Konstantin Irmen-Tschet (24 June 1902 – 27 May 1977) was a Russian Empire-born German

cinematographer The cinematographer or director of photography (sometimes shortened to DP or DOP) is the person responsible for the photographing or recording of a film, television production, music video or other live action piece. The cinematographer is the ch ...

. Irmen-Tschet was a leading technician of German films from the

silent era 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, wh ...

to well into the post-

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 opposin ...

years. He also often worked in

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

. Irmen-Tschet emigrated to Germany following the

Russian Revolution The Russian Revolution was a period of Political revolution (Trotskyism), political and social revolution that took place in the former Russian Empire which began during the First World War. This period saw Russia abolish its monarchy and ad ...

, and worked at first in the

theatre Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The perform ...

. From 1925 he was employed as a

cameraman A camera operator, or depending on the context cameraman or camerawoman, is a professional operator of a film camera or video camera as part of a film crew. The term "cameraman" does not imply that a male is performing the task. In filmmaking ...

in the large German film industry. In these early years he was known for his skill for filming special effects, and was employed on

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 ...

's ''

Metropolis A metropolis () is a large city or conurbation which is a significant economic, political, and cultural center for a country or region, and an important hub for regional or international connections, commerce, and communications. A big c ...

'' (1927) and ''

Woman in the Moon ''Woman in the Moon'' (German language, German ''Frau im Mond'') is a German science fiction silent film that premiered 15 October 1929 at the UFA-Palast am Zoo cinema in Berlin to an audience of 2,000. It is often considered to be one of the f ...

'' (1929) for this purpose.Kreimeier p.330 During the

Nazi era 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 ...

, he shot a number of

Lilian Harvey Lilian Harvey (born Helene Lilian Muriel Pape; 19 January 1906 – 27 July 1968) was an Anglo-German actress and singer, long based in Germany, where she is best known for her role as Christel Weinzinger in Erik Charell's 1931 film ''Der Kongre ...

films, Marika Rökk musicals as well as the epic '' Münchhausen'' (1943). He was married to the actress

Brigitte Horney Brigitte Horney (, 29 March 1911 – 27 July 1988) was a German theatre and film actress. Best remembered was her role as Empress Katherine the Great in the 1943 version of the UFA film version of '' Baron Münchhausen'', directed by Josef von ...

between 1940 and 1954.

Selected filmography

* ''

'' (1927) * ''

'' (1929) * ''

Waltz of Love ''Waltz of Love'' (German: ''Liebeswalzer'') is a 1930 German musical film directed by Wilhelm Thiele and starring Lilian Harvey, Willy Fritsch and Georg Alexander. It was shot at the Babelsberg Studios in Berlin with sets designed by the art d ...

'' (1930) * ''

The Love Waltz ''The Love Waltz'' is a 1930 German English language musical film directed by Carl Winston and starring Lilian Harvey, Georg Alexander and John Batten. It is the English-language version of ''Waltz of Love'' (1930) which also starred Harvey. F ...

'' (1930) * '' Darling of the Gods'' (1930) * '' Burglars'' (1930) * ''

Her Grace Commands ''Her Grace Commands'' (german: Ihre Hoheit befiehlt) is a 1931 German romantic comedy film directed by Hanns Schwarz and starring Käthe von Nagy, Willy Fritsch and Reinhold Schünzel. It is also translated into the alternative title ''Her Highn ...

'' (1931) * ''

Captain Craddock ''Captain Craddock'' (french: Le capitaine Craddock) is a 1931 German French-language musical comedy film directed by Max de Vaucorbeil and Hanns Schwarz and starring Jean Murat, Käthe von Nagy and Charles Redgie. It is a French-language vers ...

'' (1931) * ''

Princess, At Your Orders! ''Princess, At Your Orders!'' (French: ''Princesse, à vos ordres!'') is a 1931 German romantic comedy film directed by Hanns Schwarz and Max de Vaucorbeil and starring Lilian Harvey, Henri Garat and Jean Mercanton.Crisp p.26 It was produced by ...

'' (1931) * ''

Inquest An inquest is a judicial inquiry in common law jurisdictions, particularly one held to determine the cause of a person's death. Conducted by a judge, jury, or government official, an inquest may or may not require an autopsy carried out by a coro ...

'' (1931) * '' The Man in Search of His Murderer'' (1931) * '' Bombs on Monte Carlo'' (1931) * ''

About an Inquest ''About an Inquest'' (french: Autour d'une enquête) is a 1931 German crime film directed by Henri Chomette and Robert Siodmak and starring Annabella, Jean Périer and Colette Darfeuil. It was produced by UFA, as the French-language version of ...

'' (1931) * '' Caught in the Act'' (1931) * ''

A Shot at Dawn ''A Shot at Dawn'' (German: ''Schuß im Morgengrauen'') is a 1932 German crime film directed by Alfred Zeisler and starring Ery Bos, Genia Nikolaieva and Karl Ludwig Diehl. It was based on the play ''The Woman and the Emerald'' by Harry Jenkins ...

'' (1932) * ''

A Blonde Dream ''A Blonde Dream'' (german: Ein blonder Traum) is a 1932 German musical comedy film directed by Paul Martin and starring Lilian Harvey, Willy Fritsch and Willi Forst. A separate English-language version '' Happy Ever After'' was made as a co-pro ...

'' (1932) * '' Happy Ever After'' (1932) * ''

A Mad Idea ''A Mad Idea'' or ''A Crazy Idea'' (german: Ein toller Einfall) is a 1932 German comedy film directed by Kurt Gerron and starring Willy Fritsch, Dorothea Wieck and Rosy Barsony.Waldman p. 45 It was made by UFA, Germany's biggest studio. It was sh ...

'' (1932) * ''

The Cheeky Devil ''The Cheeky Devil'' (german: Der Frechdachs) is a 1932 German comedy film directed by Carl Boese and Heinz Hille and starring Willy Fritsch, Camilla Horn and Ralph Arthur Roberts.Waldman p. 46 It was shot at the Babelsberg Studios in Berlin and ...

'' (1932) * ''

You Will Be My Wife ''You Will Be My Wife'' (French: ''Vous serez ma femme'') is a 1932 German comedy film directed by Carl Boese, Serge de Poligny and Heinz Hille and starring Alice Field, Roger Tréville and Lucien Baroux.Oscherwitz, Dayna & Higgins, MaryEllen. ''T ...

'' (1932) * ''

Victor and Victoria ''Victor and Victoria'' (german: Viktor und Viktoria) is a 1933 German Musical film, musical comedy film written and directed by Reinhold Schünzel, starring Renate Müller as a woman pretending to be a female impersonator. The following year, S ...

'' (1933) * '' Love Must Be Understood'' (1933) * '' Hitlerjunge Quex'' (1933) * ''

Decoy A decoy (derived from the Dutch ''de'' ''kooi'', literally "the cage" or possibly ''ende kooi'', " duck cage") is usually a person, device, or event which resembles what an individual or a group might be looking for, but it is only meant to lu ...

'' (1934) * ''

George and Georgette ''George and Georgette'' (French: ''Georges et Georgette'') is a 1934 German comedy film directed by Roger Le Bon and Reinhold Schünzel and starring Julien Carette, Meg Lemonnier and Anton Walbrook. It is the French-language version of the fi ...

'' (1934) * ''

The Island The Island(s) may refer to: Places * Any of various islands around the world, see the list of islands * The Island (Cache County, Utah), an island on the Bear River, Utah * The Island, Chennai, a river island in India * The Island, Chicago, a n ...

'' (1934) * '' Enjoy Yourselves'' (1934) * '' The Decoy'' (1935) * '' The Royal Waltz'' (1935) * ''

The Last Four on Santa Cruz ''The Last Four on Santa Cruz'' (german: Die letzten Vier von Santa Cruz) is a 1936 German drama film directed by Werner Klingler and starring Hermann Speelmans, Irene von Meyendorff and Valéry Inkijinoff.Parish p. 507 The film was shot at the Ba ...

'' (1936) * '' Boccaccio'' (1936) * ''

Men Without a Fatherland ''Men Without a Fatherland'' (german: Menschen ohne Vaterland) is a 1937 German drama film directed by Herbert Maisch and starring Willy Fritsch, Maria von Tasnady and Willy Birgel.Richards p. 371 The film's sets were designed by the art directo ...

'' (1937) * ''

Seven Slaps 7 is a number, numeral, and glyph. 7 or seven may also refer to: * AD 7, the seventh year of the AD era * 7 BC, the seventh year before the AD era * The month of July Music Artists * Seven (Swiss singer) (born 1978), a Swiss recording artist ...

'' (1937) * ''

Gasparone ''Gasparone'' is an operetta in three acts by Carl Millöcker to a German libretto by Friedrich Zell and Richard Genée. The libretto was later revised by and . An amusing feature of the work is that the title character never appears and acts ...

'' (1937) * '' Fanny Elssler'' (1937) * '' Nanon'' (1938) * '' Castles in the Air'' (1939) * ''

Hello Janine! ''Hello Janine!'' (german: Hallo Janine!) is a 1939 German musical film directed by Carl Boese and starring Marika Rökk, Johannes Heesters and Rudi Godden. It was shot at the Babelsberg Studios in Potsdam. The film's sets were designed by the art ...

'' (1939) * ''

The Governor A governor is an official, usually acting as the executive of a non-sovereign level of government. Governor may also refer to: Leadership * Governor (China), the head of government of a province * Governor (Japan), the highest ranking executive ...

'' (1939) * ''

Kora Terry ''Kora Terry'' is a 1940 German drama film directed by Georg Jacoby and starring Marika Rökk, Will Quadflieg and Josef Sieber Josef Sieber (28 April 1900 – 3 December 1962) was a German film actor. Selected filmography * ''Pappi'' (1934) * ...

'' (1940) * '' Women Are Better Diplomats'' (1941) * '' Münchhausen'' (1943) * ''

The Wedding Hotel ''The Wedding Hotel'' (german: Das Hochzeitshotel) is a 1944 German comedy film directed by Carl Boese and starring Karin Hardt, René Deltgen and Walter Janssen. Due to Allied bombing raids on German cities like Berlin, much of the film was shot ...

'' (1944) * '' After the Storm'' (1948) * ''

The Blue Straw Hat ''The Blue Straw Hat'' (german: Der blaue Strohhut) is a 1949 West German period comedy film directed by Viktor Tourjansky and starring Margot Hielscher, Karl Schönböck and Mady Rahl.Goble p. 324 It was shot at the Bavaria Studios in Munich and ...

'' (1949) * ''

The Man Who Wanted to Live Twice ''The Man Who Wanted to Live Twice'' (german: Der Mann, der zweimal leben wollte) is a 1950 West German drama film directed by Viktor Tourjansky and starring Rudolf Forster, Olga Tschechowa and Heidemarie Hatheyer. The future star Marianne Koch m ...

'' (1950) * ''

A Heidelberg Romance ''A Heidelberg Romance'' (german: Heidelberger Romanze) is a 1951 West German romance film directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Liselotte Pulver, O.W. Fischer and Gardy Granass. While accompanying his daughter on a trip to Heidelberg, a wealthy ...

'' (1951) * ''

Immortal Light ''Immortal Light'' (german: Unvergängliches Licht) is a 1951 West German drama film directed by Arthur Maria Rabenalt and starring Rudolf Forster, Cornell Borchers and Volker von Collande.Bock & Bergfelder p. 487 It was shot at the Bavaria Studi ...

'' (1951) * '' Palace Hotel'' (1952) * ''

We're Dancing on the Rainbow ''We're Dancing on the Rainbow'' (german: Wir tanzen auf dem Regenbogen, it, Senza veli) is a 1952 German-Italian musical melodrama film directed by Carmine Gallone and Arthur Maria Rabenalt and starring Inge Egger, Isa Barzizza and Karl Schön ...

'' (1952) * '' That Can Happen to Anyone'' (1952) * ''

The Divorcée ''The Divorcée'' (german: Die geschiedene Frau) is a 1953 German musical film directed by George Jacoby and starring Marika Rökk, Johannes Heesters and Hans Nielsen. It was based on the operetta '' Die geschiedene Frau'' by Leo Fall and Vict ...

'' (1953) * '' Dreaming Lips'' (1953) * '' Salto Mortale'' (1953) * ''

Walking Back into the Past ''Walking Back into the Past'' (German: ''Weg in die Vergangenheit'') is a 1954 Austrian drama film directed by Karl Hartl and starring Paula Wessely, Attila Hörbiger and Josef Meinrad.Fritsche p.250 It was shot at the Thalerhof Studios in Graz ...

'' (1954) * '' Der 10. Mai'' (1957) * ''

The Cheese Factory in the Hamlet ''The Cheese Factory in the Hamlet'' (German: ''Die Käserei in der Vehfreude'') is a 1958 Swiss historical comedy film directed by Franz Schnyder and starring Annemarie Düringer, Franz Matter and Heinrich Gretler.Luhr p.542 It is an adaptation ...

'' (1958) * '' Jakobli and Meyeli'' (1962)

References

Bibliography

* Kreimeier, Klaus. ''The Ufa Story: A History of Germany's Greatest Film Company, 1918-1945''. University of California Press, 1999.

External links

* 1902 births 1977 deaths German cinematographers Emigrants from the Russian Empire to Germany {{Russia-bio-stub