Manfred Noa (22 March 1893 – 5 December 1930) 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 ...

. Noa was described by

Vilma Bánky Vilma Bánky (born Vilma Koncsics;Hungarian civil registration document from Nagydorog, available through LDS records; film number 1793002 Items 4–5 9 January 1901 – 18 March 1991) was a Hungarian-American silent film actress. Although her ...

, who he directed twice, as her "favourite director". Noa's 1924 film '' Helena'' has been called his "masterpiece" although it was so expensive that it seriously damaged the finances of

Bavaria Film Bavaria Film is a German film production and film distribution, distribution company. It is one of Europe's largest film production companies, with some 30 subsidiaries. History The studios were founded in 1919, when Munich-raised film produc ...

.Schildgen p.42 Noa is perhaps best known today for his 1922 film ''

Nathan the Wise ''Nathan the Wise'' (original German title: ', ) is a play by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing from 1779. It is a fervent plea for religious tolerance. It was never performed during Lessing's lifetime and was first performed in 1783 at the Döbbelinsch ...

'', an adaptation of

Gotthold Ephraim Lessing Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (, ; 22 January 1729 – 15 February 1781) was a philosopher, dramatist, publicist and art critic, and a representative of the Enlightenment era. His plays and theoretical writings substantially influenced the developmen ...

's 1779 play of the same title, which made a plea for religious tolerance. He was the third husband of the actress

Eva May Eva Maria Mandl (29 May 1902 – 10 September 1924), known professionally as Eva May, was an Austrian actress. She was the daughter of the film director Joe May and his wife Mia May. In 1924, she committed suicide by gunshot. Biography Eva Mar ...

, who was the daughter of his fellow director

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 ...

. Noa died 5 December 1930 in Berlin of

peritonitis Peritonitis is inflammation of the localized or generalized peritoneum, the lining of the inner wall of the abdomen and cover of the abdominal organs. Symptoms may include severe pain, swelling of the abdomen, fever, or weight loss. One part or ...

Selected filmography

* ''

The Uncanny House ''The Uncanny House'' (German: ''Das unheimliche Haus'') is a 1916 German silent mystery film directed by Richard Oswald and starring Werner Krauss, Reinhold Schünzel and Lupu Pick. It was released in three parts.Bock & Bergfelder p.261 The s ...

'' (1916) * ''

The Diamond Foundation ''The Diamond Foundation'' (German: ''Die Diamantenstiftung'') is a 1917 German silent film, silent crime film directed by Johannes Guter and starring Ernst Reicher, Marija Leiko and Frida Richard.Hanisch p.349 It was one of a long series of films ...

'' (1917) * ''

The Lord of Hohenstein ''The Lord of Hohenstein'' (German: ''Der Schloßherr von Hohenstein'') is a 1917 German silent drama film directed by Richard Oswald and starring Bernd Aldor, Rita Clermont and Lupu Pick.Bock & Bergfelder p.433 The film's sets were designed ...

'' (1917) * ''

Love Love encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest Interpersonal relationship, interpersonal affection, to the simplest pleasure. An example of this range of ...

'' (1919) * ''

The Girl and the Men ''The Girl and the Men'' (German: ''Das Mädchen und die Männer'') is a 1919 German silent film directed by Manfred Noa and starring Paul Hartmann, Werner Krauss and Reinhold Schünzel.Bock & Bergfelder p.433 Cast In alphabetical order * Hanne ...

'' (1919) * '' Wibbel the Tailor'' (1920) * ''

Hate Hatred is an intense negative emotional response towards certain people, things or ideas, usually related to opposition or revulsion toward something. Hatred is often associated with intense feelings of anger, contempt, and disgust. Hatred is s ...

'' (1920) * ''

Sons of the Night ''Sons of the Night'' (german: Söhne der Nacht) is a 1921 German silent film directed by Manfred Noa and starring Tzwetta Tzatschewa, Hans Albers and Ludwig Rex.Krautz p. 241 It premiered at the Marmorhaus in Berlin, and was released in two par ...

'' (1921) * ''

'' (1922) * '' Helena'' (1924) * ''

The Wonderful Adventure ''The Wonderful Adventure'' (German: ''Das schöne Abenteuer'') is a 1924 German silent film directed by Manfred Noa and starring Vilma Bánky, Georg Alexander and Ernst Reicher.Schildgen p.42 The film's sets were designed by the art director O ...

'' (1924) * ''

Should We Get Married? ''Should We Get Married?'' (German: ''Soll man heiraten?'') is a 1925 German silent film directed by Manfred Noa and starring Vilma Bánky, Angelo Ferrari and Max Landa.Schildgen p.42 The film's art direction was by Hermann Warm. Cast In alph ...

'' (1925) * '' Young Blood'' (1926) * ''

Wrath of the Seas ''Wrath of the Seas'' or ''When Fleet Meets Fleet'' (German: ''Die versunkene Flotte'') is a silent war film released in 1926. Directed by Graham Hewett and Manfred Noa and starring Bernhard Goetzke, Agnes Esterhazy and Nils Asther.Bock & Bergf ...

'' (1926) * ''

The Uncle from the Provinces ''The Uncle from the Provinces'' (German: ''Der Provinzonkel'') is a 1926 German silent film directed by Manfred Noa and starring Jakob Tiedtke, Margarete Kupfer and Liane Haid.Grange p.227 The film's sets were designed by Julius von Borsody. ...

'' (1926) * ''

Why Get a Divorce? ''Why Get a Divorce?'' (German: ''Warum sich scheiden lassen?'') is a 1926 German silent comedy film directed by Manfred Noa and starring André Mattoni, Vivian Gibson, and Colette Brettel. It premiered in Berlin on 4 March 1926.Grange p.220 ...

'' (1926) * '' Die Dame von Paris'' (1927) * ''

Queen of the Boulevards ''Queen of the Boulevards'' (German: ''Glanz und Elend der Kurtisanen'') is a 1927 German silent drama film directed by Manfred Noa and starring Paul Wegener, Andrée Lafayette and Werner Fuetterer.Bock & Bergfelder p.155 It is based on the nov ...

'' (1927) * ''

The Eighteen Year Old ''The Eighteen Year Old'' (german: Die Achtzehnjährigen) is a 1927 German silent drama film directed by Manfred Noa and starring Andrée Lafayette, Ernő Verebes, and Frida Richard. It was made at the Staaken Studios in Berlin. The film's sets ...

'' (1927) * ''

Casanova's Legacy ''Casanova's Legacy'' (German: ''Casanovas Erbe'') is a 1928 German silent film directed by Manfred Noa and starring Andrée Lafayette, Maly Delschaft and Elizza La Porta.Bock & Bergfelder p.156 The film's sets were designed by the art director ...

'' (1928) * ''

The Lady and the Chauffeur ''The Lady and the Chauffeur'' (German: ''Die Dame und ihr Chauffeur'') is a 1928 German silent comedy film directed by Manfred Noa and starring Jack Trevor, Fritz Alberti and Elisabeth Pinajeff.Bock & Bergfelder p.17 It was shot at the Grunewal ...

'' (1928) * ''

Modern Pirates ''Modern Pirates'' (german: Moderne Piraten) is a 1928 German silent comedy film directed by Manfred Noa and starring Jack Trevor, Marietta Millner, and Sig Arno. The film's sets were designed by the art director Alexander Ferenczy Alexander ...

'' (1928) * ''

Revolt in the Batchelor's House ''Revolt in the Batchelor's House'' (German: ''Aufruhr im Junggesellenheim'') is a 1929 German silent comedy film directed by Manfred Noa and starring Sig Arno, Kurt Gerron and Trude Hesterberg. It was one of two films starring Arno and Gerron ...

'' (1929) * '' My Sister and I'' (1929) * '' Mon coeur incognito'' (1930) * '' Der Walzerkönig'' (1930) * ''

Road to Rio ''Road to Rio'' is a 1947 American semimusical comedy film directed by Norman Z. McLeod and starring Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Dorothy Lamour. Written by Edmund Beloin and Jack Rose, the film is about two inept vaudevillians who stow away on ...

'' (1931) * '' La regina di Sparta'' (1931)

References

Bibliography

* Eisner, Lotte H. ''The Haunted Screen: Expressionism in the German Cinema and the Influence of Max Reinhardt''. University of California Press, 2008. * Kester, Bernadette. ''Film Front Weimar: Representations of the First World War in German films of the Weimar Period (1919-1933)''. Amsterdam University Press, 2003. * Prawer, S.S. ''Between Two Worlds: The Jewish Presence in German and Austrian Film, 1910-1933''. Berghahn Books, 2007. * Schildgen, Rachel A. ''More Than A Dream: Rediscovering the Life and Films of Vilma Banky''. 1921 PVG Publishing, 2010.

External links

* 1893 births 1930 deaths German art directors Film directors from Berlin 19th-century German Jews {{Germany-film-director-stub