German actor, writer, and director Paul Wegener (1874-1948) is a film legend. As one of the pioneers of the German cinema, he realised the potential of the new medium. But before he made such silent classics as Der Student von Prag/The Student of Prague (Stellan Rye, Paul Wegener, 1913) and Der Golem/The Golem (Henrik Galeen, Paul Wegener, 1915), he was already well-known as a stage actor. He worked in the theatre since 1895 and remained true to this profession till his death. Max Reinhardt of the Deutschen Theater took him to his distinguished theatre company in Berlin in 1906 where Wegener starred in such classic plays as 'Macbeth', 'Richard III', and 'Faust I'. Verlag Hermann Leiser published a series of intriguing postcards of Wegener's stage roles.
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser (formerly: Louis Blumenthal), Berlin-Wilm, no. 1209. Photo: Becker & Maass, Berlin. Caption: Paul Wegener and Tilla Durieux in 'Der Graf von Gleichen'. During the season of 1908/09, Wegener played Engelbert, count of Gleichen, in 'Der Graf von Gleichen' by Wilhelm Schmidtbonn, based on the legend of the same name. Felix Hollaender directed.
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser (formerly: Louis Blumenthal), Berlin-Wilm, no. 1210. Photo: Becker & Maass, Berlin. Caption: Paul Wegener and Tilla Durieux in 'Der Graf von Gleichen'.
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser, Berlin, no. 1233. Photo: Becker & Maass, Berlin. Caption: Paul Wegener in Der Arzt am Scheideweg. In 1908, Paul Wegener played Ridgeon in the play 'Der Arzt am Scheideweg' (The Doctor's Dilemma) by George Bernhard Shaw.
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser, Berlin, no. 1275. Photo: Becker & Maass, Berlin. Caption: Paul Wegener as Mephisto. During the season of 1908/09, Wegener also played Mephisto in 'Faust I' by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Oscar Beregi played Faust and Max Reinhardt was the director.
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser, Berlin, no. 1621. Photo: Hans Böhm. Caption: Paul Wegener as Mephisto.
At the age of 20, Paul Wegener decided to end his studies at the University of Leipzig and concentrate on acting. Paul wrote to his father, "I am about to end my law studies and get on the stage. I'm very sorry to disappoint you, but I have to... I have long doubted, but now I am sure". The father then refused to give him further financial support.
After just a few short months Paul had managed to build up a repertoire of thirty character roles, and with a college distinction, he set off to make his stage debut at the Stadt Nurnberg. In the following years, he had small engagements in Leipzig, Rostock, Wiesbaden and at the Bernarts-Theater in Aachen.
In 1900 Paul Wegener was drafted into one-year military service with the Gersdorff Fusilier Regiment. Only then did his actual theatre career begin. An important and finally well-paid engagement - at least 9000 marks a year - lead him in 1904 to Hamburg. At the Hamburger Stadt-Theater, he appeared in the first German-language production of 'Nachtasyl' (Night Asylum) by Maxim Gorki. It was a great success.
In 1905 he appeared in the film production of Die Byzantier by Victor Hahn. The film's premiere was seen by a talent-scout for Max Reinhardt of the Deutschen Theater who had been sent to view the film. The scout telegraphed Reinhardt immediately, praising Wegener's performance.
Wegener debuted at the distinguished the Deutsches Theater in Berlin in October 1906. he became the star of the company and was a huge success as Iago and Othello. He went on extensive theatre tours throughout Europe and performed in Vienna, Budapest, Switzerland, Romania, and the Netherlands. He stayed at the Deutsches Theater till 1920.
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser, Berlin, no. 3387. Photo: Becker & Maass. Caption: Paul Wegener as Mephisto.
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser, no. 4070. Photo: Becker & Maass. Caption: Paul Wegener as Franz Moor. In 1908, Max Reinhardt directed Wegener as Franz Moor in 'Die Räuber' (The Robbers) by Friedrich Schiller.
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser, Berlin, no. 4552. Photo: Becker & Maass. Caption: Paul Wegener as King Oedipus. During the 1910-1911 season, Wegener interpreted the title role of Oedipus in 'Oedipus Rex' by Sophocles in the translation by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. The production was performed in the arena of the Circus Schumann in Berlin.
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser, no. 4553a, Berlin. Photo: Zander & Labisch, Berlin. Caption: King Oedipus.
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser, Berlin, no. 4581a. Photo: Zander & Labisch, Berlin. Caption: King Oedipus. Tiresias at the palace of Oedipus.
This production of Sophocles's classic tragedy 'Oedipus Rex', directed by Max Reinhardt in a translation by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, had its premiere in 1910. It was first performed in a Summer festival in Munich and in the Fall in a circus arena Berlin.
The stars were Paul Wegener as Oedipus and Tilla Durieux as Jocasta, though some considered the masses of extras performing the Thebans to be the real stars.
Emily Bilski writes in 'Berlin Metropolis: Jews and the New Culture, 1890-1918': "Oedipus was the first major theater-in-the-round production in modern times that featured masses of actors performing for a mass audience."
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser, no. 4612. Photo: Becker & Maass. Caption: Paul Wegener as Jago. During the season of 1910-1911, Wegener played Iago in 'Othello' by William Shakespeare. Albert Bassermann appeared in the title role and Max Reinhardt was the director.
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser, no. 7571. Photo; Becker & Maass. Caption: Paul Wegener as Macbeth. Max Reinhardt directed Paul Wegener in 'Macbeth' in 1916. Reinhardt gave unusual close attention to the psychological motivation of the characters. Reinhardt worked out every tone and gesture for Macbeth and his Lady, played by Hermione Körner. Reinhardt saw Macbeth as a neurotic
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser, no. 7574. Photo; Becker & Maass. Caption: Paul Wegener as Macbeth.
German postcard by Verl. Hermann Leiser, Berlin Wilm, no. 8152. Photo: Hänse Hermann. Caption: Paul Wegener as König Richard III. In 1914, Wegener played the title role in 'Richard III', by William Shakespeare. It was performed at the Theater in der Königgrätzer Straße (Hebbel-Theater).
German postcard by Verl. Hermann Leiser, Berlin-Wilm, no. 8501. Photo: Hänse Herrmann. Caption: Paul Wegener as König Richard III. Publicity still for a stage production of 'König Richard III' (Richard III) by William Shakespeare.
German postcard by Verl. Hermann Leiser, Berlin-Wilm, no. 9937. Photo: Fritz Richard. Caption: Paul Wegener as Othello. During the 1917-1918 season, Wegener played the title role in 'Othello' by William Shakespeare under the direction of Max Reinhardt.
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser, no. 9990. Photo: Fritz Richard. Caption: Paul Wegener as Othello.
Sources: Jens Geutebrück (Paul Wegener site), John L. Styan (Max Reinhardt), Stephanie d'Heil (Steffi-Line - German), The Missing Link, Wikipedia (English and German), and IMDb.
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser (formerly: Louis Blumenthal), Berlin-Wilm, no. 1209. Photo: Becker & Maass, Berlin. Caption: Paul Wegener and Tilla Durieux in 'Der Graf von Gleichen'. During the season of 1908/09, Wegener played Engelbert, count of Gleichen, in 'Der Graf von Gleichen' by Wilhelm Schmidtbonn, based on the legend of the same name. Felix Hollaender directed.
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser (formerly: Louis Blumenthal), Berlin-Wilm, no. 1210. Photo: Becker & Maass, Berlin. Caption: Paul Wegener and Tilla Durieux in 'Der Graf von Gleichen'.
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser, Berlin, no. 1233. Photo: Becker & Maass, Berlin. Caption: Paul Wegener in Der Arzt am Scheideweg. In 1908, Paul Wegener played Ridgeon in the play 'Der Arzt am Scheideweg' (The Doctor's Dilemma) by George Bernhard Shaw.
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser, Berlin, no. 1275. Photo: Becker & Maass, Berlin. Caption: Paul Wegener as Mephisto. During the season of 1908/09, Wegener also played Mephisto in 'Faust I' by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Oscar Beregi played Faust and Max Reinhardt was the director.
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser, Berlin, no. 1621. Photo: Hans Böhm. Caption: Paul Wegener as Mephisto.
I have long doubted, but now I am sure
At the age of 20, Paul Wegener decided to end his studies at the University of Leipzig and concentrate on acting. Paul wrote to his father, "I am about to end my law studies and get on the stage. I'm very sorry to disappoint you, but I have to... I have long doubted, but now I am sure". The father then refused to give him further financial support.
After just a few short months Paul had managed to build up a repertoire of thirty character roles, and with a college distinction, he set off to make his stage debut at the Stadt Nurnberg. In the following years, he had small engagements in Leipzig, Rostock, Wiesbaden and at the Bernarts-Theater in Aachen.
In 1900 Paul Wegener was drafted into one-year military service with the Gersdorff Fusilier Regiment. Only then did his actual theatre career begin. An important and finally well-paid engagement - at least 9000 marks a year - lead him in 1904 to Hamburg. At the Hamburger Stadt-Theater, he appeared in the first German-language production of 'Nachtasyl' (Night Asylum) by Maxim Gorki. It was a great success.
In 1905 he appeared in the film production of Die Byzantier by Victor Hahn. The film's premiere was seen by a talent-scout for Max Reinhardt of the Deutschen Theater who had been sent to view the film. The scout telegraphed Reinhardt immediately, praising Wegener's performance.
Wegener debuted at the distinguished the Deutsches Theater in Berlin in October 1906. he became the star of the company and was a huge success as Iago and Othello. He went on extensive theatre tours throughout Europe and performed in Vienna, Budapest, Switzerland, Romania, and the Netherlands. He stayed at the Deutsches Theater till 1920.
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser, Berlin, no. 3387. Photo: Becker & Maass. Caption: Paul Wegener as Mephisto.
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser, no. 4070. Photo: Becker & Maass. Caption: Paul Wegener as Franz Moor. In 1908, Max Reinhardt directed Wegener as Franz Moor in 'Die Räuber' (The Robbers) by Friedrich Schiller.
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser, Berlin, no. 4552. Photo: Becker & Maass. Caption: Paul Wegener as King Oedipus. During the 1910-1911 season, Wegener interpreted the title role of Oedipus in 'Oedipus Rex' by Sophocles in the translation by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. The production was performed in the arena of the Circus Schumann in Berlin.
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser, no. 4553a, Berlin. Photo: Zander & Labisch, Berlin. Caption: King Oedipus.
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser, Berlin, no. 4581a. Photo: Zander & Labisch, Berlin. Caption: King Oedipus. Tiresias at the palace of Oedipus.
The first major theater-in-the-round production in modern times
This production of Sophocles's classic tragedy 'Oedipus Rex', directed by Max Reinhardt in a translation by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, had its premiere in 1910. It was first performed in a Summer festival in Munich and in the Fall in a circus arena Berlin.
The stars were Paul Wegener as Oedipus and Tilla Durieux as Jocasta, though some considered the masses of extras performing the Thebans to be the real stars.
Emily Bilski writes in 'Berlin Metropolis: Jews and the New Culture, 1890-1918': "Oedipus was the first major theater-in-the-round production in modern times that featured masses of actors performing for a mass audience."
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser, no. 4612. Photo: Becker & Maass. Caption: Paul Wegener as Jago. During the season of 1910-1911, Wegener played Iago in 'Othello' by William Shakespeare. Albert Bassermann appeared in the title role and Max Reinhardt was the director.
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser, no. 7571. Photo; Becker & Maass. Caption: Paul Wegener as Macbeth. Max Reinhardt directed Paul Wegener in 'Macbeth' in 1916. Reinhardt gave unusual close attention to the psychological motivation of the characters. Reinhardt worked out every tone and gesture for Macbeth and his Lady, played by Hermione Körner. Reinhardt saw Macbeth as a neurotic
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser, no. 7574. Photo; Becker & Maass. Caption: Paul Wegener as Macbeth.
German postcard by Verl. Hermann Leiser, Berlin Wilm, no. 8152. Photo: Hänse Hermann. Caption: Paul Wegener as König Richard III. In 1914, Wegener played the title role in 'Richard III', by William Shakespeare. It was performed at the Theater in der Königgrätzer Straße (Hebbel-Theater).
German postcard by Verl. Hermann Leiser, Berlin-Wilm, no. 8501. Photo: Hänse Herrmann. Caption: Paul Wegener as König Richard III. Publicity still for a stage production of 'König Richard III' (Richard III) by William Shakespeare.
German postcard by Verl. Hermann Leiser, Berlin-Wilm, no. 9937. Photo: Fritz Richard. Caption: Paul Wegener as Othello. During the 1917-1918 season, Wegener played the title role in 'Othello' by William Shakespeare under the direction of Max Reinhardt.
German postcard by Verlag Hermann Leiser, no. 9990. Photo: Fritz Richard. Caption: Paul Wegener as Othello.
Sources: Jens Geutebrück (Paul Wegener site), John L. Styan (Max Reinhardt), Stephanie d'Heil (Steffi-Line - German), The Missing Link, Wikipedia (English and German), and IMDb.
2 comments:
Hello, my Friend. I'm sorry I've been away so long. I am back up and running and everything seems well, even in the face of the pandemic and the riots. I was fascinated by this character. I'd never even heard of him. Love his face. I hope you and your family are doing well.
Thanks Beth! Wegener's eyes were very expressive. Great that these postcards are a remembrance of what an interesting stage actor he was. Under Max Reinhardt, he must have been one of the greatest actors of his time.
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