Béla Balogh
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Béla Balogh (1 January 1885 in
Székesfehérvár Székesfehérvár (; ; ; ; Serbian language, Serbian: ''Стони Београд''; ), known colloquially as Fehérvár (), is a city in central Hungary, and the country's ninth-largest city. It is the Regions of Hungary, regional capital of C ...
– 30 March 1945 in
Budapest Budapest is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns of Hungary, most populous city of Hungary. It is the List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, tenth-largest city in the European Union by popul ...
) was a Hungarian film director, one of the most prominent of the early 20th century. He was prominent in both silent and voiced productions and is most known for movies like ''Havi 200 fix'', ''Ópiumkeringő'', and ''Úrilány szobát keres''.


Biography

Béla Balogh was born on 1 January 1885, in Székesfehérvár, as a child of a theatrical family. His grandfather, István Balogh was a playwright, his aunt and uncle were successful actors, and his father, Gusztáv Balogh was a conductor, touring the country with different companies. Out of his eleven siblings - him being the youngest - only two, a sister and a brother survived. He trained to be an actor from a young age, starting in the Barcsai Street high school's drama society. He became the member of the Népligeti acting group in 1904, the penny theatre of the People's Park in Budapest. He later worked in the countryside in musical productions and as director, returning to the capital in 1908, working in
Újpest Újpest (; , ) is the 4th District in Budapest, Hungary. It is located on the left bank of the Danube River. The name Újpest means "New Pest" because the city was formed on the border of the city of Pest, Hungary in 1838. Újpest was a village ...
, and from 1911 in Budapest, in the Royal Orfeum, as a stage inspector in the Budapest Opera, and he also managed a small movie theatre. In 1915 he married actress Margit Kornai (Mária Kronémer), mother of writer
Mária Szepes Mária Szepes (; 14 December 1908 – 3 September 2007) was a Hungarian author. She worked as a journalist and screenwriter, as well as an independent author in the field of hermetic philosophy since 1941. She would sometimes write under th ...
. After serving one year in World War I he successfully simulated neurosis, and after being declared disabled by army medicals, he was discharged. Developing their previous company ''Balogh & Mogán'', Balogh then worked with his wife on the founding of the Astra Film Factory, becoming its first artistic director. In 1919 the German Star Film Company invited Balogh to work as a director in their newly built studio in
Pasarét Pasarét () is a neighbourhood on the Buda side of Budapest. On the maps edited around the beginning of the nineteenth century it was called ''Sauwiesen (Pig Meadow)'' and also as ''Schmalzbergel (Fat Hill)''. At the time of and within this are ...
. Like other industry talents
Michael Curtiz Michael Curtiz (; born Manó Kaminer; from 1905 Mihály Kertész; ; December 24, 1886 April 10, 1962) was a Hungarian-American film director, recognized as one of the most prolific directors in history. He directed classic films from the silen ...
and
Alexander Korda Sir Alexander Korda (; born Sándor László Kellner; ; 16 September 1893 – 23 January 1956)
, he also got foreign offers, including the Sascha Company from
Vienna Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...
. But unlike his contemporaries, he turned them down, citing his fears working outside Hungary, and no knowledge of language.Szepes, Mária. Emberek és jelmezek. Budapest: Kozmosz Könyvek, 1988. During the
Hungarian Soviet Republic The Hungarian Soviet Republic, also known as the Socialist Federative Soviet Republic of Hungary was a short-lived communist state that existed from 21 March 1919 to 1 August 1919 (133 days), succeeding the First Hungarian Republic. The Hungari ...
in 1919 his films got banned. The following Horthy government also investigated on him a year later for "conspirating with communists" (on 1 May 1919 Balogh shoot a short film of the festival on
Margaret Island Margaret Island ( ; ) is a long island, wide, ( in area) in the middle of the Danube in central Budapest, Hungary. The island is mostly covered by landscape parks, and is a popular recreational area. Its medieval ruins are reminders of its impo ...
). The charges were dropped a few months later. Although he became the chief director of the Star Studio between 1920 and 1924, he fall into the background during the twenties, which made him fall into deep depression. He shoot educational films for the People's Park Pedagogical Film Company, for small fees. Following the urging of his wife, he travelled to
Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...
for better opportunities in 1926. Although he managed to raise funds for a film, he fell ill, and travelled back home. To make a living, and against his will, he taught private students with filming ambitions. For monetary reasons, he moved back to Berlin with his family, living there between 1931 and 1933. From 1935 he started directing again, producing his most memorable movies, including ''Édes mostoha'', ''A megfagyott gyermek'' (the voiced version of his 1921 film) or ''Havi 200 fix'', working together with the biggest stars of his era, like Pál Jávor,
Gyula Kabos Gyula Kabos (19 March 1887, Budapest – 6 October 1941, New York) was a Hungary, Hungarian actor and comedian, widely known for his comedic movie roles in the late 1930s. Biography Early years Kabos was born into a Jewish family on 19 Marc ...
or Antal Páger. In 1941 he started a new company, Balogh Film LLC, producing two films during
WWII World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, the last one being ''Ópiumkeringő'' with actress
Katalin Karády Katalin Karády (8 December 1910 – 8 February 1990) was a Hungary, Hungarian actress and singer. A leading actress in Hungarian movies made between 1939–1945, she is best known outside Hungary as an awardee of the Righteous among the Nati ...
, after which the war forced Balogh to liquidate the firm. Balogh being seriously ill, the family survived the
Siege of Budapest The siege of Budapest or battle of Budapest was the 50-day-long encirclement by Soviet and Romanian forces of the Hungarian capital of Budapest, near the end of World War II. Part of the broader Budapest Offensive, the siege began when Budapes ...
in their summer cottage in
Leányfalu Leányfalu is a riverside village in Pest county, Budapest metropolitan area, Hungary. It is just north of Szentendre located at . Located between the branch of the Little Danube (Kis-Duna) and the spurs of the Visegrád Mountains, Leányfalu st ...
. As the conditions of war prevented a proper diagnosis, Béla Balogh died in 1945 in the hospital of
Szentendre Szentendre, also known as Saint Andrew is a riverside town in Pest County, Hungary, between the capital city Budapest and Pilis Mountains, Pilis-Visegrád Mountains. The town is known for its museums (most notably the :hu: Szentendrei Szabadtéri ...
.


Legacy

Throughout his life, Béla Balogh directed 50 silent and 17 sound films, with numerous experiments in the language of motion picture, he was a pioneer of Hungarian cinema.


Selected filmography

*''Az obsitos'' (1917) *''Tilos a csók'' (1919) * ''
Under the Mountains ''Under the Mountains'' (Hungarian: ''Hegyek alján'') is a 1920 Hungarian silent drama film directed by Béla Balogh and starring Oszkár Dénes, Ila Lóth and László Mihó. Cast * Oszkár Dénes as Sebastiano, földbirtokos * Ila Lót ...
'' (1920) * '' Soldiers of the Emperor'' (1920) *''
The Frozen Child ''The Frozen Child'' (Hungarian: ''A Megfagyott gyermek'') is a 1921 Hungarian silent drama film directed by Béla Balogh and starring Mária Szepes, Ferenc Szécsi, Anna Breznay and Viktor Galánthay. It is one of the few surviving Hungari ...
'' (1921) *''A lélek órása'' (1923) *''Fehér galambok fekete városban'' (1923) *''Aranymadár'' (1924) * ''
The Market of Life ''The Market of Life'' (German: ''Jahrmarkt des Lebens'') is a 1928 German silent film directed by Béla Balogh and starring Gustav Fröhlich, Hans Mierendorff and Vera Schmiterlöw.Lamprecht p.750 The film's sets were designed by the art director ...
'' (1928) * '' Kind Stepmother'' (1935) * '' Salary, 200 a Month'' (1936) * '' Tomi'' (1936) * ''
Lady Seeks a Room ''Lady Seeks a Room'' (Hungarian: ''Úrilány szobát keres'') is a 1937 Hungarian comedy film directed by Béla Balogh and starring Irène Zilahy, István Somló and Ilona Kökény. The film's sets were designed by the art director József Pá ...
'' (1937) * ''
Money Is Coming ''Money Is Coming'' (Hungarian: ''Pénz áll a házhoz'') is a 1939 Hungarian comedy film directed by Béla Balogh and starring Romola Németh, Rudolf Somogyvári and Tivadar Bilicsi.Juhász p.69 It was shot at the Hunnia Studios in Budapest. Th ...
'' (1939) * '' Wild Rose'' (1939) * ''
Rózsafabot ''Rózsafabot'' is a 1940 Hungarian drama film directed by Béla Balogh and starring Zita Szeleczky, József Timár and Kálmán Rózsahegyi.Rîpeanu p.111 The film's sets were designed by the art director János Pagonyi. Cast * Zita Szeleczky a ...
'' (1940) * ''
Everybody Loves Someone Else ''Everybody Loves Someone Else'' (Hungarian: ''Mindenki mást szeret'') is a 1940 Hungarian romantic drama film directed by Béla Balogh and starring Eszter Szilágyi Szabó, Tivadar Uray, Sári Déry and Zoltán Makláry. Juhász p.132 It was s ...
'' (1940) * ''
Don't Ask Who I Was ''Don't Ask Who I Was'' (Hungarian: ''Ne kérdezd ki voltam'') is a 1941 Hungarian drama film directed by Béla Balogh and starring Katalin Karády, Sándor Szabó and Mariska Vízváry.Juhász p.124 It was shot at the Hunnia Studios in Budapes ...
'' (1941) *''Ópiumkeringő'' (1943)


References



- Béla Balogh in the Hungarian Bibliographical Lexicon (Kenyeres, Ágnes. Magyar életrajzi lexikon 1000-1990. Budapest : Arcanum Adatbázis, 2001. ), freely available on http://mek.niif.hu


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Balogh, Bela 1885 births 1945 deaths People from Székesfehérvár Hungarian film directors Hungarian male screenwriters 20th-century Hungarian screenwriters es:Bela Balogh