Paul Wegener facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Paul Wegener
Born	(1874-12-11)11 December 1874 Arnoldsdorf, Province of Prussia, German Empire
Died	13 September 1948(1948-09-13) (aged 73) Berlin, Allied-occupied Germany
Occupation	Actor
Spouse(s)	Lyda Salmonova (divorced, remarried) Greta Schröder (m.1924, divorced)
Children	1

Paul Wegener (born December 11, 1874 – died September 13, 1948) was a German actor, writer, and film director. He is famous for being a pioneer in German expressionist cinema. This was a unique style of filmmaking.

Acting Career and Famous Films

When Paul Wegener was 20, he stopped studying law. He decided to become an actor instead. He joined a famous acting group in 1906. In 1912, he started working in movies. His first film was The Student of Prague in 1913.

While making this movie, he learned about the old Jewish legend of the Golem. The Golem is a creature made of clay. Paul Wegener decided to make a film about it. He directed and wrote the script for The Golem (1915). This first movie was a big success. It made him very well-known.

In 1917, he made a funny movie called Der Golem und die Tänzerin. But his most famous Golem film was The Golem: How He Came into the World (1920). This movie is a classic of German cinema. It helped secure his place in film history.

Another early film was Der Yoghi (1916). In this movie, he played a yogi and a young inventor. This film showed his interest in Eastern mysticism and special effects. It was one of the first movies to show a character becoming invisible.

In 1926, he acted in his only Hollywood film. It was called The Magician. He played a character named Oliver Haddo. In 1928, he starred in Alraune. He played a professor who was similar to Victor Frankenstein.

In 1932, Wegener made his first sound film. It was a black comedy and horror film called Unheimliche Geschichten. In this movie, he even made fun of himself and the expressionist film style.

Life During the Nazi Era

Wegener acting as Nathan the Wise in Berlin after the war.

In 1933, the Nazis came to power in Germany. Many actors and directors were arrested or had to leave the country. However, Paul Wegener continued to act. He appeared in some Nazi propaganda films. These included Mein Leben für Irland (1941) and Kolberg (1944–45). These films were made to support the Nazi government.

After World War II ended, Paul Wegener was one of the first people to help rebuild cultural life in Berlin. In September 1945, he played the main role in a play called "Nathan the Wise". This play was shown at the Deutsches Theater. Even though he was not well, he worked to improve life for the people of Berlin.

Personal Life

Paul Wegener was married six times. His third and sixth wife was the actress Lyda Salmonova. She was his co-star in several movies. She was still his wife when he passed away. His fourth wife was Greta Schröder. She was the main actress in the famous film Nosferatu (1922).

Paul Wegener had some famous relatives. The well-known geographer Alfred Wegener was his cousin. His son, Peter P. Wegener, became a physicist.

Later Career and Death

Paul Wegener's last film was Der Grosse Mandarin (1948). In July 1948, he played his old role as Nathan the Wise again. This was at the Deutschen Theatre. But during the first scene, he collapsed on stage. The play had to be stopped. Two months later, on September 13, 1948, he died in his sleep.

Selected Filmography

Actor

Director

• The Student of Prague (1913)
• The Golem (1915) [Lost film]
• Rübezahl's Wedding (1916)
• The Yogi (1916)
• The Golem and the Dancing Girl (1917) [Lost film]
• Hans Trutz in the Land of Plenty (1917)
• The Foreign Prince (1918)
• The Pied Piper of Hamelin (1918)
• The Galley Slave (1919)
• The Golem: How He Came into the World (1920)
• The Girlfriend of a Big Man (1934)
• Augustus the Strong (1936)
• The Hour of Temptation (1936)
• Moscow-Shanghai (1936)

See also

In Spanish: Paul Wegener para niños