Marta Flantz, also spelled Flanz (1885 – 1938) was a Polish German-speaking actress and film director. She was among the first women in Poland to direct a feature film.

Biography

Marta Flantz was born in 1885. She studied acting in Vienna with

Max Reinhardt Max Reinhardt (; born Maximilian Goldmann; 9 September 1873 – 30 October 1943) was an Austrian-born Theatre director, theatre and film director, theater manager, intendant, and theatrical producer. With his innovative stage productions, he i ...

; she acted in German. Flantz was married to the film director Bolesław Land. Together with Nina Niovilla,

Stanisława Perzanowska Stanisława Perzanowska (born July 2, 1898 in Warsaw - May 24, 1982 in Warsaw) was a Polish actress, theater and film director, professor at the National Higher School of Theatre in Warsaw. She graduated from the Warsaw Dramatic School in 1919. I ...

(co-director of ''Jego wielka miłość''; 1936) and Wanda Jakubowska, she was one of four women who directed full-length

feature films A feature film or feature-length film is a narrative film (motion picture or "movie") with a running time long enough to be considered the principal or sole presentation in a commercial entertainment program. The term ''feature film'' originall ...

in the interwar Poland. In 1929, Flantz played the title role in ''The Morality of Mrs. Dulska'' (1930) – the first Polish sound film, an adaptation of Gabriela Zapolska's play with the same

title A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may be inserted between the f ...

. Flantz was also a co-director of the sound scenes. Because she played in German, her role was dubbed. Her acting received favorable reviews. In the 1930s, Flantz joined the Leo-Film production company ran by Maria Hirszbein. Flantz, together with Bolesław Land, wrote the screenplay for ''

Prokurator Alicja Horn ''Prokurator Alicja Horn'' is a 1933 Polish film directed by Marta Flanz and Michał Waszyński. The film's art direction was by Jacek Rotmil. Cast *Jadwiga Smosarska ... Alicja Horn * Zofia Mirska ... Julka * Franciszek Brodniewicz ... Ja ...

'' (1933), based on the novel by

Tadeusz Dołęga-Mostowicz Tadeusz Dołęga-Mostowicz (; 10 August 1898 – 20 September 1939) was a Polish writer, journalist and author of over a dozen popular novels. One of his best known works, which in Poland became a byword for fortuitous careerism, was ''The Career ...

. Flantz also directed the film together with Michał Waszyński. Two years later, she was the sole director of the romantic comedy ''

Kochaj tylko mnie ''Kochaj tylko mnie'' is a 1935 Polish romantic comedy film directed by Marta Flantz. Cast *Lidia Wysocka - Lidia Relska / Hanka, Żarski's daughter *Kazimierz Junosza-Stępowski - Żarski *Witold Zacharewicz - Stefan Guzecki *Helena Grossów ...

'' produced by Leo-Film. The main roles were played by: the debutante

Lidia Wysocka Lidia Wysocka (June 24, 1916 – January 2, 2006) was a Polish stage, film and voice actress, singer, cabaret performer and creative director, theatre director and costume designer, editorialist. Filmography In 1934 she dubbed Madeleine Carroll ...

Kazimierz Junosza-Stępowski Kazimierz Junosza-Stępowski (26 November 1880 – 5 July 1943) was a Polish stage and film actor. He was a legendary figure in Polish cinema who had appeared in the earliest Polish films in 1902. Junosza-Stępowski was killed while trying to pro ...

Michał Znicz Michał Znicz (1888–1943) was a Polish stage and film actor. Selected filmography * '' Młody las'' (1934) * ''Pieśniarz Warszawy'' (1934) * '' Co mój mąż robi w nocy?'' (1934) * ''Love, Cherish, Respect'' (1934) * '' Panienka z poste rest ...

Witold Zacharewicz Witold Zacharewicz (26 August 1914 – 16 February 1943) was a Polish film actor of the 1930s. During the German occupation of Poland he was arrested and murdered at Auschwitz. Life In 1938 Witold Zacharewicz got an offer to sign a deal with the ...

and

Helena Grossówna Helena Grossówna (1904, Thorn, German Empire – 1994, Warsaw, Poland) was a Polish actress and dancer, who starred in several popular Polish films during the interwar period. She worked as a waitress during the German occupation of Poland, and a ...

. The film followed love affairs of a theater star. Flantz died in 1938.

Works

* 1929: ''Policmajster Tagiejew'' – the role of Ciotunia * 1930: '' The Morality of Mrs. Dulska'' – the role of Aniela Dulska, direction of sound scenes * 1931: ''

Uwiedziona ''Uwiedziona'' is a 1931 Polish film directed by Michał Waszyński. Cast * Maria Malicka ... Lena *Kazimierz Junosza-Stępowski ... Rawicz * Krystyna Ankwicz ... Maria Rawicza * Zbigniew Sawan ... Jerzy Rawicz *Tadeusz Olsza ... Gust ...

'' – the role of Madame * 1933: ''

'' – screenplay and direction * 1935: ''

'' – direction

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Flantz, Marta 1885 births 1938 deaths Polish women film directors Polish women screenwriters Women film pioneers 20th-century Polish actresses