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The actor Ludwig Stössel belongs to the interesting support actors
of the German film who was able to launch a second career in the USA.
Er began his career at the theater where he made his first experiences
at Josef Jarno. He soon became a successful character actor and played
for the most important stages of Germany, among other at Max Reinhardt
in Berlin, at the Barnowsky-Bühne and at the German Künstlertheater.
Moreover he managed the Thalia-Theater in Breslau together with Paul
Barnay.
Ludwit Stössel came relative late to the film. His first movie
came into being in 1926 with the title "In der Heimat, da gibt's ein Wiedersehn!"
(26). In the next years followed other silent movies like "Herkules Maier"
(27), "Aus dem Tagebuch eines Junggesellen" (28), "Der Günstling von
Schönbrunn" (29) and "Katharina Knie" (29).
His roles became more extensive with the rise of the sound film and
he took part in some important productions. To his well-known movies of
those years belong "Skandal um Eva" (30), "Die Koffer des Herrn O.F." (31),
"Die Gräfin von Monte Christo" (32), "Der Rebell" (32), "Das Testament
des Dr. Mabuse" (33) and "Eine Nacht in Venedig" (34).
He was driven out from Germany by the National Socialists because of
his Jewish origin. He went to Austria and appeared in few movies but his
main activity was at the theater. He was engaged at the Raimundtheater
and at the Theater in der Josefstadt.
When the National Socialism arrived in Austria in 1938 he emigrated
together with his wife via Paris and London to Hollywood. There he was
able to continue his film career as a support actor in many American movies.
As it was usual in the USA in those days the victims of the National
Socialists had to play their tormentors. Ludwig Stössel also acted
in some propaganda movies agains Hitler like "The Strange Death of Adolf
Hitler" (43) and "Hitler's Madman" (43).
But Ludwig Stössel didn't let nail him down to such movies and
he took part in many other genres. To his well-known movies of the 40's
belong "Four Sons" (40), "Jennie" (40), "Woman of the Year" (42), the classic
"Casablanca" (42) - in which he impersonated the German emigrant Mr. Leuchtag,
"Bluebeard" (44), "Dillinger" (45), "House of Dracula" (45), "Cloak and
Dagger" (46), "A Song Is Born" (48) and "The Great Sinner" (49).
Although the war was over in Europe long ago he didn't return to Germany.
He stood in the USA which became his second home.
In the 50's followed more often engagements for television but he still
appeared in some feature movies. To these productions belong "The Merry
Widow" (52), "White Goddess" (53), "Tales of Frankenstein" (58), "Me and
the Colonel" (58) and "From the Earth to the Moon" (58).
To his last cinematical work belong "G.I. Blues" (60) with Elvis Presley
and an episode of the TV serial "The New Phil Silvers Show: The Little
Old Gluemaker, Me!" (63).
The name Ludwig Stössel is no longer a concept for most people
in Germany, but in the USA he is still well-known. Beside his role in "Casablanca"
he also became famous with a serial of promotional films for the winegrowing
estaten Gallo for which he impersonated the figure "Little Old Winemaker"
for one decade.
Other movies with Ludwig Stössel:
Serenissimus und die letzte Jungfrau
(28) Möblierte Zimmer (29) Bockbierfest (30) Ein Burschenlied aus
Heidelberg (30) Die Privatsekretärin (31) In Wien hab' ich einmal
ein Mädel geliebt (31) Opernredoute (31) Elisabeth von Österreich
(31) Strich durch die Rechnung (32) Hände aus dem Dunkel (32) Der
Läufer von Marathon (33) Morgenrot (33) Heimkehr ins Glück (33)
Rund um eine Million (33) Nordpol - Ahoi! (33) Johannisnacht (33) Der Pfarrer
von Kirchfeld (37) Dead Man's Shoes (39) The Man I Married (40) Dance,
Girl, Dance (40) Return to Yesterday (40) The Flying Squad (40) Man Hunt
(41) Underground (41) Great Guns (41) Marry the Boss's Daughter (41) All
Through the Night (42) Who Done It? (42) The Pride of the Yankees (42)
Iceland (42) Pittsburgh (42) The Great Impersonation (42) Tennessee Johnson
(42) Kings Row (42) What We Are Fighting for (43) They Came to Bow Up America
(43) Hers to Hold (43) The Climax (44) Lake Placid Serenade (44) Her Highness
and the Bellboy (45) Yolanda and the Thief (45) Girl on the Spot (46) Miss
Susie Slagle's (46) Temptation (46) The Beginning or the End (47) This
Time for Keeps (47) Song of Love (47) Escape Me Never (47) Corky of Gasoline
Alley (51) No Time for Flowers (52) The Sun Shines Bright (53) Call Me
Madam (53) Serie "Schlitz Playhouse of Stars: Guardian of the Clock (53)
Serie "Cavalcade of America: The Tenderfoot" (53) Serie "The Public Defender:
The Case of the Parolee" (54) Serie "The Adventures of Falcon: Borderline
Case" (54) Serie "Hallmark Hall of Fame: Lady in the Wings" (54) Serie
"The Public Defender: Destiny" (54) Serie "December Bride: The Sentimentalist"
(54) Serie "The Ford Television Theatre: Slide, Darling, Slide" (54) Geraldine
(54) Serie "Casablanca" (55) Serie "Lux Video Theatre: Love Letters" (55)
Serie "Big Town: The Grand Almost" (55) Serie "Science Fiction Theater:
Spider Inc." (55) Serie "TV Reader's Digest: A Bell for Okinawa" (56) Serie
"Crusader: Man of Medicine" (56) Serie "Lux Video Theatre: Temptation"
(56) Serie "General Electric Theater: The Glorious Gift of Molly Molloy"
(56) Serie "Science Fiction Theater: The Sound That Kills" (56) Serie "Father
Knows Best: The Angel's Sweater" (56) Serie "Perry Mason: The Case of the
Black-Eyed Blonde" (58) Serie "Man with a Camera" (58) The Blue Angel (59)
Serie "Perry Mason: The Case of the Shattered Dream" (59) Serie "Shotgun
Slade: Flower for Jenny" (60) Serie "Shotgun Slade: The Fabulous Fiddle"
(60) Serie "The Donna Reed Show: Variations on a Theme" (61) Serie "My
Three Sons: A Perfect Memory" (61) |
