Otto Wilhelm Fischer (german: O. W. Fischer, ; 1 April 1915 – 29 January 2004) was an

Austrian Austrian may refer to: * Austrians, someone from Austria or of Austrian descent ** Someone who is considered an Austrian citizen, see Austrian nationality law * Austrian German dialect * Something associated with the country Austria, for example: ...

film and theatre actor, a leading man of West German cinema during the ''

Wirtschaftswunder The ''Wirtschaftswunder'' (, "economic miracle"), also known as the Miracle on the Rhine, was the rapid reconstruction and development of the economies of West Germany and Austria after World War II (adopting an ordoliberalism-based social ma ...

'' era of the 1950s and 1960s.

Life

He was born in

Klosterneuburg Klosterneuburg (; frequently abbreviated as Kloburg by locals) is a town in Tulln District in the Austrian state of Lower Austria. It has a population of about 27,500. The Klosterneuburg Monastery, which was established in 1114 and soon after gi ...

near

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

, where he obtained his ''

Matura or its translated terms (''Mature'', ''Matur'', , , , , , ) is a Latin name for the secondary school exit exam or "maturity diploma" in various European countries, including Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, C ...

'' degree at the local gymnasium secondary school. Fischer began studying English and German philology and art history at the

Vienna University The University of Vienna (german: Universität Wien) is a public research university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world. With its long and rich histor ...

, in 1936, however, he enlisted at the

Max Reinhardt Seminar The Max Reinhardt Seminar (Reinhardt Seminar) is the School of Drama at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, Austria. It is located in the Palais Cumberland, Penzingerstraße 9, in Vienna's 14th district (). History A ''Leh ...

drama school. He had first engagements as an actor at the Vienna

Theater in der Josefstadt The Theater in der Josefstadt is a theater in Vienna in the eighth district of Josefstadt. It was founded in 1788 and is the oldest still performing theater in Vienna. It is often referred to colloquially as simply ''Die Josefstadt''. Following ...

, the Munich Kammerspiele, and the Vienna Volkstheater. In 1945 he reached the highpoint of his theatre career when he joined the ensemble of the

Burgtheater The Burgtheater (literally:"Castle Theater" but alternatively translated as "(Imperial) Court Theater"), originally known as '' K.K. Theater an der Burg'', then until 1918 as the ''K.K. Hofburgtheater'', is the national theater of Austria in V ...

. Fischer began filming in 1936, his performance in the 1942

propaganda Propaganda is communication that is primarily used to influence or persuade an audience to further an agenda, which may not be objective and may be selectively presenting facts to encourage a particular synthesis or perception, or using loaded ...

movie ''

Vienna 1910 ''Vienna 1910'' (german: Wien 1910) is a 1943 German biographical film directed by Emerich Walter Emo and starring Rudolf Forster, Heinrich George, and Lil Dagover. It is based on the life of Mayor of Vienna Karl Lueger. Its antisemitic conten ...

'' earned him an entry on Goebbel's ''

Gottbegnadeten list The ''Gottbegnadeten-Liste'' ("God-gifted list" or "Important Artist Exempt List") was a 36-page list of artists considered crucial to Nazi culture. The list was assembled in September 1944 by Joseph Goebbels, the head of the Ministry of Publi ...

''. He made his breakthrough after the war starring in ''

A Heidelberg Romance ''A Heidelberg Romance'' (german: Heidelberger Romanze) is a 1951 West German romance film directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Liselotte Pulver, O.W. Fischer and Gardy Granass. While accompanying his daughter on a trip to Heidelberg, a weal ...

'' and numerous other

romance film Romance films or movies involve romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theatres or on television that focus on passion (emotion), passion, emotion, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters. Typica ...

s, often with female co-stars

Maria Schell Maria Margarethe Anna Schell (15 January 1926 – 26 April 2005) was an Austrian-Swiss actress. She was one of the leading stars of German cinema in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1954, she was awarded the Cannes Best Actress Award for her performance ...

and

Ruth Leuwerik Ruth Leuwerik (; 23 April 1924 – 12 January 2016) was a German film actress, one of the most popular stars of German film during the 1950s. She appeared in 34 films between 1950 and 1977. Leuwerik is probably best known for her portrayal of Mar ...

. While Fischer enjoyed a great career, unlike countrymen

Oskar Werner Oskar Werner (; born Oskar Josef Bschließmayer; 13 November 1922 23 October 1984) was an Austrian stage and cinema actor whose prominent roles include two 1965 films, '' The Spy Who Came in from the Cold'' and ''Ship of Fools''. Other notable ...

Curd Jürgens Curd Gustav Andreas Gottlieb Franz Jürgens (13 December 191518 June 1982) was a German-Austrian stage and film actor. He was usually billed in English-speaking films as Curt Jurgens. He was well known for playing Ernst Udet in '' Des Teufels Gene ...

, Maria Schell and

Romy Schneider Romy Schneider (; born Rosemarie Magdalena Albach; 23 September 1938 – 29 May 1982) was a German-French actress. She began her career in the German genre in the early 1950s when she was 15. From 1955 to 1957, she played the central chara ...

, he never made it internationally. Worse, his American break ended before it began: he was signed to star with

June Allyson June Allyson (born Eleanor Geisman; October 7, 1917 – July 8, 2006) was an American stage, film, and television actress, dancer, and singer. Allyson began her career in 1937 as a dancer in short subject films and on Broadway in 1938. She sig ...

in a

remake A remake is a film, television series, video game, song or similar form of entertainment that is based upon and retells the story of an earlier production in the same medium—e.g., a "new version of an existing film". A remake tells the sam ...

of ''

My Man Godfrey ''My Man Godfrey'' is a 1936 American screwball comedy film directed by Gregory La Cava and starring William Powell and Carole Lombard, who had been briefly married years before appearing together in the film. The screenplay for ''My Man Godf ...

'' in 1956, but was fired after 16 days of shooting and replaced by

David Niven James David Graham Niven (; 1 March 1910 – 29 July 1983) was a British actor, soldier, memoirist, and novelist. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as Major Pollock in '' Separate Tables'' (1958). Niven's other roles ...

when Fischer reportedly lost his memory during filming. Fischer directed and starred opposite

Anouk Aimée Nicole Françoise Florence Dreyfus (born 27 April 1932), known professionally as Anouk Aimée () or Anouk, is a French film actress, who has appeared in 70 films since 1947, having begun her film career at age 14. In her early years, she studi ...

in a 1956 film, '' Ich suche Dich'', based on the play, ''

Jupiter Laughs ''Jupiter Laughs'' is A. J. Cronin's 1940 play in three acts about a doctor who falls in love with a colleague—a woman doctor who plans to become a medical missionary. The play was first staged in Glasgow at the King's Theatre and starred Hen ...

'', by

A. J. Cronin Archibald Joseph Cronin (19 July 1896 – 6 January 1981), known as A. J. Cronin, was a Scottish physician and novelist. His best-known novel is ''The Citadel'' (1937), about a Scottish doctor who serves in a Welsh mining village before achievi ...

. In 1955, he directed and starred in '' Hanussen'', a movie detailing the life of clairvoyant

Erik Jan Hanussen Erik Jan Hanussen, born Hermann Steinschneider (2 June 1889, in Vienna – 25 March 1933, in Berlin), was an Austrian Jewish publicist, charlatan and clairvoyant performer. Acclaimed in his lifetime as a hypnotist, mentalist, occultist and as ...

. While the film is considered highly romanticized, it assisted historians and biographers in uncovering previously unknown facts. He also starred in the title role of tragic King

Ludwig II of Bavaria Ludwig II (Ludwig Otto Friedrich Wilhelm; 25 August 1845 – 13 June 1886) was King of Bavaria from 1864 until his death in 1886. He is sometimes called the Swan King or ('the Fairy Tale King'). He also held the titles of Count Palatine of the ...

in the classic German film, '' Ludwig II: Glanz und Ende eines Königs'' by

Helmut Käutner Helmut Käutner (25 March 1908 – 20 April 1980) was a German film director active mainly in the 1940s and 1950s. He entered the film industry at the end of the Weimar Republic and released his first films as a director in Nazi Germany. Käu ...

. In the early 1970s, he retired to live in Vernate, Ticino and to concentrate on

linguistics Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. It is called a scientific study because it entails a comprehensive, systematic, objective, and precise analysis of all aspects of language, particularly its nature and structure. Ling ...

and

philosophy Philosophy (from , ) is the systematized study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved. ...

, on which he lectured and published a number of books. He died in

Lugano, Switzerland Lugano (, , ; lmo, label= Ticinese, Lugan ) is a city and municipality in Switzerland, part of the Lugano District in the canton of Ticino. It is the largest city of both Ticino and the Italian-speaking southern Switzerland. Lugano has a popula ...

kidney failure Kidney failure, also known as end-stage kidney disease, is a medical condition in which the kidneys can no longer adequately filter waste products from the blood, functioning at less than 15% of normal levels. Kidney failure is classified as eit ...

Selected filmography

* '' Court Theatre'' (1936) * ''

Anton the Last ''Anton the Last'' (german: Anton, der Letzte) is a 1939 comedy film directed by E. W. Emo and starring Elfriede Datzig, Hans Moser, and O. W. Fischer. The film was made by Wien-Film, a Vienna-based company set up after Austria had been incor ...

'' (1939) * ''

My Daughter Lives in Vienna ''My Daughter Lives in Vienna'' (german: Meine Tochter lebt in Wien) is a 1940 German comedy film directed by E. W. Emo and starring Elfriede Datzig, Hans Moser, and O. W. Fischer. Cast * Elfriede Datzig as Gretl Klaghofer * Hans Moser as F ...

'' (1940) * ''

'' (1943) * ''

The Immortal Face ''The Immortal Face'' (german: Das unsterbliche Antlitz) is a 1947 Austrian historical film, historical drama film directed by Géza von Cziffra and starring Marianne Schönauer, O.W. Fischer and Helene Thimig.Fritsche p. 85 The film's sets were ...

'' (1947) * ''

Don't Dream, Annette ''Don't Dream, Annette'' (german: Träum' nicht, Annette) is a 1949 German comedy film directed by Eberhard Klagemann and Helmut Weiss and starring Jenny Jugo, Max Eckard and Karl Schönböck. It was made by DEFA in the Soviet Zone of Germany ...

'' (1949) * ''

Archduke Johann's Great Love ''Archduke Johann's Great Love'' (German: ''Erzherzog Johanns große Liebe'') is a 1950 Austrian historical romantic drama film directed by Hans Schott-Schöbinger and starring Marte Harell, O.W. Fischer and Christl Mardayn.Fritsche p.65 The ...

'' (1950) * ''

A Tale of Five Cities ''A Tale of Five Cities'' ( it, Passaporto per l'oriente and released as ''A Tale of Five Women'' in the US) is a 1951 British-Italian international co-production drama film directed by Romolo Marcellini and five other directors. The five cities ...

'' (1951) * ''

'' (1951) * '' A Thousand Red Roses Bloom'' (1952) * '' Until We Meet Again'' (1952) * ''

Desires Desires are states of mind that are expressed by terms like "wanting", " wishing", "longing" or "craving". A great variety of features is commonly associated with desires. They are seen as propositional attitudes towards conceivable states of aff ...

'' (1952) * ''

Cuba Cabana ''Cuba Cabana'' is a 1952 West German drama film directed by Fritz Peter Buch and starring Zarah Leander, O.W. Fischer and Paul Hartmann. It was the second film of an early 1950s comeback for Leander, who had been a major star during the Nazi e ...

'' (1952) * '' Dreaming Lips'' (1953) * ''

As Long as You're Near Me ''As Long as You're Near Me'' (german: Solange Du da bist) is a 1953 West German drama film directed by Harald Braun and starring Maria Schell and O.W. Fischer and Hardy Krüger.Bock & Bergfelder p.127 It was shot at the Bavaria Studios in Muni ...

'' (1953) * ''

A Heart Plays False ''A Heart Plays False'' (german: Ein Herz spielt falsch) is a 1953 West German drama film directed by Rudolf Jugert and starring O.W. Fischer, Ruth Leuwerik and Carl Wery.Nelmes & Selbo It was shot at the Bavaria Studios in Munich. The film's s ...

'' (1953) * ''

Diary of a Married Woman ''Diary of a Married Woman'' (german: Tagebuch einer Verliebten) is a 1953 West German comedy film directed by Josef von Báky and starring Maria Schell, O. W. Fischer and Margarete Haagen. The film's sets were designed by Hans Jürgen Kiebach ...

'' (1953) * '' Portrait of an Unknown Woman'' (1954) * '' A Love Story'' (1954) * '' Ludwig II'' (1955) * '' Hanussen'' (1955) * ''

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader wh ...

'' (1955) * '' Ich suche Dich'' (1956) * ''

My Father, the Actor ''My Father, the Actor'' (German: ''Mein Vater, der Schauspieler'') is a 1956 West German drama film directed by Robert Siodmak and starring O.W. Fischer, Hilde Krahl and Susanne von Almassy.Alpi p.229 The film's sets were designed by the art dir ...

'' (1956) * ''

Scandal in Bad Ischl ''Scandal in Bad Ischl'' (German: ''Skandal in Ischl'') is a 1957 Austrian historical comedy film directed by Rolf Thiele and starring O.W. Fischer, Elisabeth Müller and Ivan Desny.Dassanowsky p.172 The film takes place in 1910 in the spa town ...

'' (1957) * ''

King in Shadow ''King in Shadow'' (german: Herrscher ohne Krone) is a 1957 Western German historical drama film directed by Harald Braun and starring O. W. Fischer, Odile Versois and Horst Buchholz.Klossner, Michael. ''The Europe of 1500–1815 on Film and Tel ...

'' (1957) * ' (1957) * ' (1958) * '' Peter Voss, Thief of Millions'' (1958) * ''

Arms and the Man ''Arms and the Man'' is a comedy by George Bernard Shaw, whose title comes from the opening words of Virgil's ''Aeneid'', in Latin: ''Arma virumque cano'' ("Of arms and the man I sing"). The play was first produced on 21 April 1894 at the Aven ...

'' (1958) * ''

Whirlpool A whirlpool is a body of rotating water produced by opposing currents or a current running into an obstacle. Small whirlpools form when a bath or a sink is draining. More powerful ones formed in seas or oceans may be called maelstroms ( ). ''Vo ...

'' (1959) * ''

And That on Monday Morning ''And That on Monday Morning'' (german: Und das am Montagmorgen) is a 1959 West German comedy film directed by Luigi Comencini and starring O.W. Fischer, Ulla Jacobsson and Vera Tschechowa . Based on the 1955 British play '' Mr. Kettle and Mrs ...

'' (1959) * '' Menschen im Hotel'' (1959) * '' Rebel Flight to Cuba'' (1959) * '' Peter Voss, Hero of the Day'' (1959) * ''

Grounds for Divorce Grounds for divorce are regulations specifying the circumstances under which a person will be granted a divorce. Adultery is the most common grounds for divorce. However, there are countries that view male adultery differently than female adultery ...

'' (1960) * '' Das Riesenrad'' (1961) * ' (1961) * ' (1961) * ''

Axel Munthe, The Doctor of San Michele ''Axel Munthe, The Doctor of San Michele'' (german: Axel Munthe – Der Arzt von San Michele) is a 1962 biographical drama film directed by Giorgio Capitani, Rudolf Jugert and Georg Marischka. It stars O.W. Fischer in the title role along with ...

'' (1962) * ''

Breakfast in Bed "Breakfast in Bed" is a soul–R&B song written by Muscle Shoals songwriters Eddie Hinton and Donnie Fritts for Dusty Springfield. It takes a knowing spin on the line "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me", the title of a song that had previously ...

'' (1963) * '' The Secret of the Black Widow'' (1963) * ''

Uncle Tom's Cabin ''Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly'' is an anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Published in two volumes in 1852, the novel had a profound effect on attitudes toward African Americans and slavery in the U ...

(1965)

Honours and awards

* 1950, 1951: Danube females * 1953–1955:

Bambi award 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 oth ...

* 1955: Filmband in Silver (best actor) for ''Ludwig II: Glanz und Ende eines Königs'' * 1956 –

San Sebastián International Film Festival The San Sebastián International Film Festival ( SSIFF; es, Festival Internacional de San Sebastián, eu, Donostia Zinemaldia) is an annual FIAPF A category film festival held in the Spanish city of Donostia-San Sebastián in September, in ...

: Silver shell (Director, actor) for '' Ich suche Dich'' * 1956: Price of Spanish film journalists (screenplay) for '' Ich suche Dich'' * 1958–1961: Bambi award * 1958–1963:

Bravo Otto The Bravo Otto is a German accolade honoring excellence of performers in film, television and music. Established in 1957, the award is presented annually, with winners selected by the readers of ''Bravo'' magazine. The award is presented in ...

* 1959: Filmband in Gold (best actor) for '' Arms and the Man (film)'' * 1960:

Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, 1st class The Austrian Decoration for Science and Art (german: Österreichisches Ehrenzeichen für Wissenschaft und Kunst) is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria and forms part of the Austrian national honours system. History The "Austrian D ...

* 1961: Europa Prize for ''Das Riesenrad'' * 1961: Honorary Member of the Association of the Spanish film journalists * 1970: Appointed Professor * 1977: Filmband in Gold for long and outstanding achievements in German film * 1987, 1990: Bambi award * 1987: Cordon Bleu du Saint Esprit * 1995: Grand Silver Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria * 1996:

Grand Gold Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria The Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (german: Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich) is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria. It is divided into 15 classes and is the highest award in the A ...

* Grand Merit Cross of the Federal Republic of Germany

Publications

* ?- '' Auferstehung in Hollywood. Texte'', Wien: Österreichische Staatsdruckerei, o.J. * 1986: ''Engelsknabe war ich keiner. Erinnerung an eine Jugend'', Munich: Langen Müller * 1999: '' Ferner Klang. Texte'', Ulm: Hess * 2000: '' Meine Geheimnisse. Erinnerungen und Gedanken'', Munich: Langen Müller

References

External links