Pál Jávor (31 January 1902 – 14 August 1959) was a
Hungarian actor, and the country's first male movie star.
Life
Early years
Pál Jávor (born Pál Jermann) was born 31 January 1902 in Arad to Pál Jermann, a 53-year-old cashier and Katalin Spannenberg, a 17-year-old servant-maiden. His parents, who only married after his birth, had 3 children to care for, which made life hard for the family, who moved often. His mother later opened a grocery store on Arad's Kossuth Street. Jávor was a student in a state operated gymnasium, but often played truant to see movies in the town's two theatres. From very early on, he wanted to break away from his homeland and from the simple life his mother wished for him.
During
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, he ran away to serve on the front as a courier. He was caught and transported back months later by the military police. In 1918, after the Romanian occupation, having worked as a junior reporter for the ''Aradi Hírlap'', he chose not to take the oath of allegiance of the new state, and set out to emigrate to
Denmark
Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
, so he could act in the Danish movies he idolized. As the state offered free train tickets to anyone who wished to leave the country, he willingly chose exile from
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...
, but his ticket was revoked in Budapest.
Theatre life
Jávor, now seeking to gain recognition in the Hungarian capital, went to study at the
Academy of Drama. Living in great poverty, and expelled from the academy for unknown reasons, he earned his degree at the Actor's Guild School in 1922. Jávor acted in various roles in theatres in Budapest,
Székesfehérvár
Székesfehérvár (; ; ; ; Serbian language, Serbian: ''Стони Београд''; ), known colloquially as Fehérvár (), is a city in central Hungary, and the country's ninth-largest city. It is the Regions of Hungary, regional capital of C ...
and in several other smaller towns, but his desolute lifestyle made it hard to work with him. After being banned from the Guild in 1926, he played in small roles in different theatres around the country, and later in Budapest, aided by mentors of the acting community, and slowly gaining the interest of critics. He was a member of the
Vígszínház
The Comedy Theatre of Budapest () is a theatre in Budapest. Starting in the late 19th century as an opposition to the conservative National Theatre (Budapest), National Theatre, it became a pioneer institution of Hungary, Hungarian drama, and one o ...
between 1930 and 1935, and later the
Nemzeti Színház between 1935 and 1944.
Becoming a movie star
The opportunity to appear in movies first came in 1929, when he starred in ''Csak egy kislány van a világon'', which was to be the last Hungarian silent film. Ironically, this was also the first one to feature sound, as technicians got hold of the technology during the last days of shooting. This allowed Jávor to sing a song in one of the scenes, which, combined with the charm and temperament that became his later trademark, secured him firm employment in the country's nascent film industry. He took the lead role in the first Hungarian movie with sound, ''Kék Bálvány'', and a smaller one in the second, ''
Hyppolit, a lakáj'', which became the first real hit among the public.
Jávor quickly became an idol of the 30s, appearing in numerous movies, but also remained popular on stage. The sudden fame weighed heavily on the young actor, leading to him returning to alcohol and to frequent clashes with co-workers and the then-powerful newspaper owners, resulting in numerous scandals. His life was eased when he met and, in 1934, married Olga Landesmann, a Jewish widow with two children, who provided him with a welcoming home and family.
During the war
After 1940,
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
slowly became a part of life for Hungarian citizens and the theatre world alike, with working conditions becoming increasingly harsher, which Jávor could hardly bear. Being anxious about the theatre regulations, and the defaming of fellow actors, he often clashed with superiors. Charged with making unlawful political comments, he became the target of the Gestapo. After hiding in
Balatonfüred and
Agárd, he returned to Budapest, thinking that the danger of arrest was over. After another quarrel with the manager of the Actor's Guild, the Guild suspended him from practicing the profession, and also banned his movies.
After the
German invasion of Hungary, he was arrested by
Arrow Party members. Jávor was first held in the prison of
Sopronkőhida under dire conditions, then transported to
Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
. After being liberated by Allied forces, he awaited for the end of the war in
Tann and
Pfarrkirchen. His confinement lasted over nine months, about which he wrote a recollection published in 1946.
After the war, he found that the theatre world had largely rejected him, offering him only a few roles. The intellectual and
cultural cleansing
Cultural genocide or culturicide is a concept first described by Polish lawyer Raphael Lemkin in 1944, in the same book that coined the term ''genocide''. The destruction of culture was a central component in Lemkin's formulation of genocide. ...
of the new Communist government left him virtually no possibilities. Between July and August 1946, Jávor made a successful tour of Romania, and then, on 15 October, after answering several calls, travelled to the United States.
Living in the United States
After arriving in the United States, he was met with great acclaim by the emigrant community, but despite this, he could only arrange small comedic and musical shows, which he found humiliating. Slowly sinking into depression and reaching again for alcohol, the quality of his shows also sank, emptying audience seats. While he thought about returning home, he received no encouraging news from Hungary, and the increasingly tense political situation also forced him to remain in the States. He traveled to Hollywood to seek film roles, but his limited English left him few possibilities. His best known appearance in a Hollywood movie is probably the small role of famous operatic baritone
Antonio Scotti in the hit film ''
The Great Caruso'' (1951), starring
Mario Lanza
Mario Lanza ( , ; born Alfredo Arnold Cocozza ; January 31, 1921 – October 7, 1959) was an American tenor and actor. He was a Hollywood film star popular in the late 1940s and the 1950s. Lanza began studying to be a professional singer a ...
.
With humiliating castings and low ranking roles he found degrading, Jávor joined a touring group, performing Hungarian hit songs. Later he also worked part-time as a gatekeeper and computer operator. During his 11 years in the US, Jávor met numerous difficulties, but also remembered joyful moments: he wrote numerous articles in American-Hungarian papers, and with his journalist ID he could visit movie theatres for free. Through a voluntary detoxication cure, he gave up alcohol-addiction, and befriended several emigrant artists living in the United States, including
Sándor Márai
(; Archaic English name: Alexander Márai; 11 April 1900 – 21 February 1989) was a Hungarian people, Hungarian writer, poet, and journalist.
Biography
Márai was born on 11 April 1900 in the city of Košice, Kassa, Kingdom of Hungary, Hun ...
.
Final years
In 1956, while touring
Israel
Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...
with an occasional group, he learnt that he could finally go home - which he did in 1957, awaited by friends, and jobs in the ''Jókai'' and ''Petőfi'' theatres. However, the years of hardships were still fresh on Jávor's mind, and several critics found his acting lacking. But his still living legend carried him on, making several successful appearances, and a movie deal.
But his health could not tolerate the high intensity life. While spending over one year in bed, the National Theatre re-hired him, and he was often visited by old friends, also resolving some grudges of the past. His state worsened and, after a seizure, he was transported to a Budapest hospital, where he died on 14 August 1959 from stomach cancer.
He was 57 years old
His burial was a theatrical ceremony, his coffin followed by tens of thousands of fans to the
Farkasréti Cemetery.
Legacy
Pál Jávor is regarded as one of the most influential actors of Hungarian film, a widely recognized character of his era.
Filmography
*''Csak egy kislány van a világon'' (1929)
* ''
The Blue Idol'' (1931)
*''
Hyppolit, a lakáj'' (1931)
* ''
Miss Iza'' (1933)
*''
A bor'' (1933)
* ''
The Rakoczi March
''The Rakoczi March'' () is a 1933 drama film directed by Gustav Fröhlich and Steve Sekely and starring Fröhlich, Leopold Kramer and Camilla Horn. It was a International co-production, co-production between Austria, Germany and Hungary.Dassa ...
'' (1933)
*''Ida regénye'' (1934)
*''
Emmy
The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award catego ...
'' (1934)
* ''
Thanks for Knocking Me Down'' (1935)
* ''
The Homely Girl'' (1935)
* ''
The Students of Igloi'' (1935)
* ''
Miss President'' (1935)
* ''
I Can't Live Without Music'' (1935)
* ''
The New Landlord'' (1935)
* ''
Salary, 200 a Month'' (1936)
*''
Half-Rate Honeymoon'' (1936)
*''
Sister Maria'' (1937)
* ''
Pay Up, Madam!'' (1937)
*''A torockói menyasszony'' (1937)
* ''
All Men Are Crazy
''All Men Are Crazy'' (Hungarian: ''A férfi mind örült'') is a 1937 Hungarian comedy film directed by Viktor Gertler and starring Mária Lázár, Pál Jávor, Piroska Vaszary and Antal Páger.Balski p.93 It was shot at the Hunnia Studios ...
'' (1937)
* ''
Viki'' (1937)
* ''
Beauty of the Pusta'' (1937)
*''Maga lesz a férjem'' (1937)
*''
Marika'' (1937)
* ''
Two Prisoners'' (1938)
*''
Number 111'' (1938)
* ''
Young Noszty and Mary Toth'' (1938)
*''
Black Diamonds
Carbonado, commonly known as black diamond, is one of the toughest forms of natural diamond. It is an impure, high-density, micro-porous form of polycrystalline diamond consisting of diamond, graphite, and amorphous carbon, with minor crystal ...
'' (1938)
* ''
Bence Uz'' (1938)
* ''
Stars of Variety'' (1939)
* ''
Wedding in Toprin'' (1939)
*''
The Perfect Man'' (1939)
*''Halálos tavasz'' (1939)
*''Fűszer és csemege'' (1939)
*''Jöjjön elsején!'' (1940)
*''
Gül Baba
Gül Baba (died 1541), also known as Jafer, was an Ottoman Bektashi dervish poet and companion of Sultan Suleiman I () who took part in a number of campaigns in Europe from the reign of Mehmed II onwards.
Biography
A native of Merzifon ...
'' (1940)
* ''
Queen Elizabeth'' (1940)
* ''
Dankó Pista'' (1940)
* ''
Yes or No?'' (1940)
* ''
Much Ado About Emmi'' (1940)
*''Egy csók és más semmi'' (1940)
* ''
Mirage by the Lake'' (1940)
*''A szerelem nem szégyen'' (1940)
* ''
Flames'' (1941)
* ''
Left-Handed Angel'' (1941)
* ''
Today, Yesterday and Tomorrow'' (1941)
* ''
Silent Monastery'' (1941)
* ''
A Bowl of Lentils'' (1941)
* ''
Three Bells'' (1941)
*''Lelki klinika'' (1941)
*''Életre ítéltek!'' (1941)
* ''
The Last Song'' (1942)
* ''
The Talking Robe'' (1942)
* ''
A Woman Looks Back'' (1942)
* ''
Guard House Number 5'' (1942)
*''
Carmela'' (1942)
* ''
Yellow Hell'' (1942)
*''Estélyi ruha kötelező'' (1942)
*''Pista tekintetes úr'' (1942)
*''Ópiumkeringő'' (1942)
*''Késő…'' (1943)
* ''
The Marsh Flower'' (1943)
*''Makrancos hölgy'' (1943)
*''Kerek Ferkó'' (1943)
* ''
The White Train'' (1943)
* ''
Something in the Water'' (1944)
* ''
Eva Szovathy'' (1944)
* ''
A Plane Has Not Returned'' (1944)
*''Madách'' (1944)
* ''
The Schoolmistress'' (1945)
*''
The Great Caruso'' (1951) as
Antonio Scotti
*''
Assignment – Paris!'' (1952)
References
*Tibor, Bános. ''Jávor Pál''. Budapest: Athaneum 2000 Kiadó, 2001. .
– Pál Jávor in the Hungarian Theatrical Lexicon (György, Székely. ''Magyar Színházművészeti Lexikon''. Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1994. ), freely available on mek.oszk.hu
External links
Article on Pál Jávor from Nyugati Jelen Polgári Napilap, 1 February 2002.*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Javor, Pal
1902 births
1959 deaths
People from Arad, Romania
Hungarian male film actors
Hungarian male stage actors
Burials at Farkasréti Cemetery
20th-century Hungarian male actors