Paula Wessely

Acting

Paula Wessely

Born — Died

1907-01-20 — 2000-05-11

Place of birth

Vienna, Austria

Known for

Acting

Credits

43 titles

Paula Anna Maria Wessely (20 January 1907 – 11 May 2000) was an Austrian theatre and film actress. Die Wessely (literally "The Wessely"), as she was affectionately called by her admirers and fans, was Austria's foremost popular postwar actress.

Known for

Bambi poster
9.0

The Bambi, often called the Bambi Award and stylised as BAMBI, is a German award presented annually by Hubert Burda Media to recognize excellence in international media and television to personalities in the media, arts, culture, sports, and other fields "with vision and creativity who affected and inspired the German public that year", both domestic and foreign. First held in 1948, it is the oldest media award in Germany. The trophy is named after Felix Salten's book Bambi, A Life in the Woods and its statuettes are in the shape of the novel's titular fawn character. They were originally made of porcelain until 1958, when the organizers switched to using gold, with the casting done by the art casting workshop of Ernst Strassacker in Süßen.

Bambi

1948

No artwork available
6.0

No synopsis available yet.

German Film Award

1951

Maria Ilona poster
5.7

In 1848, the freedom-loving Hungarian people, led by Ludwig Kossuth, rose up against the hated rule of the Austrian Habsburg dynasty. In its expansionist policy, the Austrian monarchy had long relied on Hungarian feudal lords who betrayed the interests of their people. The anger of the rebels was directed against the Austrian oppressors and their Hungarian supporters. Against the backdrop of these historical events, the personal fate of the Hungarian patriot Maria Ilona is shown.

Maria Ilona

1939

The Third Sex poster
5.0

Klaus is a young man in post-war Berlin. He is drawn to his friend Manfred and, under the encouragement of their acquaintance, Dr. Winkler, explore the underground world of gay clubs and electronic music. His family begins to learn of his other life and do everything they can to set him straight.

The Third Sex

1957

Ein Leben lang poster
8.0

In 1910, the landlord's daughter Agnes from the Steiermark gets to know the diplomat Hans. They have a short love affair and then part from one another. Hans gets sent to Beijing, where he marries and American and has a son with her. Agnes, too, has a son by Hans and moves to Vienna, where she works in a restaurant. She is still in love with Hans ...

Ein Leben lang

1940

No artwork available
10.0

A drama about marriage in a small town, which takes place at the turn of the 19th into the 20th Century.

Späte Liebe

1943

Film credits

1960s · 8 titles

1950s · 10 titles

The Third Sex poster
5.0

Klaus is a young man in post-war Berlin. He is drawn to his friend Manfred and, under the encouragement of their acquaintance, Dr. Winkler, explore the underground world of gay clubs and electronic music. His family begins to learn of his other life and do everything they can to set him straight.

The Third Sex

1957

The Light of Love poster
5.5

After her husband's death, Kate Zeller had to sell the farm and move with her four children from the countryside to Vienna. There she opened a small laundry and raised her children. When they grew up, they thought they no longer needed their mother. But it turns out that they still need her...

The Light of Love

1954

Ich und meine Frau poster
6.0

The conversion of a pedantic family tyrant into an understanding husband and father.

Ich und meine Frau

1953

Die unvollkommene Ehe poster
5.5

Divorce lawyer Dr. Winifred Lert tries to convince her daughter Susi of the futility of marriage. But Susi has long since married herself. Susi also wants to use trickery to bring her parents back together.

Die unvollkommene Ehe

1959

No artwork available
7.0

No synopsis available yet.

Maria Stuart

1957

Die Wirtin zur Goldenen Krone poster
6.2

Since the capable landlady Maria bears a striking resemblance to the ruler of a miniature state, she is tasked with playing the role of princess during her absence. The deceitful and corrupt ministers attempt to seize the opportunity and gain one-sided advantages for themselves. When the son of the real princess falls in love with Maria's daughter and wants to marry her, a national crisis almost erupts.

Die Wirtin zur Goldenen Krone

1955

Unter Achtzehn poster
10.0

The social worker Luise Gottschalk dedicates all her passion to the Viennese caretakers and derailed young people. Tirelessly, she advertises to adults for understanding the needs of adolescents. She is particularly committed to a girl named Elfie Breitner who is at risk of drifting into prostitution.

Unter Achtzehn

1957

Weg in die Vergangenheit poster
10.0

No synopsis available yet.

Weg in die Vergangenheit

1954

Cordula poster
6.0

No synopsis available yet.

Cordula

1950

Maria Theresia poster
6.0

A biography of the eighteenth century Habsburg Empress Maria Theresa.

Maria Theresia

1951

1940s · 8 titles

Ein Leben lang poster
8.0

In 1910, the landlord's daughter Agnes from the Steiermark gets to know the diplomat Hans. They have a short love affair and then part from one another. Hans gets sent to Beijing, where he marries and American and has a son with her. Agnes, too, has a son by Hans and moves to Vienna, where she works in a restaurant. She is still in love with Hans ...

Ein Leben lang

1940

No artwork available
10.0

A drama about marriage in a small town, which takes place at the turn of the 19th into the 20th Century.

Späte Liebe

1943

The Heart Must Be Silent poster
6.0

On New Year's Eve 1900, Paul Holzgruber started a new praxis as a radiologist. The young Maximiliane Frey is his assistant and they have worked side by side for years helping people. Holzgruber repeatedly points out the dangers of radiation to Maximiliane, but is silent about the ulcers on his hand and the severe pain they have caused. Maximiliane has gotten to know the widower Axel von Bonin and has fallen in love with him. But then she is diagnosed with incurable cancer. To spare Axel the inevitable grief over her impending death, she leaves him and dedicates what is left her life to medicine.

The Heart Must Be Silent

1944

The Angel with the Trumpet poster
6.1

A long time-span of Austrian history (from the late 19th century to the years after world war II) is reflected in the ups and downs of a family of piano-makers in Vienna.

The Angel with the Trumpet

1948

Die kluge Marianne poster
5.0

Peter, a writer, lives the life of a carefree bachelor, but soon gets to know a charming girl during a trip, falls in love with her, and marries her right away. Only after he returns to his elegant apartment in Vienna, does he start to wonder, whether Marianne will fit in amidst his circle of spoiled acquaintances. His well-meant advice on how she should behave makes Marianne so insecure, that she ends up acting quite clumsy and scares off his friends. Peter is angry and Marianne is so upset, that she wants to return back to her parents. On the way there, she has an experience, which shows her her mistake. She turns around and now strives to become an elegant lady of the world.

Die kluge Marianne

1943

No artwork available
5.4

A Nazi propaganda film which aims to justify the invasion of Poland by portraying the plight of ethnic Germans in Poland who were discriminated against and oppressed by the Poles, and how they were saved by the intervention of the German army.

Homecoming

1941

Leckerbissen poster
9.0

"Gems" - Embedded in a frame story, the film shows excerpts from 18 entertainment films of the time, among others, "The Gypsy Baron", "The Three Codonas", "La Habanera", "Viennese Blood", "Sophienlund", and "Mask in Blue".

Leckerbissen

1948

No artwork available
4.2

No synopsis available yet.

Vagabunden

1949

1930s · 7 titles

Maria Ilona poster
5.7

In 1848, the freedom-loving Hungarian people, led by Ludwig Kossuth, rose up against the hated rule of the Austrian Habsburg dynasty. In its expansionist policy, the Austrian monarchy had long relied on Hungarian feudal lords who betrayed the interests of their people. The anger of the rebels was directed against the Austrian oppressors and their Hungarian supporters. Against the backdrop of these historical events, the personal fate of the Hungarian patriot Maria Ilona is shown.

Maria Ilona

1939

Such Great Foolishness poster
6.3

The young Styrian woman Therese Brandl desperately wants to work in the theater and therefore travels by train to Vienna to pursue artistic training. The scholarship granted by the elderly Countess Hoyer is intended to guarantee her financial independence. Unaware that she is to be picked up from the Vienna train station, the student immediately takes a taxi upon arrival and asks for recommendations for both an affordable hotel and a charming little pub. Therese gets approached by an older gentleman, a gray-haired bon vivant with considerable life experience. After several glasses of wine, they leave the establishment together and go to Therese's room. Apparently, things escalate there, and they spend the night together without having been introduced. The surprise is all the greater for Therese when she goes to the drama academy the following day to begin her training: her future teacher is none other than the gallant and lover from the previous night, Dr. Alexander Dahlen.

Such Great Foolishness

1937

So Ended a Great Love poster
6.5

The political advisor to the French emperor Napoleon, and the Austrian emperor Franz I, arrange a marriage between Napoleon and the Austrian archduchess Marie-Luise in order to prevent another war.

So Ended a Great Love

1934

Masquerade in Vienna poster
5.7

A risque drawing is published and threatens to compromise the model, a doctor's wife. Artist Heideneck protects her and invents a name. But the name exists, and this respectable lady is drawn into the artist's shady affairs.

Masquerade in Vienna

1934

Episode poster
5.5

Vienna, 1922. Due to a sudden financial tragedy, a young woman begins accepting checks from an older, rich gentleman for companionship in order for her to keep attending college. Their relationship is purely platonic, but eventually she begins a romance with the tutor of the older man's sons who has a completely wrong impression as to the nature of her arrangement with his employer.

Episode

1935

Spiegel des Lebens poster
7.0

No synopsis available yet.

Spiegel des Lebens

1938

Die Julika poster
5.7

1936 Austrian film.

Die Julika

1936

Series credits

Behind the camera