Acting
Hubert von Meyerinck
Born 1896-08-23 · Potsdam, Germany
Hubert von Meyerinck was born in Potsdam on August 23, 1896, the son of a major. After his parents divorced, he was raised by his mother. From an early age he showed a strong interest in acting and began taking lessons as a child, despite his parents’ wish that he pursue a career as a priest. After completing school, he was drafted into military service during World War I but was discharged shortly afterward for health reasons. In 1917, he made his stage debut at the Berliner Schauspielhaus as Lieutenant von Hagen in "Kolberg." Following an engagement at the Hamburger Kammerspiele from 1918 to 1920, he performed at numerous Berlin theatres and variety venues, including the revue "Es liegt was in der Luft" alongside Marlene Dietrich. He earned acclaim both for his cabaret performances at the famed Tingeltangel and for dramatic stage roles such as Mephisto in "Faust" and Mackie Messer in "Die Dreigroschenoper." At the beginning of the 1920s, von Meyerinck transitioned to film. After a significant early role in Georg Jacoby’s serial "Der Mann ohne Namen," he appeared in supporting roles in silent films including Artur Robison’s "Manon Lescaut" (1926) and Wilhelm Dieterle’s "Ich lebe für Dich" (1929). His distinctive appearance—bald head, monocle, thin moustache—quickly made him recognizable, and he became a popular character actor. He was often typecast as aristocrats, bourgeois figures, authoritarian officials, eccentrics, or crooks. With the arrival of sound film, his raspy voice further defined his screen persona. Among his notable early sound films were Max Ophüls’ "Die verliebte Firma" (1931/32), Franz Wenzler’s "Wenn die Liebe Mode macht" (1932), and Kurt Gerron’s "Der weiße Dämon" (1932). During the Nazi era, he remained one of Germany’s most prolific and popular supporting actors, appearing in more than 90 productions between 1933 and 1945. These ranged from comedies such as "Ein falscher Fuffziger" (1935) to Willi Forst’s adaptation of Maupassant’s "Bel Ami" (1939) and Helmut Käutner’s "Kitty und die Weltkonferenz" (1939). He also took smaller roles in propagandistic films including "Ein Volksfeind" (1937) and "Trenck, der Pandur" (1940). Although it was widely known that he was homosexual, he was not prosecuted by the regime. In the 1950s and 1960s, von Meyerinck successfully parodied his established authoritarian image in numerous comedies. In 1957 alone he appeared in 13 films, including the popular "Der tolle Blomberg" and "Das Wirtshaus im Spessart." He received the Prize of the German Film Critics in 1960 for "Ein Mann geht durch die Wand" and again in 1961 for "Das Spukschloß im Spessart." Another highlight was his role as an exuberant aristocrat in Billy Wilder’s Cold War satire "One, Two, Three." Between 1965 and 1969, he regularly appeared as Sir Arthur, head of Scotland Yard, in the Edgar Wallace film series. Despite appearing in around 250 films, von Meyerinck remained committed to the stage and joined the ensemble of Hamburg’s Thalia Theatre in 1966. In 1968, he received a lifetime achievement award at the German Film Prize and published his memoirs. He died in Hamburg on May 13, 1971.
Acting credits
10.0When a significant quantity of valuable gemstones is to be transported to South America by plane, those responsible are naturally extremely nervous. Everything must be perfectly planned, every possible risk averted.
Der große Fall
1949
10.0No synopsis available yet.
Liebe auf Eis
1950
A comedy loosely based on the life story of Johann Friedrich Böttger, the inventor of Meissen porcelain: In Berlin, the pharmacist Fritz Böttger gains a reputation for being able to make gold and is imprisoned on the orders of the Prussian king. Following in the footsteps of a young lady, he flees to Saxony, but is also imprisoned in Dresden and forced to make gold. Although he does not succeed in this, by chance he discovers how to make porcelain instead. Augustus the Strong appoints him baron and director of the royal porcelain manufactory.
The King's Prisoner
1935
7.5Prince Klemens von Metternich orders Friedrich Gentz, one of his aides, to keep the Duke of Reichstadt---Napoleon Francois Joseph Charles---son of Napoleon and heir to the French throne, from thinking about French politics. Gentz enlists the help of ballerina Fanny Elsser, all the rage in several European capitals, to keep the Duke distracted.
Fanny Elssler
1937
10.0When a charming young man arrives to serve as a private secretary for the eccentric Helene Kiepergass a, he quickly becomes entangled in a series of mysterious events in her house. Amidst the arrival of a suspicious "nephew" from Mexico and a house full of peculiar guests, a romance blossoms between the secretary and the lovely companion Mary. He eventually is able to unmask two confidence tricksters amidst the residents.
Her Private Secretary
1940
7.5In Cold War-era West Berlin, American Coca-Cola executive C.R. 'Mac' MacNamara is tasked with playing babysitter to his boss' spoiled 17-year-old daughter Scarlett, who proves more difficult than anticipated when she reveals that she is pregnant by a Communist.
One, Two, Three
1961
5.0Driving instructor Carola "Charley" can no longer stand the constant advances of her pupils and quits her job without further ado. To gain some distance, she takes the opportunity to look after her friend Lilo's dog, the two parrots and her apartment while Lilo is on vacation. But even here she has to fend off unloved admirers, as Lilo earns her living as a playgirl. However, "Charley" has received a good tip from her friend: As soon as a man becomes too pushy, janitor Pinkus pretends to be "Captain Tressblekken" on cue and quickly chases the visitors away. But when the real Uncle Tressblekken turns up at "Charley's" house, chaos can no longer be averted...
Charleys Onkel
1969
No synopsis available yet.
Das Mädchen Juanita
1945
No synopsis available yet.
Nachruf auf Egon Müller
1965
5.9A French adventurer fights to save a woman in the life of prostitution.
Manon Lescaut
1926
7.3Gerhard Lamprecht sketches a cross-section of Germany's new post-war society, with its winners, social climbers, and losers, represented by the social microcosm of an apartment building. The gossip-mad Frau Mierig from the rear building gives the newly-arrived Frau Kaminski, the janitor's wife, a lively initiation into the tenants and their peculiarities.
People Among Us
1926
6.0No synopsis available yet.
Manöverball
1956
5.8Werner Dux, heir of the big car company "Dux-Werke", is a gambler who has just been arrested in Chicago for shooting a cardsharper. While in jail, he learns from his friend Michael Nissen that his father has died recently. That means that the Dux-Werke are without a leader at the moment, for Werner's cousin Steffie, who is his co-heiress, is still too young to run the firm. In this situation, Werner convinces his friend Michael, who is an engineer by profession, to take over the firm as long as he is in jail and to pose as him. Michael agrees and is able to bring the firm up again. He even arranges a reliability test for motorcycles via Istanbul, Rome and Barcelona, which creates a big Turkish order for the company. When the real Werner escapes from jail and arrives in Germany, it looks as if the whole story is up to bust. But Werner needs money, so he convinces Michael to go on as before and hand over all profits of the firm to him.
The Fugitive from Chicago
1934
No synopsis available yet.
Stiftungsfest der Fleißigen Biene
1963
10.0Two GIs haven fallen in love with "Fräuleins", decide to stay in Germany and open a typically American drugstore in the center of the small town where their girlfriends live.
Columbus Discovers Kraehwinkel
1954
At the behest of the financially strapped Duke, his nephew, Crown Prince Rudolf, is to marry someone of suitable rank. But Rudolf has no interest whatsoever in his uncle's plans and works under his commoner's name as an engineer in a car factory. Then a certain Count Rasumirski appears before the Duke and explains that the famous operetta diva Vera Naldi is actually a Russian princess who knows nothing of her origins. They hatch a plan to marry Rudolf off to her. But at the theater, Rudolf falls not for the singer, but for the secretary. Instead, Rudolf's other uncle begins to take an interest in Vera. Then, however, it turns out that Rasumirski is an imposter and Vera is not a princess at all...
Frühlingsluft
1938
6.5Women are being sent to an all male settlement. The marriages are planned in advance, but not everything goes according to plan.
Women for Golden Hill
1938
4.5No synopsis available yet.
Der Unwiderstehliche
1937
8.0Dr. Alexander Jordan murders his mother-in-law.
Mordprozeß Dr. Jordan
1949
No synopsis available yet.
Der Lauf des Bösen
1969
4.5A meek tailor named Nickolaus decides to form a band of robbers to proof his manliness. Unfortunately he soon draws the attention of an actual gang-leader, Der Rote Rollo.
Und ewig knallen die Räuber
1962
No synopsis available yet.
Zu Befehl, Frau Feldwebel
1956
After a successful concert, the singer Maria dreams about a man with a boquet of lilies, who follows her and kisses her. A short time later, she actually meets such a man: his name is Peter and he’s on his way to his bride, Helene. In the afternoon, Maria receives a valuable diamond pin from a messenger, which was actually intended for Helene. This confusion will now trigger a wild chase through concert halls and overnight trains. During all of this, Maria’s fiancée will show up, who, in light of all this nonsense, decides he’d be better off with someone less fickle and breaks off the engagement. Maria and Peter, who barely know one another, will be drawn closer together by fate and will eventually marry … and will stay so until Maria no doubt dreams of a lawyer with a divorce decree knocking on her door.
I Have Dreamed of You
1944
6.0No synopsis available yet.
Der verkaufte Großvater
1962