Wolf Albach-Retty (born Wolfgang Helmuth Albert Albach; 28 May 1906 – 21 February 1967) was an Austrian actor. He was the father of

Romy Schneider Romy Schneider (; born Rosemarie Magdalena Albach; 23 September 1938 – 29 May 1982) was a German-French actress. She began her career in the German genre in the early 1950s when she was 15. From 1955 to 1957, she played the central chara ...

with the German actress

Magda Schneider Magdalena Maria Schneider (17 May 1909 – 30 July 1996) was a German actress and singer. She was the mother of the actress Romy Schneider. Biography Magdalena Maria Schneider was born in Augsburg, Bavaria, the daughter of a plumber. She att ...

Career

Born as Wolfgang Helmuth Albert Albach in Vienna to actress

Rosa Albach-Retty Rosa Albach-Retty (born Rosa Clara Franziska Helene Retty; 26 December 1874 – 26 August 1980) was an Austrian film and stage actress. Life Born into a well-known family of Austrian actors, she was the daughter of actor and director Rudolf Ret ...

and K. u. K. officer Karl Albach, Albach-Retty trained at the

University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna The University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (german: link=no, Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien, abbreviated MDW) is an Austrian university located in Vienna, established in 1817. With a student body of over three thousa ...

, and at the age of twenty played his first role at the Vienna Burgtheater. He was a young man when he first appeared in a

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized Sound recording and reproduction, 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) ...

role in 1927. In 1933 Albach-Retty became a patron member of the SS and in 1940 he joined the

Nazi Party The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party (german: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP), was a far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that created and supported t ...

. During the

Third Reich 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 made

romance film Romance films or movies involve romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theatres or on television that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters. Typically their journey ...

s and musicals. In 1936 he married

and temporarily took up

German citizenship German nationality law details the conditions by which an individual holds German nationality. The primary law governing these requirements is the Nationality Act, which came into force on 1 January 1914. Germany is a member state of the Europ ...

. In 1944, he was added to head of

Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda The Reich Ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda (; RMVP), also known simply as the Ministry of Propaganda (), controlled the content of the press, literature, visual arts, film, theater, music and radio in Nazi Germany. The ministry ...

Joseph Goebbels' ''Gottbegnadeten'' list of individuals that Goebbels considered crucial to

Nazi culture Nazism ( ; german: Nazismus), the common name in English for National Socialism (german: Nationalsozialismus, ), is the far-right totalitarian political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Na ...

. His addition to the list made him exempt from military service obligations. Albachretty grab

After

World War II 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 opposing ...

, his acting career soured as his past successes were no longer remembered and he was only able to find supporting acting roles in films. He returned to the Burgtheater and starred in, among other plays, ''Anatol'' by

Arthur Schnitzler Arthur Schnitzler (15 May 1862 – 21 October 1931) was an Austrian author and dramatist. Biography Arthur Schnitzler was born at Praterstrasse 16, Leopoldstadt, Vienna, capital of the Austrian Empire (as of 1867, part of the dual monarchy ...

. By that time he was into his second marriage to actress

Trude Marlen Trude Marlen (born Trude Posch; 1912–2005) was an Austrian stage and film actress. She was the second wife of Wolf Albach-Retty, and moved to Germany to live with him during the Nazi era where she was well-connected with the Nazi leadership. She ...

, they had a daughter Sacha Darwin (* 1947) together. He died in Vienna and is buried in Vienna's

Zentralfriedhof The Vienna Central Cemetery (german: Wiener Zentralfriedhof) is one of the largest cemeteries in the world by number of interred, and is the most well-known cemetery among Vienna's nearly 50 cemeteries. The cemetery's name is descriptive of its ...

Selected filmography

*1927: ''Das grobe Hemd'' *1928: ''Ein Wiener Musikantenmädel'' *1928: '' The Mysterious Mirror'' - Bildhauer *1928: ''

Love in May ''Love in May'' (German: ''Liebe im Mai'') is a 1928 Austrian silent film directed by Robert Wohlmuth and starring Wolf Albach-Retty, Betty Astor and Igo Sym.Dziergwa p.154 The film's sets were designed by the art directors Artur Berger and Em ...

'' *1929: ''Der Dieb im Schlafcoupée'' *1930: '' The Uncle from Sumatra'' *1930: '' General Babka'' *1930: ''Der Fleck auf der Ehr'' - Fred, ihr Enkel *1931: ''Wiener Zauberklänge'' - Teddy Beamgarden *1932: ''

Two Hearts Beat as One "Two Hearts Beat as One" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the seventh track on their 1983 album, ''War'', and was released as its second single in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia on 21 March 1983. History The music video ...

'' - Victor Müller *1932: ''

Girls to Marry ''Girls to Marry'' (german: Mädchen zum Heiraten) is a 1932 German romantic comedy film directed by Wilhelm Thiele and starring Renate Müller, Hermann Thimig and Wolf Albach-Retty.''Gainsborough Pictures'' p. 42 It was shot at the Babelsberg ...

'' - Paul, sein Bruder *1932: '' The Beautiful Adventure'' - Andre d'Eguzon *1932: '' The Black Hussar'' - Leutnant Aribert von Blome *1933: '' And the Plains Are Gleaming'' - Peter Borly, Husarenleutnant *1933: ''Kind, ich freu' mich auf dein Kommen'' - Herbert *1933: ''

Love Must Be Understood ''Love Must Be Understood'' (german: Liebe muss verstanden sein) is a 1933 German musical comedy film directed by Hans Steinhoff and starring Rosy Barsony, Georg Alexander, and Wolf Albach-Retty. It was shot at the Babelsberg Studios in Berlin. T ...

'' - Bobby Brandt, Ellens Vetter *1934: '' Just Once a Great Lady'' - Heinz von Wolfenstein *1934: ''

Spring Parade ''Spring Parade'' is a 1940 American musical comedy film directed by Henry Koster and starring Deanna Durbin. It is a remake of the 1934 film. Plot Based on a story by Ernst Marischka, the film is about a Hungarian woman who attends a Viennese ...

'' - Wilhelm August Jurek *1934: ''

Tales from the Vienna Woods "Tales from the Vienna Woods" (german: "Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald", links=no, italic=no, occasionally ) is a waltz by Johann Strauss II. Composed in 1868, , Op. 325, was one of six Viennese waltzes by Johann Strauss II which featured a vi ...

'' - Graf Rudi von Waldheim *1935: ''Die Katz' im Sack'' - Edmund Vernon, Rennfahrer *1935: '' Winter Night's Dream'' - Peter Kreutzberg *1935: ''Großreinemachen'' - Robert Cox *1935: '' The Bird Seller'' - Adam der Vogelhändler *1935: ''Sylvia und ihr Chauffeur'' - Dr. Hartenegg *1936: ''Rendezvous in Wien'' - Franz Lenhardt - Musiker *1936: ''Die Puppenfee'' - Alexander - sein Bruder *1936: ''Geheimnis eines alten Hauses'' - Teddy Eberlein *1937: ''Millionäre/Ich möcht' so gern mit Dir allein sein'' - Fred, beider Sohn *1937: ''Die glücklichste Ehe der Welt'' - Peter Reiterer *1937: ''

Darling of the Sailors ''Darling of the Sailors'' (German: ''Liebling der Matrosen'') is a 1937 Austrian comedy film directed by Hans Hinrich and starring Traudl Stark, Wolf Albach-Retty and Richard Romanowsky.Tuska, Piekarski & Wilson p.306 The film's sets were design ...

'' - Kapitänleutnant Igor Juritsch *1938: ''Frühlingsluft'' - Erbprinz, Rudolf *1938: ''Der Hampelmann'' - Paul Oertel *1939: ''

Hotel Sacher Hotel Sacher is a five-star luxury hotel in Vienna, Austria, facing the Vienna State Opera in the city's central Innere Stadt district. It is famous for the specialty of the house, the Sachertorte, a chocolate cake with apricot filling. There is ...

'' - Lt. Herrngruber *1939: ''Liebe streng verboten'' *1939: ''Heimatland'' - Günther Nordmann, Reitlehrer *1939: '' A Mother's Love'' - Walter Pirlinger - 1922 *1939: ''Das Glück wohnt nebenan'' *1940: ''Wie konntest Du, Veronika'' - Dr. Fred Junker *1940: ''

Falstaff in Vienna ''Falstaff in Vienna'' (german: Falstaff in Wien) is a 1940 German musical comedy film directed by Leopold Hainisch and starring Hans Nielsen, Gusti Wolf and Paul Hörbiger.Fawkes p. 110 It portrays the life of the nineteenth century composer Ot ...

'' - Robert von Weitenegg *1940: ''

Seven Years Hard Luck ''Seven Years Hard Luck'' (german: Sieben Jahre Pech) is a 1940 German romantic comedy film directed by Ernst Marischka and starring Hans Moser, Ida Wüst and Olly Holzmann.Von Dassanowsky p. 101 The film's sets were designed by the art direct ...

'' - Heinz Kersten *1941: ''So gefällst Du mir'' - Peter Seidl *1941: ''Tanz mit dem Kaiser'' - Rittmeister von Kleber *1942: ''Die heimliche Gräfin'' - Michael Hohenwardt *1942: ''

Seven Years of Good Luck ''Seven Years of Good Luck'' (german: Sieben Jahre Glück) is a 1942 German comedy film directed by Ernst Marischka and starring Wolf Albach-Retty, Theo Lingen and Hans Moser. It is a sequel to the 1940 film '' Seven Years Hard Luck''.Von Dassano ...

''/''

Seven Years of Happiness ''Seven Years of Happiness'' (Italian: ''Sette anni di felicità'') is a 1943 Italian " white-telephones" comedy film directed by Ernst Marischka and Roberto Savarese and starring Vivi Gioi, Wolf Albach-Retty and Hans Moser. The film's sets were ...

'' - Heinz Kersten *1943: '' Two Happy People'' *1943: '' Mask in Blue'' - Georg Harding *1943: ''Abenteuer im Grand Hotel'' - Rudolf, Count Lerchenau / Rudi Lindt *1943: ''

The White Dream ''The White Dream'' (German: ''Der weiße Traum'') is a 1943 musical comedy film directed by Géza von Cziffra and starring Olly Holzmann, Elfriede Datzig and Wolf Albach-Retty. The film was made by Wien-Film, a Vienna-based company set up after ...

'' - Ernst Eder *1943: ''Reisebekanntschaft'' - Walter Falke *1943: ''Alles aus Liebe'' - Rolf Möller, Tierdresseur *1944: ''Romantische Brautfahrt'' - Der junge Baron Ferdinand Crisander *1944: ''Hundstage'' - Dr. Paul Wendler *1945: '' A Man Like Maximilian'' - Dr. Thomas Hesse *1945: ''Wie ein Dieb in der Nacht'' *1948: ''Alles Lüge'' - Will Wolters *1949: ''Ein bezaubernder Schwindler'' - Martin Palmer, junger Komponist *1949: '' Dangerous Guests'' - Peter Anders *1950: ''Grossstadtnacht'' - Alfred Siedler *1950: ''

Two in One Suit ''Two in One Suit'' (german: Zwei in einem Anzug) is a 1950 West German comedy film directed by Joe Stöckel and starring Stöckel, Wolf Albach-Retty and Olga Tschechowa.Frank p. 173 It was shot at the Bavaria Studios in Munich and on location ...

'' - Otto Vogel *1950: '' The Man in Search of Himself'' - Marius Aldon *1951: ''Czardas der Herzen'' - Peter Tornay / Paul Endre *1951: ' - Dr. Gött *1951: ''Unschuld in tausend Nöten/Das Mädel aus der Konfektion'' - Dr. Singer *1951: ' - Sandor von Halvany *1951: '' - Georg Schmittlein *1952: ''Der Mann in der Wanne'' *1952: '' Ideal Woman Sought'' - Robby Holm *1952: '' The Mine Foreman'' - Andreas Spaun, ein Kavalier *1953: '' The Bird Seller'' - Fürst *1954: ''

The Great Lola ''The Great Lola'' (german: Die tolle Lola) is a 1954 West German comedy film directed by Hans Deppe and starring Herta Staal, Wolf Albach-Retty and Grethe Weiser.Bock & Bergfelder p.519 The film's sets were designed by the art directors Willi ...

'' - Carlo Werner *1954: ''

The Sweetest Fruits ''The Sweetest Fruits'' (german: Die süßesten Früchte) is a 1954 West German comedy film directed by Franz Antel and starring Maria Holst, Wolf Albach-Retty and Hannelore Bollmann. It was shot at the Bavaria Studios in Munich and on locat ...

'' - Roberto di Caramello / Bananen-Beppo *1954: '' School for Marriage'' - Tobias *1954: ''

The Seven Dresses of Katrin ''The Seven Dresses of Katrin'' (german: Die sieben Kleider der Katrin) is a 1954 West German romantic comedy film directed by Hans Deppe and starring Sonja Ziemann, Paul Klinger, and Georg Thomalla. The film tells the story of a woman's life ...

'' - Martin Pall *1955: '' His Daughter is Called Peter'' - Ingenieur Max Klaar, ihr Vater *1955: '' Your Life Guards'' - Onkel Nikolaus *1956: ''Ein Herz und eine Seele/...und wer küsst mich?'' - Lindner *1956: ' - Enrico Alovanis *1956: ''

Engagement at Wolfgangsee ''Engagement at Wolfgangsee'' (German: ''Verlobung am Wolfgangsee'') is a 1956 Austrian comedy film directed by Helmut Weiss and starring Ingrid Andree, Wolf Albach-Retty and Maria Andergast. The film was shot in Agfacolor at the Schönbrunn St ...

'' - Erich Eckberg *1956: '' Imperial and Royal Field Marshal'' - Baron Linsky *1957: ' - Kapitän Paul Heider *1957: ' - Baron Siebenzell *1957: ' - Erzherzog Max *1958: '' Endangered Girls'' - Dr. Thomas Jensen *1958: ''Man ist nur zweimal jung'' - Peter Grafenegger *1958: '' Immer die Radfahrer'' - Prof. Johannes Büttner *1958: ''Mein ganzes Herz ist voll Musik'' - Niko Berthold *1959: ' - Albert Türkheim *1959: ''Peter, das Zirkuskind/Auf allen Strassen'' - Christian, Gutsbesitzer *1959: ''

Girls for the Mambo-Bar ''Girls for the Mambo-Bar'' (german: Mädchen für die Mambo-Bar) is a 1959 West German crime film directed by Wolfgang Glück and starring Kai Fischer, Gerlinde Locker and Jimmy Makulis.Lembach p.323 The film's sets were designed by the art ...

'' - Krüger *1959: '' Hunting Party'' - Friedrich Dahlhoff *1960: ''Frauen in Teufels Hand'' - Herr von Parisi *1960: ' - Mr. Reichert *1961: ' - Baron von Danning *1961: ''Autofahrer unterwegs/Auf den Strassen einer Stadt'' - Peters *1962: ''

The Post Has Gone ''The Post Has Gone'' (german: Die Post geht ab) is a 1962 West German musical comedy film directed by Helmuth M. Backhaus and starring Vivi Bach, Adrian Hoven, and Claus Biederstaedt.Bock & Bergfelder p.113 The film's sets were designed by the ...

'' - Lukas Lenz *1962: '' The Forester's Daughter'' - Graf Paalen *1963: '' Bergwind'' - Herr Meister *1964: ' - Chef der Wiener Eisrevue *1964: ''

The Cardinal ''The Cardinal'' is a 1963 American drama film produced independently, directed by Otto Preminger and distributed by Columbia Pictures. The screenplay was written by Robert Dozier, based on the novel of the same name (1950) by Henry Morton Robi ...

'' *1964: ''Die Kinder'' (TV Movie) - Gandolf Graf Freyn *1964: ''Das Mädel aus dem Böhmerwald'' - Herr Baumann *1965: ''Leinen aus Irland'' (TV Movie) - Ministerialrat Kress *1966: ''Die Tänzerin Fanny Elssler'' (TV Movie) - Fürst Esterházy (final film role)

References

External links

* *
Photos of Wolf Albach-Retty
{{DEFAULTSORT:Albach-Retty, Wolf 1906 births 1967 deaths Male actors from Vienna Austrian male film actors Austrian male silent film actors Förderndes Mitglied der SS University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna alumni Burials at the Vienna Central Cemetery 20th-century Austrian male actors Nazi Party members

Career

Selected filmography

References

Further reading

External links