Curd Jürgens Movies
German actor Curd Jurgens worked as a journalist until his first wife, actress Louise Basler, persuaded him to take up acting. In 1935 he began appearing on the German stage and screen, and gradually increased his career status until 1944, when he was sent to a concentration camp at the order of Dr. Goebbels. After his release he continued to appear in German films, gaining international recognition with his work in The Devil's General (1955). Jurgens went on to be a leading star of the European stage and international films; onscreen he often played urbane villains, and sometimes was cast as a Nazi. Although he appeared in over 100 films, he considered himself primarily a stage actor. He directed a few films with limited success, and also wrote screenplays. Jurgens was married five times; one of his wives was actress Eva Bartok. He authored an autobiography, Sixty and Not Yet Wise. ~ All Movie Guide- 1954
Curt Jurgens was still billing himself as Curd Juergens when he starred in the German "reality" drama Gefangene der Liche (Prisoner of Love). Though top billed, Jurgens' role is subordinate to the one played by Annemarie Dueringer, cast as a woman who has just endured eight horrible years in a Siberian prison camp. Returning to her husband (played by Jurgens), Annemarie finds she can no longer truly communicate with the man, nor does he seem sufficiently sympathetic to her suffering. Future director Bernhard Wicki appears as the "other man" in the story, who seems capable of providing the affection and reassurance that Jurgens cannot. Also in the cast is Brigitte Horney as a woman doctor who helps Annemarie make the transition from bondage to freedom. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bernhard Wicki
- 1954
Confession of Ina Kahr is a pay-the-bills effort from the great German director G. W. Pabst. Told in flashback, the film recounts the events leading up to the killing of good-for-nothing Curt Jurgens. Warned by her friends and relatives that Jurgens is a bad job, impulsive Ina Kahr (Elizabeth Mueller) marries him anyway. His ceaseless philandering and abuse wears away at Ina to the point that she contemplates poisoning her husband. When this transpires, Ina wonders if she meant to do the deed, or if it was purely accidental. The court can't make up its mind either, and instead of sentencing Ina to death, the court prescribes a light six-month sentence for involuntary manslaughter. Back in 1954, jaundiced American movie critics suggested that Ina Kahr could have solved all her problems early on with strategic application of a rolling pin or frying pan. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1953
At the end of World War II, Austria was divided into four sectors, each governed by a separate world power. The Austrian citizenry chafed against foreign rule, and dreamed of the day that their country would again be an independent, self-governing nation. This is the premise of 1 April 2000 which prophesizes that independence will arrive on the titular date. To add a bit of spice to the proceedings, the scriptwriters contrive to have Austria's fate in the hands of a woman (Hilde Krahl) who is susceptible to romance. 1 April 2000 concludes with the imaginary "World Security Council" quelling a disastrous revolution armed with little more than good intentions. Financed by the Austrian government, 1 April 2000 is a mediocre effort even by the questionable standards of nationalistic propaganda. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hilde Krahl, Joseph Meinrad, (more)
- 1952
Aka House of Life, this German film takes place in a busy maternity hospital. The multicharactered, multistoried narrative is somewhat reminiscent of the 1930s Hollywood production Life Begins. The expectant mothers run the usual stereotypical gamut, from the unwed mom worthy of love and motherhood to the selfish socialite who really shouldn't be permitted to procreate. Linking the stories together are Dr. Haidt (Gustav Froelich) and his female assistant (Cornell Borchers), who has her own deeply personal reasons for her choice of profession. Not unexpectedly, romance blooms between hero and heroine. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gustav Froehlich, Cornell Borchers, (more)
- 1950
Wiener Madeln is the story of 19th-century Austrian composer Carl Michael Zihrer. Though not as famous as such contemporaries as Strauss, Zihrer had one "hit" waltz to his credit, which enabled him to sustain his popularity for nearly 20 years. The film's highlight is a "battle of the bands," pitting Zihrer's aggregation against John Philip Sousa's orchestra. Starring as Zihrer is Teutonic film favorite Willie Forst, who also produced and directed. Completed in 1945, Wiener Madeln nearly became a "lost film" during the confusion following the end of the war. It took Forst four years to piece together an acceptable print from four different, incomplete negatives -- and nearly as long to secure legal clearance to do so. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Willi Forst, Hans Moser, (more)
- 1949
Curt Jurgens was still spelling his name "Curd Jurgens" when he was featured in the Austrian musical romance Das Kuckucksei. The story begins when a groom-to-be expresses unwillingness to marry the girl of his dreams until he ascertains the identity of her mother. When mom turns out to be a showgirl of some notoriety the stiff-necked Romeo withdraws his proposal of marriage. The girl, played by Kaethe Dorsch, settles for a much more liberal-minded hubby, who helps her clear her mother's name. Peter Wehle's musical score is easily the best aspect of this by-the-numbers effort. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hans Holt
- 1948
In a sense, The Mozart Story can qualify as an international production. The balance of the film was lensed in Austria by director Karl Hartl, with Hans Holt as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the songs sung in German. When the American rights to the film were purchased by Screen Guild, director Frank Wisbar supervised the English dubbing, and even lensed a few new scenes, with Wilton Graff as Mozart's great rival Antonio Salieri (later the "protagonist" of the Oscar-winning Amadeus). Also appearing in the newly shot scenes were Carol Forman as Catherine Cavalleria and Anthony Barr as Ruffini. Despite its patchwork construction, The Mozart Story weaves a cogent and credible (if not altogether accurate) version of Mozart's life and work. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hans Holt, Winnie Markus, (more)
- 1947
Das Singende Haus (The Singing House) was financed in Germany but filmed in Vienna. The heroine (Herta Mayen) is the daughter of a hidebound classical musician (Paul Kemp). She prefers jazz music, but he prefers that she stay locked up at home far away from such music. In true Hollywood B-musical fashion, the old man is won over to his daughter's musical point of view, while she finds romance in the arms of a handsome swing musician (Hans Moser). Future international star Curt Jurgens (here billed as Kurd Jurgens) plays a supporting role. Chances for an American release of Das Singende Haus were hurt by the questionable political status of writer-director Franz Antel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hannelore Schroth, Susi Nicoletti, (more)
- 1940
German musical-comedy favorite Willy Forst is writer, director and star of Operetta. Produced in 1940, the film did not receive an American release until long after WW II had ended. The story concerns 19th-century impresario Franz Jauner (Forst), who battles with opera diva Marie Geistinger (Maria Holst) to win the hearts and minds of Viennese music lovers. Geistinger loses the battle, but wins the love of Jauner. Amidst several well-staged operetta vignettes, the film offers impersonations of such musical greats as Johann Strauss and Franz von Suppe. The latter character is portrayed by opera singer Leo Slezak, the father of actor Walter Slezak and grandfather of soap-opera star Erika Slezak. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Holst
