Carl Wilhelm (born 1872 in Vienna; died in London 1936), was a prolific German

film director A film director or filmmaker is a person who controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfillment of that Goal, vision. The director has a key role ...

, film producer and

screenwriter A screenwriter (also called scriptwriter, scribe, or scenarist) is a person who practices the craft of writing for visual mass media, known as screenwriting. These can include short films, feature-length films, television programs, television ...

of the

silent film A silent film is a film without synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...

era, at the end of which his career apparently entirely faded away and he vanished into obscurity.

Life

After his first work, the short documentary film ''Ein vergnügter Wintertag im Berliner Grunewald'', made for the producer

Oskar Messter Oskar Messter (21 November 1866 – 6 December 1943) was a German Reich, German inventor and film tycoon in the early years of film, cinema. His firm Messter Film was one of the dominant German producers before the rise of Universum Film AG, ...

in 1909, Wilhelm worked for many other

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 ...

production companies. For example, in the years before

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, he filmed for ''Deutsche Mutoskop- und Biograph GmbH'' in

Lankwitz Lankwitz () is a German locality (''Ortsteil'') within the borough (''Bezirk'') of Steglitz-Zehlendorf, Berlin. Until 2001 it was part of the former borough of Steglitz. History The locality was first mentioned in 1239 with the name of ''Lancovi ...

and ''BB-Film-Fabrikation Bolten-Baeckers'' in

Steglitz Steglitz () is a boroughs and localities of Berlin, locality of the Steglitz-Zehlendorf borough in Southwestern Berlin, the capital of Germany. is derived from the Slavic languages, Slavic name for the European goldfinch, similar to the German . ...

a series of comedies starring the silent film star

Leo Peukert Leonhard "Leo" Peukert (26 August 1885 – 6 January 1944) was a prolific German film actor and film director, appearing in more than a hundred and fifty productions between 1910 and his death in 1944. While occasionally he played a leading role i ...

. The two comedies he shot in 1913 and 1914 with

Ernst Lubitsch Ernst Lubitsch (; ; January 29, 1892November 30, 1947) was a German-born American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His urbane comedies of manners gave him the reputation of being Hollywood's most elegant and sophisticated director; a ...

- ''Die Firma heiratet'' and ''Der Stolz der Firma'' - were very successful. As late as 1919 a critic could write: "''Die Firma heiratet'' and '' Meyer aus Berlin'' are still our best films."Bobby E. Lüthge im ''Film-Kurier'', Nr. 15, 22 June 1919 In 1915, with his company ''Cewe-Films'', and in 1920/21, with ''Carl-Wilhelm-Film GmbH'', he also operated as his own producer. In 1917 and 1918 he made a number of films in Hungarian. Carl Wilhelm remained a sought-after director until the end of the silent film period. He then ceased to work almost entirely - he is last heard of as a production assistant in 1935. He left Germany for Vienna after the coming to power of the Nazi party in 1933 and, already ill, joined his son Wolfgang in London where he died in 1936.

Filmography

As director

* 1909: ''Ein vergnügter Wintertag im Berliner Grunewald'' - also actor * 1911: ''Leibeigenschaft'' (with

) * 1912: ''Der abgeführte Liebhaber'' * 1912: ''Brüderchens Heldentat'' * 1912: ''Das elfte Gebot: Du sollst nicht stören Deines Nächsten Flitterwochen'' * 1912: ''Die Hand des Schicksals'' (with

Leopoldine Konstantin Leopoldine Konstantin (born Leopoldine Eugenie Amelie Konstanti; 12 March 1886 – 14 December 1965) was an Austrian actress. She played in Frank Wedekind's ''Spring Awakening'' (1907), Shakespeare's ''Romeo and Juliet'' (1907), ''A Winter's Tal ...

) – co-director with Heinrich Bolten-Baeckers * 1912: ''Leo, der Witwenfreund'' / ''Leo als Witwenfreund'' (with

) * 1912: ''Mama: Roman aus dem Leben einer Schauspielerin'' * 1912: ''Die Nachbarskinder'' – co-director with Heinrich Bolten-Baeckers * 1912/13: ''Leo, der schwarze Münchhausen'' (with

) * 1913: ''Die Kunstschützin'' (with

) – also actor; co-director with Heinrich Bolten-Baeckers * 1913: ''Der Shylock von Krakau'' (with Rudolph Schildkraut); screenplay:

Felix Salten Felix Salten (; 6 September 1869 – 8 October 1945) was an Austrian author and Literary criticism, literary critic. His most famous work is ''Bambi, a Life in the Woods'', which was adapted into an animated feature film, ''Bambi'', by Walt Disne ...

) – also actor) * 1913: ''Tangofieber'' * '' The Firm Gets Married'' (1914) (with

Ressel Orla Ressel Orla (born Theres Anna Ochs; 18 May 1889 – 23 July 1931) was an Austrian stage and film actress. She appeared in some of Fritz Lang's earliest films. Selected filmography * '' The Firm Gets Married'' (1914) * ''The Queen's Secretary'' ( ...

) * 1914: ''Fräulein Leutnant'' / ''Fräulein Feldgrau'' (also screenplay together with Walter Turszinsky) * 1914: ''Die Marketenderin'' (with

Else Eckersberg Else may refer to: Places * Else (Lenne), a river in Germany, tributary to the Lenne * Else (Werre), a river in Germany, tributary to the Werre People * Else (given name) * Else (surname) Music * "Else" (song), a 1999 rock song * ''The Else'', ...

; also screenplay together with Arno Arndt) * 1914: ''Der Stolz der Firma. Die Geschichte eines Lehrlings'' (with

) * 1915: ''Der Barbier von Flimersdorf'' (with

Oscar Sabo Oscar Sabo (29 August 1881, in Vienna – 2 May 1969, in West Berlin) was an Austrian actor. Selected filmography * '' Jettatore'' (1919) * ''The False Dimitri'' (1922) * '' Storm in a Water Glass'' (1931) * '' The Little Escapade'' (1931) * '' Th ...

) – also screenplay * 1915: ''Berlin im Kriegsjahr'' (documentary film produced by

Erich Pommer Erich Pommer (20 July 1889 – 8 May 1966) was a German-born film producer and executive. Pommer was perhaps the most powerful person in the German and European film industries in the 1920s and early 1930s. As producer, Erich Pommer was involved ...

on commission from the ''Verein der Zentralstelle für den Fremdenverkehr'') * 1915: ''Carl und Carla'' (with

Lisa Weise Lisa Weise (16 December 1880 as Louise Ottilie Georgine Anna Weise – 6 December 1951) was a German actress and singer. Life and career Born in Weimar the daughter of the oboist and Grand Ducal chamber virtuoso Ernst Weise and his wife Ottil ...

) * 1915: ''Frau Annas Pilgerfahrt. Episode aus dem Wien-Berliner Leben 1914/15'' – also screenplay together with , and production * 1916: ''Sami, der Seefahrer'' * 1916: ''Ein Zirkusmädel'' * 1917: ''Albert läßt sich scheiden'' * 1917: ''Doktor Lauffen'' * 1917: ''Az elátkozott család'' * 1917: ''Fabricius úr leánya'' * 1917: ''Fekete gyémántok'' * 1918: ''A Gazdag szegények'' * 1918: ''A Szerelem bolondjai'' * 1919: ''Die Himmelskönigin'' / ''Du meine Himmelskönigin'' (with

Margarete Schön Margarete Schön (born Margarethe Schippang; 7 April 1895 – 26 December 1985) was a Germans, German stage and film actress whose career spanned nearly fifty years. She is internationally recognized for her role as Kriemhild in director Fritz Lan ...

Gustav Adolf Semler Gustav Adolf Semler (14 March 1885 – 24 February 1968) was a German stage and film actor of the silent era. He appeared in 41 films between 1918 and 1929. Selected filmography * ''Alraune, die Henkerstochter, genannt die rote Hanne'' (19 ...

) – also screenplay * ''

The Duty to Live ''The Duty to Live'' () is a 1919 German silent film directed by Carl Wilhelm and starring Magnus Stifter, Margarete Schön, Reinhold Schünzel Reinhold Schünzel (7 November 1888 – 11 November 1954) was a German actor and director, active i ...

'' (1919) * 1919: ''Prinzessin Tatjana oder Wenn ein Weib den Weg verliert'' * ''

The Yellow Death ''The Yellow Death'' () is a 1920 German silent thriller film directed by Carl Wilhelm and starring Eduard von Winterstein, Guido Herzfeld and Frida Richard. It was released in two parts, premiering at the Marmorhaus in Berlin.Bock & Bergfelder ...

'' (1920, Part I) (with

Rosa Valetti Rosa Valetti (born Rosa Alice Vallentin; 25 January 1876 – 10 December 1937) was a German actress, cabaret performer, and singer. Biography Rosa Valetti was born in Berlin, the daughter of industrialist Felix Vallentin and sister of acto ...

) * ''

'' (1920, Part II) (with

Ernst Deutsch Ernst Deutsch, also known as Ernest Dorian (16 September 1890 – 22 March 1969), was a Jewish Austrian actor. In 1916, his performance as the protagonist in the world première of Walter Hasenclever's Expressionist play '' The Son'' in Dres ...

) * ''

Respectable Women ''Respectable Women'' (German: ''Anständige Frauen'') is a 1920 German silent drama film directed by Carl Wilhelm and starring Ressel Orla, Heinrich Schroth and Olga Limburg.Grange p.71 The film's sets were designed by the art director ...

'' (1920) * '' The Eyes of the World'' (1920) (with

Conrad Veidt Hans Walter Conrad Veidt ( , ; 22 January 1893 – 3 April 1943) was a German and British actor. He attracted early attention for his roles in the films ''Different from the Others'' (1919), ''The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari'' (1920), and ''The Man ...

) – also screenplay together with

Ruth Goetz Ruth Goetz (January 12, 1912 — October 12, 2001) was an American playwright, screenwriter, and translator along with her husband and collaborator Augustus Goetz. Biography Early life Ruth Goetz was born Ruth Goodman on January 12, 1912, ...

, and production * 1920: ''Das Götzenbild der Wahrheit'' * 1920: ''Der langsame Tod'' / ''Die nach Liebe schmachten'' (with

Lucie Höflich Lucie Höflich (born Helene Lucie von Holwede; 20 February 1883 – 9 October 1956) was a German actress, teacher and head of the Staatliche Schauspielschule (State Drama School) in Berlin.

Eduard von Winterstein Eduard Clemens Franz Anna Freiherr von Wangenheim (1 August 1871 – 22 July 1961), known as Eduard von Winterstein, was an Austrian-German film actor who appeared in over one hundred fifty German films during the silent and sound eras. He was ...

) – also screenplay together with

, production * '' The Clan'' (1920) - also screenplay together with

, production * 1921: ''

The House of Torment ''The House of Torment'' (German: ''Das Haus der Qualen'') is a 1920 German silent drama film directed by Carl Wilhelm and starring Ressel Orla, Fritz Kortner and Rudolf Klein-Rhoden.Grange p.85 The film's sets were designed by the art direct ...

'' – also screenplay and production * 1921: ''Das gestohlene Millionenrezept'' – also production * '' Country Roads and the Big City'' (1921) / ''Musikanten des Lebens'' (with Carola Toelle,

Fritz Kortner Fritz Kortner (born Fritz Nathan Kohn, 12 May 1892 – 22 July 1970) was an Austrian stage and film actor and theatre director. Life and career Kortner was born in Vienna as Fritz Nathan Kohn into a Jews, Jewish family. He studied at the Vien ...

) – also production * 1921: ''Der Liebling der Frauen'' – also production * 1921: ''Perlen bedeuten Tränen'' / ''Tragische Abenteuer des Japaners Dr. Rao'' (with

Albert Steinrück Albert Steinrück (20 May 1872 – 10 February 1929) was a German stage and film actor of the silent era. He appeared in more than 80 films between 1910 and 1929. He starred in the 1923 film '' The Treasure'', which was directed by Georg Wil ...

Aud Egede-Nissen Aud Egede-Nissen (30 May 1893 – 15 November 1974) was a Norwegians, Norwegian actress, director and producer. She appeared in many early 20th-century German silent films. Early life Born in Bergen, Norway in 1893, Egede-Nissen was a daughter ...

) * 1921: ''Unrecht Gut'' * 1921/22: ''Menschenopfer'' (with

Hans Albers Hans Philipp August Albers (22 September 1891 – 24 July 1960), also known by his nickname “der blonde Hans” (The Blond Hans), was a German actor and singer. He was the biggest male movie star in Germany between 1930 and 1960 and one of the m ...

) * '' Lumpaci the Vagabond'' (1922) (with

) – also screenplay * ''

Debit and Credit Debits and credits in double-entry bookkeeping are entries made in account ledgers to record changes in value resulting from business transactions. A debit entry in an account represents a transfer of value ''to'' that account, and a credit ...

'' (1924) (with

Theodor Loos Theodor August Konrad Loos (18 May 1883 – 27 June 1954) was a German actor. The son of a watchmaker and instruments manufacturer, he left secondary school prematurely and worked for three years at an export firm for music instruments in Leipz ...

Olga Chekhova Olga Konstantinovna Chekhova (; ; 14 April 1897 – 9 March 1980), known in Germany as Olga Tschechowa, was a Russian-German actress. Her film roles include the female lead in Alfred Hitchcock's '' Mary'' (1931). Biography Olga Konstantinov ...

) - also screenplay, together with Karl Figdor based on the novel by

Gustav Freytag Gustav Freytag (; 13 July 1816 – 30 April 1895) was a German novelist and playwright. Life Freytag was born in Kreuzburg (Kluczbork) in Silesia. After attending the school at Oels (Oleśnica), he studied philology at the universities of ...

* '' Nick, King of the Chauffeurs'' (1925) * ''

Upstairs and Downstairs ''Upstairs and Downstairs'' is a 1959 British comedy film directed by Ralph Thomas and starring Michael Craig, Anne Heywood, Mylène Demongeot, Claudia Cardinale, James Robertson Justice, Joan Sims, Joan Hickson and Sid James. It features t ...

'' (1925) * ''

The Alternative Bride ''The Alternative Bride'' () is a 1925 German silent film directed by Carl Wilhelm and starring Ida Wüst, Bruno Kastner, and Paul Heidemann. The film's art direction was by Alfred Junge and Fritz Maurischat Fritz Maurischat (April 27, 1893 in ...

'' (1925) (with

Ida Wüst Ida Wüst (; 10 October 1884 – 4 October 1958) was a German stage and film actress whose career was prominent in the 1920s and 1930s with Universum Film AG (UFA). Life and career Little is known about Ida Wüst's early childhood. She discovere ...

) * ''

The Third Squadron ''The Third Squadron'' () is a 1926 German silent war film directed by Carl Wilhelm and starring Fritz Spira, Eugen Burg, and Reinhold Häussermann. It was shot at the EFA Studios in Berlin and on location in Vienna. The film's art direction w ...

'' (1926) (with

Claire Rommer Claire Rommer (born Klara Romberger; 7 December 1904 – 19 August 1996) was a German stage and film actress. Selected filmography * '' The Queen of Whitechapel '' (1922) * '' The Anthem of Love'' (1922) * '' Der Herzog von Aleria'' (1923) * ...

Ralph Arthur Roberts Ralph Arthur Roberts (born Robert Arthur Schönherr; 2 October 1884 – 12 March 1940)Camilla Spira Camilla Spira (1 March 1906 – 25 August 1997) was a German film actor. She appeared in 68 films between 1924 and 1986. She was born in Hamburg, Germany, of Jewish ancestry on her father's side, and died in Berlin, Germany. Her father was t ...

) – also screenplay together with Bobby E. Lüthge * 1926: ''Mikoschs letztes Abenteuer'' – also screenplay * '' When the Young Wine Blossoms'' (1927) – also screenplay, together with Max Jungk based on a story by

Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson Bjørnstjerne Martinius Bjørnson ( , ; 8 December 1832 – 26 April 1910) was a Norwegian writer who received the 1903 Nobel Prize in Literature "as a tribute to his noble, magnificent and versatile poetry, which has always been distinguished ...

* '' It Attracted Three Fellows'' (1928) (with

Hertha von Walther Hertha von Walther (born Hertha Stern und Walter von Monbary; 12 June 1903 – 12 April 1987) was a German film actress. She appeared in 80 films between 1921 and 1983. Biography Hertha von Walther was born Hertha Stern und Walther von Monb ...

) * ''

The Duty to Remain Silent ''The Duty to Remain Silent'' (German: ''Die Pflicht zu schweigen'') is a 1928 German silent film, silent drama film directed by Carl Wilhelm and starring Marcella Albani, Vivian Gibson, Angelo Ferrari. It was based on a novel by Friedrich Werner ...

'' (1928) (with

Gustav Fröhlich Gustav Friedrich Fröhlich (21 March 1902 – 22 December 1987) was a German actor and film director. He landed secondary roles in a number of films and plays before landing his breakthrough role of Freder Fredersen in Fritz Lang's 1927 in fil ...

Kurt Gerron Kurt Gerron (born Kurt Gerson; 11 May 1897 – 30 October 1944) was a German Jewish actor and film director. He had a very successful career in cabaret and film before World War II, but was then forbidden to work and was sent to Theresienstadt ...

) – also screenplay * 1928: ''Kaczmarek'' * ''

The Gypsy Chief ''The Gypsy Chief'' (German: ''Der Zigeunerprimas'') is a 1929 German silent drama film directed by Carl Wilhelm and starring Paul Heidemann, Margarete Schlegel and Fritz Schulz. It is an adaptation of the 1912 operetta '' Der Zigeunerprimas ...

'' (1929) – also screenplay * ''

Dear Homeland ''Dear Homeland'' (German: ''Teure Heimat'') is a 1929 German silent comedy film directed by Carl Wilhelm and starring Renate Müller, Jakob Tiedtke and Hans Albers. The film's art direction was by Max Heilbronner. A German mechanic considers e ...

'' (1929) (with

Renate Müller Renate Müller (26 April 1906 – 7 October 1937) was a German singer and actress in both silent films and sound films, as well as on stage. One of the most successful actresses in German films from the early 1930s, she was courted by the N ...

Hans Brausewetter Hans Brausewetter (27 May 1899 – 29 April 1945) was a German stage and film actor of the silent film, silent era. He appeared in more than 130 films between 1922 and 1945. He appeared in the 1923 film ''The Treasure (1923 film), The Treasu ...

Lotte Werkmeister Lotte may refer to: Businesses * Lotte Corporation, a South Korean industrial conglomerate ** Lotte Capital, a South Korean financial company ** Lotte Card, a South Korean credit card provider ** Lotte Chilsung, a South Korean manufacturer of foo ...

) - produced by

Erich Engels Erich Engels (23 May 1889 – 25 April 1971) was a German screenwriter, film producer, producer and film director.Bock & Bergfelder p.112 Selected filmography * ''Dear Homeland'' (1929) * ''Rooms to Let'' (1930) * ''The Murderer Dimitri Karamazo ...

* ''

Rooms to Let ''Rooms to Let'' (German: ''Ruhiges Heim mit Küchenbenutzung'') is a 1930 German silent comedy film directed by Carl Wilhelm and starring Lucie Englisch, Elisabeth Pinajeff and Kurt Vespermann.Prawer p.87 The film's art direction was by Max He ...

'' (1930) (with

Henry Bender Henry Bender (born Harry Bandheimer; 1867–1933) was a German stage and film actor.Chandler p. 272 He appeared in more than a hundred films during his career. Selected filmography * ''The Devil'' (1918) * '' Madeleine'' (1919) * ''Whitechapel'' ...

Albert Paulig Albert Paulig (14 January 1873 – 19 March 1933) was a German film actor who was popular during the silent era. Paulig made his first film in 1914. The following year he appeared in one of Ernst Lubitsch's first directorial attempts, '' A Trip on ...

) – also screenplay, together with Bobby E. Lüthge * '' The Firm Gets Married'' (1931) (with

Ralph Arthur Roberts Ralph Arthur Roberts (born Robert Arthur Schönherr; 2 October 1884 – 12 March 1940)Charlotte Ander Charlotte Ander (born Charlotte Andersch, 14 August 1902 – 5 August 1969) was a German actress. She was born in Berlin, the daughter of German stage/film couple and . Ander was trained at the Berliner Staatstheater. Ander was a star in the ...

Oskar Karlweis Oskar Leopold Karlweis (often credited Oscar Karlweis; 10 July 1894 – 24 January 1956) was an Austrian-American stage and film actor, active internationally in both the silent as well as the sound era. Career Born in Hinterbrühl, Austria-H ...

Theo Lingen Theo Lingen (; 10 June 1903 – 10 November 1978), born Franz Theodor Schmitz, was a German actor, film director and screenwriter. He appeared in more than 230 films between 1929 and 1978, and directed 21 films between 1936 and 1960. Life and c ...

Julius Falkenstein Julius Falkenstein (25 February 1879 – 9 December 1933) was a German stage and film actor of the silent era. He appeared in more than 180 films between 1914 and 1933. Falkenstein was Jewish, but secured a special permit to continue making ...

, Trude Westerberg)

Other

* 1910: ''Hexenlied'' (with

Henny Porten Frieda Ulricke "Henny" Porten (7 January 1890 – 15 October 1960) was a German actress and film producer of the silent film, silent era, and Germany's first major film star. She appeared in more than 170 films between 1906 and 1955. Biography ...

; directed by

Franz Porten Franz Porten (23 August 1859 – 21 May 1932) was a German actor and film director. He was the father of actress and film producer Henny Porten, screenwriter, actress, and director Rosa Porten, and actor Fritz Porten. Filmography Director ...

) – actor * 1910: ''Die Vernunft des Herzens'' (directed by

Charles Decroix Charles Decroix (born late 19th century; died after 1919) was a French director, film producer and screenwriter whose career reached a peak in Germany in the period before World War I, one of the forgotten pioneers from the early days of Europea ...

) – actor * 1910: ''Pro patria. Ein Unterseebootsfilm'' (with

; directed by

) – director's assistant * 1910/11: ''Vater und Sohn'' (directed by Walter Schmidthässler) – actor * 1911: ''Das Herz einer Gattin'' (directed by

) – actor * 1913/14: ''Eine venezianische Nacht'' (directed by

Max Reinhardt Max Reinhardt (; born Maximilian Goldmann; 9 September 1873 – 30 October 1943) was an Austrian-born Theatre director, theatre and film director, theater manager, intendant, and theatrical producer. With his radically innovative and avant-gard ...

) – director's assistant * 1932: '' Spell of the Looking Glass'' (directed by

Frank Wisbar Frank Wisbar (born Franz Wysbar; 9 December 1899 – 17 March 1967) was a German film director and screenwriter. He directed more than 20 films between 1932 and 1967 in Germany and the United States, as well as amassing many television credits. H ...

) – "collective direction", together with Herbert Ephraim * 1935: ''J'aime toutes les femmes'' (directed by

Carl Lamač Carl may refer to: *Carl, Georgia, city in USA *Carl, West Virginia, an unincorporated community *Carl (name), includes info about the name, variations of the name, and a list of people with the name *Carl², a TV series * "Carl", an episode of tel ...

) – production assistant

References

Notes

Sources

* Fritz, Walter, 1996. ''Im Kino erlebe ich die Welt – 100 Jahre Kino und Film in Österreich.'' Verlag Christian Brandstätter: Vienna.

External links

* *
Short article about the "Deutsche Mutoskop- und Biograph GmbH" ("Muto")
incl photo of Carl Wilhelm *

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilhelm, Carl 1872 births 1936 deaths Film people from Vienna German male silent film actors 20th-century German male actors Jewish emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United Kingdom Emigrants from Austria-Hungary to Germany Male actors from Vienna