Zeichnung: Emil Stumpp (1886-1941)

1870 - 1931

He began his professional life with an eduction as a commercial clerk but when he finished the education he took his heels and went to the world of performing arts. He already tasted theater atmosphere as an extra in 1887. 

In the course of time his way led him from an unknown artist and comedian via a first performance as a humorist in Berne, Switzerland to the Wintergarten in Berlin where he managed his breakthrough with his melodious chanting songs and as a singer for records and in revues.

Otto Reutter was also a producer of numerous revues at the beginning of the 20th century and from 1915 although from so-called war revues. Later he wrote many satiric songs which reflected the actual situation from politic and society and hit the nerve of the times. 
He also elaborated personal blows like the death of his son who was killed in action in Verdun in 1916 during World War I into thoughtful songs. 

In the German film history he belonged to the real pioneers, a first movie already came in 1897 into being with "Nächtliche Hotelszene" (1897). It followed other early works with "Das ist mir ganz egal" (07), "Es rächt sich alles auf der Welt" (07), "Doktor Block" (08), "Friedenskonferenz" (08) and "Hab Dank, mein teures Vaterland" (08).

He was able to continue his film career in the 10s and he took part in "Ach machen Sie das noch mal" (10) and "Onkel Fritz aus Neu-Ruppin" (10) before he got an own film serial. To these productions belong "Otto Reutter will Schauspieler werden" (12) directed by Emil Albes, "Otto heiratet" (14) and "Otto als Dienstmann" (15), both directed by Heinrich Bolten-Baeckers.

It followed a longer interruption before he took part again in a movie for the last time - "Frühere Verhältnisse" (27) with Fritz Kampers, Ossi Oswalda, Paul Heidemann, Claire Rommer, Adele Sandrock, Olga Engl, Angelo Ferrari and Charlotte Susa. He impersonated the role of the theater director in it.

Besides these movies he also took part in some other movies as an extra but was not mentioned in the credit list.

Otto Reutter originally planned to retire from the entertainment business in 1919 and to enjoy his life with his earned millions. But the inflation after World War I destroyed most of his savings and he was forced to continue his career - a "piece of luck" for his late work which belongs to the most memorable ones. 

So the 20s marked the height of his career and he became even more popular with his couplets he performed at the Wintergarten. Many of those lyrics are still in remembrance of later artists and performers like Peter Frankenfeld, Armin Berg, Markus Schimpp or Robert Kreis have picked it up. Contemporary personalities who belonged to the admirers of his couplers were Kurt Tucholsky and Erich Kästner.

But Otto Reutter's unresting engagements had taken their toll. Exhausted he was not able to muster the strenght to fight an illness and he died at the age of 61 in Düsseldorf during a tour.
 

Other movies with Otto Reuter:
Mensch, was hast Du nun davon? (07) Du bist doch sonst nicht so (07) Die Natur lässt sich nicht befehlen (07) Nee sowas (07) Der Riesenhut (08) Teures Vaterland (08) Wo hast Du Dein Wehwehchen (10) Trink mer noch 'n Tröpfchen (10) Streikkouplet (10) Gib mir Deine - ich geb Dir meine (09) Mit dem Zippel, mit dem Zappel, mit dem Zeppelin (10) Gib Du mir Deine (10) Denken Sie sich bloss mal an (10) Alles weg'n der Leut (10) Aenneken, Männeken (10) Ha, die Männer (12) Otto hat Pech (15) Otto, der Kinostar und der Dackel (15)