Sprawa do załatwienia'', 1953 (director, screenplay)
* ''
Irena do domu!
''Irena do domu!'' ( ''Irene, Go Home!'') is a 1955 Polish comedy film directed by Jan Fethke.
Cast
* Lidia Wysocka − Irena Majewska
* Adolf Dymsza − Zygmunt Majewski
* Michał Kiliński − Janek Majewski, their son
* Helena Buczyńska ...
'', 1955 (director).
* ''
Der schweigende Stern'' (''Milcząca gwiazda''), 1959 (screenplay), an
East German
East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic (GDR; german: Deutsche Demokratische Republik, , DDR, ), was a country that existed from its creation on 7 October 1949 until its dissolution on 3 October 1990. In these years the state ...
-Polish co-production.
External links
*
Jan Fethkeworks in
Österreichische Nationalbibliothek
The Austrian National Library (german: Österreichische Nationalbibliothek) is the largest library in Austria, with more than 12 million items in its various collections. The library is located in the Neue Burg Wing of the Hofburg in center of Vi ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fethke, Jan
1903 births
1980 deaths
Polish male writers
German male writers
Writers of Esperanto literature
Polish film directors
Polish screenwriters
German male screenwriters
Polish people of German descent
People from the Province of Silesia
People from Opole
German Esperantists
Polish Esperantists
20th-century German screenwriters