Konstantin Irmen-Tschet (24 June 1902 – 27 May 1977) was a Russian-born German

cinematographer The cinematographer or director of photography (sometimes shortened to DP or DOP) is the person responsible for the recording of a film, television production, music video or other live-action piece. The cinematographer is the chief of the camera ...

. Irmen-Tschet was a leading technician of German films from the

silent era 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, wh ...

to well into the post-

Second World War 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 ...

years. He also often worked in

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

. Irmen-Tschet emigrated to Germany following the

Russian Revolution The Russian Revolution was a period of Political revolution (Trotskyism), political and social revolution, social change in Russian Empire, Russia, starting in 1917. This period saw Russia Dissolution of the Russian Empire, abolish its mona ...

, and worked at first in the

theatre Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors to present experiences of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a Stage (theatre), stage. The performe ...

. From 1925 he was employed as a

cameraman A camera operator, or depending on the context cameraman or camerawoman, is a professional operator of a film camera or video camera as part of a film crew. The term "cameraman" does not necessarily imply that a male is performing the task. ...

in the large German film industry. In these early years he was known for his skill for filming

special effects Special effects (often abbreviated as F/X or simply FX) are illusions or visual tricks used in the theatre, film, television, video game, amusement park and simulator industries to simulate the fictional events in a story or virtual world. ...

, and was employed on

Fritz Lang Friedrich Christian Anton Lang (; December 5, 1890 – August 2, 1976), better known as Fritz Lang (), was an Austrian-born film director, screenwriter, and producer who worked in Germany and later the United States.Obituary ''Variety Obituari ...

's ''

Metropolis A metropolis () is a large city or conurbation which is a significant economic, political, and cultural area for a country or region, and an important hub for regional or international connections, commerce, and communications. A big city b ...

'' (1927) and ''

Woman in the Moon ''Woman in the Moon'' (German language, German ''Frau im Mond'') is a German science fiction silent film that premiered 15 October 1929 at the UFA-Palast am Zoo cinema in Berlin to an audience of 2,000. It is often considered to be one of the f ...

'' (1929) for this purpose.Kreimeier p.330 During the

Nazi era Nazi Germany, officially known as the German Reich and later the Greater German Reich, was the German state between 1933 and 1945, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party controlled the country, transforming it into a totalitarian dictat ...

, he shot a number of

Lilian Harvey Lilian Harvey (born Helene Lilian Muriel Pape; 19 January 1906 – 27 July 1968) was a British-German actress and singer, long based in Germany, where she is best known for her role as Christel Weinzinger in Erik Charell's 1931 film ''Der Kongr ...

films,

Marika Rökk Marika Rökk (; born Marie Karoline Rökk, 3 November 1913 – 16 May 2004) was a German-Austrian dancer, singer and actress of Hungarian descent who gained prominence in Cinema of Germany, German films in the Nazism and cinema, Nazi era. She res ...

musicals as well as the epic '' Münchhausen'' (1943). He was married to the actress

Brigitte Horney Brigitte Horney (; 29 March 1911 – 27 July 1988) was a German theatre and film actress. Best remembered was her role as Empress Katherine the Great in the 1943 version of the UFA film version of '' Baron Münchhausen'', directed by Josef vo ...

between 1940 and 1954.

Selected filmography

* ''

'' (1927) * ''

'' (1929) * ''

Waltz of Love ''Waltz of Love'' (German: ''Liebeswalzer'') is a 1930 German musical film directed by Wilhelm Thiele and starring Lilian Harvey, Willy Fritsch and Georg Alexander. It was shot at the Babelsberg Studios in Berlin with sets designed by the art dir ...

'' (1930) * '' The Love Waltz'' (1930) * ''

Darling of the Gods ''Darling of the Gods'' () is a 1930 German musical drama film directed by Hanns Schwarz and starring Emil Jannings, Renate Müller and Olga Chekhova. Jannings had recently returned from Hollywood where the arrival of sound films had harmed ...

'' (1930) * ''

Burglars Burglary, also called breaking and entering (B&E) or housebreaking, is a property crime involving the illegal entry into a building or other area without permission, typically with the intention of committing a further criminal offence. Usually ...

'' (1930) * ''

Her Grace Commands ''Her Grace Commands'' () is a 1931 German romantic comedy film directed by Hanns Schwarz and starring Käthe von Nagy, Willy Fritsch and Reinhold Schünzel. It is also translated into the alternative title ''Her Highness Commands''. It was shot ...

'' (1931) * ''

Captain Craddock ''Captain Craddock'' () is a 1931 German French-language musical comedy film directed by Max de Vaucorbeil and Hanns Schwarz and starring Jean Murat, Käthe von Nagy and Charles Redgie. It is a French-language version of the 1931 German film '' B ...

'' (1931) * ''

Princess, At Your Orders! ''Princess, At Your Orders!'' (French: ''Princesse, à vos ordres!'') is a 1931 German romantic comedy film directed by Hanns Schwarz and Max de Vaucorbeil and starring Lilian Harvey, Henri Garat, and Jean Mercanton.Crisp p.26 It was produce ...

'' (1931) * ''

Inquest An inquest is a judicial inquiry in common law jurisdictions, particularly one held to determine the cause of a person's death. Conducted by a judge, jury, or government official, an inquest may or may not require an autopsy carried out by a cor ...

'' (1931) * ''

The Man in Search of His Murderer ''The Man in Search of His Murderer'' () is a 1931 Cinema of Germany, German comedy film directed by Robert Siodmak and starring Heinz Rühmann, Lien Deyers and Hans Leibelt.Hardt p. 239 The film is partially lost; of the original 9 acts, only fi ...

'' (1931) * '' Bombs on Monte Carlo'' (1931) * ''

About an Inquest About may refer to: * About (surname) * About.com, an online source for original information and advice * about.me, a personal web hosting service * About URI scheme, an internal URI scheme * About box, a dialog box that displays information ...

'' (1931) * '' Caught in the Act'' (1931) * ''

A Shot at Dawn ''A Shot at Dawn'' () is a 1932 German crime film directed by Alfred Zeisler and starring Ery Bos, Genia Nikolaieva and Karl Ludwig Diehl. It was based on the play ''The Woman and the Emerald'' by Harry Jenkins and recounts a jewel theft.Youn ...

'' (1932) * ''

A Blonde Dream ''A Blonde Dream'' () is a 1932 German musical comedy film directed by Paul Martin and starring Lilian Harvey, Willy Fritsch and Willi Forst. A separate English-language version '' Happy Ever After'' was made as a co-production with Gainsborough ...

'' (1932) * '' Happy Ever After'' (1932) * ''

A Mad Idea ''A Mad Idea'' or ''A Crazy Idea'' () is a 1932 German comedy film directed by Kurt Gerron and starring Willy Fritsch, Dorothea Wieck and Rosy Barsony.Waldman p. 45 It was made by UFA, Germany's biggest studio. It was shot at the Babelsberg Stu ...

'' (1932) * '' The Cheeky Devil'' (1932) * '' You Will Be My Wife'' (1932) * '' Victor and Victoria'' (1933) * ''

Love Must Be Understood ''Love Must Be Understood'' () is a 1933 German musical comedy film directed by Hans Steinhoff and starring Rosy Barsony, Georg Alexander, and Wolf Albach-Retty. It was shot at the Babelsberg Studios in Berlin. The film's sets were designed by ...

'' (1933) * '' Hitlerjunge Quex'' (1933) * ''

Decoy A decoy (derived from the Dutch ''de'' ''kooi'', literally "the cage" or possibly ''eenden kooi'', " duck cage") is usually a person, device, or event which resembles what an individual or a group might be looking for, but it is only meant to ...

'' (1934) * ''

George and Georgette ''George and Georgette'' (French: ''Georges et Georgette'') is a 1934 German comedy film directed by Roger Le Bon and Reinhold Schünzel and starring Julien Carette, Meg Lemonnier and Anton Walbrook. It is the French-language version of the f ...

'' (1934) * '' The Island'' (1934) * ''

Enjoy Yourselves ''Enjoy Yourselves'' () is a 1934 German musical comedy film directed by Hans Steinhoff and starring Dorit Kreysler, Ida Wüst and Wolfgang Liebeneiner. The film's sets were designed by the art directors Artur Günther and Benno von Arent. It pre ...

'' (1934) * '' The Decoy'' (1935) * '' The Royal Waltz'' (1935) * ''

The Last Four on Santa Cruz ''The Last Four on Santa Cruz'' () is a 1936 German drama film directed by Werner Klingler and starring Hermann Speelmans, Irene von Meyendorff and Valéry Inkijinoff.Parish p. 507 The film was shot at the Babelsberg Studios in Berlin and location ...

'' (1936) * ''

Boccaccio Giovanni Boccaccio ( , ; ; 16 June 1313 – 21 December 1375) was an Italian writer, poet, correspondent of Petrarch, and an important Renaissance humanist. Born in the town of Certaldo, he became so well known as a writer that he was s ...

'' (1936) * ''

Men Without a Fatherland ''Men Without a Fatherland'' () is a 1937 German drama film directed by Herbert Maisch and starring Willy Fritsch, Maria von Tasnady and Willy Birgel.Richards p. 371 The film's sets were designed by the art director Erich Kettelhut. Synopsis I ...

'' (1937) * ''

Seven Slaps ''Seven Slaps'' (German: ''Sieben Ohrfeigen'') is a 1937 German comedy film directed by Paul Martin and starring Lilian Harvey, Willy Fritsch and Alfred Abel. Like the earlier ''Lucky Kids'', which had the same director and stars, it was an attem ...

'' (1937) * ''

Gasparone ''Gasparone'' is an operetta in three acts by Carl Millöcker to a German libretto by Friedrich Zell and Richard Genée. The libretto was later revised by and . An amusing feature of the work is that the title character never appears and acts as ...

'' (1937) * ''

Fanny Elssler Fanny Elssler (born Franziska Elßler; 23 June 181027 November 1884) was an Austrian ''ballerina'' of the Romantic Period. Life and career She was born in Gumpendorf, a neighborhood of Vienna. Her father Johann Florian Elssler was a secon ...

'' (1937) * '' Nanon'' (1938) * '' Castles in the Air'' (1939) * '' Hello Janine!'' (1939) * '' The Governor'' (1939) * ''

Kora Terry ''Kora Terry'' is a 1940 German drama film directed by Georg Jacoby and starring Marika Rökk, Will Quadflieg and Josef Sieber Josef Sieber (28 April 1900 – 3 December 1962) was a German film actor. Selected filmography * '' Pappi'' (1934) * ...

'' (1940) * ''

Women Are Better Diplomats ''Women Are Better Diplomats'' () is a 1941 German musical comedy film from the Nazi era. Directed by Georg Jacoby and starring Marika Rökk, Willy Fritsch and Aribert Wäscher. It was based on a novel by Hans Flemming. The film was the first Ge ...

'' (1941) * '' Münchhausen'' (1943) * '' The Wedding Hotel'' (1944) * '' After the Storm'' (1948) * ''

The Blue Straw Hat ''The Blue Straw Hat'' () is a 1949 West German period comedy film directed by Viktor Tourjansky and starring Margot Hielscher, Karl Schönböck and Mady Rahl.Goble p. 324 It was shot at the Bavaria Studios in Munich and on location in the city' ...

'' (1949) * ''

The Man Who Wanted to Live Twice ''The Man Who Wanted to Live Twice'' () is a 1950 West German drama film directed by Viktor Tourjansky and starring Rudolf Forster, Olga Chekhova and Heidemarie Hatheyer. The future star Marianne Koch made her debut in this film, having been disco ...

'' (1950) * '' Everything for the Company'' (1950) * ''

A Heidelberg Romance ''A Heidelberg Romance'' () is a 1951 West German romance film directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Liselotte Pulver, O.W. Fischer and Gardy Granass. The film set a template for portraying German-American relations.Stephan p.163 The film's s ...

'' (1951) * ''

Immortal Light ''Immortal Light'' () is a 1951 West German drama film directed by Arthur Maria Rabenalt and starring Rudolf Forster, Cornell Borchers and Volker von Collande.Bock & Bergfelder p. 487 It was shot at the Bavaria Studios in Munich and on location ...

'' (1951) * '' Palace Hotel'' (1952) * ''

We're Dancing on the Rainbow ''We're Dancing on the Rainbow'' (, ) is a 1952 German-Italian musical melodrama film directed by Carmine Gallone and Arthur Maria Rabenalt and starring Inge Egger, Isa Barzizza and Karl Schönböck. It was shot at the Cinecittà Studios in Rome ...

'' (1952) * ''

That Can Happen to Anyone ''That Can Happen to Anyone'' () is a 1952 West German comedy film directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Heinz Rühmann, , and Gustav Knuth. It was made at the Bavaria Studios in Munich. The film's sets were designed by the art directors Hans S ...

'' (1952) * ''

The Divorcée ''The Divorcée'' () is a 1953 German musical film directed by George Jacoby and starring Marika Rökk, Johannes Heesters and Hans Nielsen (actor), Hans Nielsen. It was based on the operetta ''Die geschiedene Frau'' by Leo Fall and Victor Léon. ...

'' (1953) * '' Dreaming Lips'' (1953) * '' Salto Mortale'' (1953) * '' Walking Back into the Past'' (1954) * '' Der 10. Mai'' (1957) * ''

The Cheese Factory in the Hamlet ''The Cheese Factory in the Hamlet'' (German: ''Die Käserei in der Vehfreude'') is a 1958 Swiss historical comedy film directed by Franz Schnyder and starring Annemarie Düringer, Franz Matter and Heinrich Gretler.Luhr p.542 It is an adaptation ...

'' (1958) * '' Jakobli and Meyeli'' (1962)

References

Bibliography

* Kreimeier, Klaus. ''The Ufa Story: A History of Germany's Greatest Film Company, 1918-1945''. University of California Press, 1999.

External links

* 1902 births 1977 deaths German cinematographers Emigrants from the Russian Empire to Germany {{Russia-bio-stub