Lien Deyers
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Lien Deyers (formerly Nicolina Dijjers Spanier, born Nicolina Spanier; 5 November 1909 – after March 1982) was a Dutch actress based in Germany.


Early life

Lien Deyers was born Nicolina Spanier in Amsterdam on 5 November 1909, the daughter of Nathan Spanier, a piano teacher (1857–1916), and Johanna Adriana Nicolina Liefjes, a seamstress (1889–1920). She had a half-brother, Andries Liefjes, (1906–1960), who was from a previous relationship of Liefjes. After Spanier’s death, Johanna married the hotel-owner Egbert Dijjers (1874–1948) and the family moved to
The Hague The Hague ( ) is the capital city of the South Holland province of the Netherlands. With a population of over half a million, it is the third-largest city in the Netherlands. Situated on the west coast facing the North Sea, The Hague is the c ...
. At the early age of five her potential was noted by Amsterdam theatre owner and film producer David Sluizer, but she did not enter the film business. Deyers spent most of her childhood years in The Hague until her stepfather, Dijjers, remarried to the Austrian actress Lotte Erol. Deyers then traveled between The Hague,
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. ...
(where the family mostly lived), and
Lausanne Lausanne ( , ; ; ) is the capital and largest List of towns in Switzerland, city of the Swiss French-speaking Cantons of Switzerland, canton of Vaud, in Switzerland. It is a hilly city situated on the shores of Lake Geneva, about halfway bet ...
, where she went to a private school and became fluent in French.


Career

In August 1926 the Austrian weekly ''Mein Film'' staged a competition for new young screen talent and Lien submitted her photograph. Together with twenty other contestants she was chosen for a screen-test by director Hans Otto, which she won. Subsequently, during an autograph session in the ''Mein Film'' offices in 1927, she was introduced to the well-known Austrian director
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 ...
, who happened to be in need of a young blonde for a role in his new movie '' Spione'', written by his wife, the novelist and screenwriter Thea von Harbou. Lang had her travel to Berlin for a screen test, and she was indeed given a secondary, racy role in ''Spione''. She was billed as Lien Deyers because Dijjers frequently was misspelled or mispronounced in German-speaking countries. Lang had her sign a six-year contract to the UFA studios in Berlin. The contract soon turned out to be mere slavery, and Deyers sought a court decision to end it. In November 1928, the court ruled in her favor, a verdict welcomed by hundreds of Berlin-based actors with similar contracts. In turn Lang appealed and was granted a 10,000 Reichs-mark pay-off, to be fulfilled in monthly payments. Deyers and Lang already had grown to dislike each other during the shooting of ''Spione''. She was featured in nine silent movies and 25 talkies over the following eight years, mostly comedies, some of them French productions. Her initial popularity, especially with women, was due to her sentimental role in
William Dieterle William Dieterle (July 15, 1893 – December 9, 1972) was a German-born actor and film director who emigrated to the United States in 1930 to leave a worsening political situation. He worked in Cinema of the United States, Hollywood primarily a ...
's '' The Saint and Her Fool''. In 1934, she married the American-born German producer and director
Alfred Zeisler Alfred Zeisler (September 26, 1897 – March 1, 1985) was an American-born German film producer, director, actor and screenwriter. He produced 29 films between 1927 and 1936. He also directed 16 films between 1924 and 1949. Selected filmogr ...
, who had worked in Germany since 1924. She had met him when he directed the movie ''Sein Scheidungsgrund'', in which she played the main character. Starting with this movie, Deyers concentrated on comedy, only occasionally appearing in dramatic roles. Deyers got into conflict with the new politics of Nazi Germany: She had to take on German citizenship to remain assured of roles. She mainly was typecast for typical "Aryan" characters like the exemplary girlish blonde in '' The Company's in Love'' (1932) and ''
Gold Gold is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol Au (from Latin ) and atomic number 79. In its pure form, it is a brightness, bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile metal. Chemically, gold is a transition metal ...
'' (1934). Most importantly, she feared the Nazis would discover she was half-Jewish (her father Spanier was Jewish). Because Zeisler was Jewish, too, they fled Germany in 1935. Zeisler settled in Britain, and in 1936, he directed
Cary Grant Cary Grant (born Archibald Alec Leach; January 18, 1904November 29, 1986) was an English and American actor. Known for his blended British and American accent, debonair demeanor, lighthearted approach to acting, and sense of comic timing, he ...
in '' The Amazing Quest of Ernest Bliss''. Deyers traveled between London and The Hague, and in 1937, she signed for a major role in the Dutch-Italian movie '' The Three Wishes''. For unknown reasons, she did not play the part and joined her husband in London in 1938. By this time, their marriage was faltering and a divorce was inevitable. In 1939, the couple moved to California, where they soon divorced.


Later years

Deyers, who had a reputation of being "extremely mentally unstable", could not find work in Hollywood. There were many exiled German actors all vying for the few roles that required a foreign accent. She developed an alcohol addiction and relied financially on old contacts like the German actor and director
William Dieterle William Dieterle (July 15, 1893 – December 9, 1972) was a German-born actor and film director who emigrated to the United States in 1930 to leave a worsening political situation. He worked in Cinema of the United States, Hollywood primarily a ...
and in particular the Austrian-American film agent
Paul Kohner Paul Kohner (May 29, 1902 – March 16, 1988) was an Austrian-American talent agent and producer who managed the careers of Ingrid Bergman, Maurice Chevalier, Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, John Huston, Liv Ullmann and Billy Wilder, as well as act ...
and his European Film Fund that he had founded to aid German actors in exile. Over a brief period, she married three more times: with kingpin actors' agent Frank Orsatti, one of the Orsatti Brothers (who evidently could not get her involved in movies either), from 1940 until 1942; with furrier Victor Rubin from 1944 to 1948; and with Lawrence Adlon, grandson of the Berlin hotel-magnate Lorenz Adlon in January 1951. On 3 August 1949, Deyers petitioned for American citizenship. The Dutch actor/comedian Wim Sonneveld met with her in 1957 during the shooting of ''
Silk Stockings ''Silk Stockings'' is a musical with a book by George S. Kaufman, Leueen MacGrath, and Abe Burrows and music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The musical is loosely based on the Melchior Lengyel story ''Ninotchka'' and the 1939 film adaptation it ...
'' with
Fred Astaire Fred Astaire (born Frederick Austerlitz, May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987) was an American dancer, actor, singer, musician, choreographer, and presenter, whose career in stage, film, and television spanned 76 years. He is widely regarded as the "g ...
and Cyd Charisse, in which he played a supporting role. He reportedly was shocked by her appearance. After 1957, she faded from public view. She was arrested in Las Vegas in 1964 for loitering and disorderly conduct, and she sent a greeting card congratulating German actor and former co-star
Heinz Rühmann Heinrich Wilhelm "Heinz" Rühmann (; 7 March 1902 – 3 October 1994) was a German film actor who appeared in over 100 films between 1926 and 1993. He is one of the most famous and popular German actors of the 20th century, and is considered a Ge ...
on his 80th birthday in 1982. The postcard was signed L. Dyers-Wallburg, suggesting she had married for a fifth time.


Filmography

* 1928: '' Spione'', English title ''Spies'' (silent; thriller directed by
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 ...
, with Rudolf Klein-Rogge, Lien Deyers supporting as Kitty) * 1928: '' Haus Nummer 17'', English title ''Number 17'' (silent; crime/drama by Géza von Bolváry, featuring Deyers as main character Elsie Ackroyd) * 1928: '' Die Heilige und ihr Narr'', English title ''The Saint and Her Fool'' (silent; romantic drama by and with
William Dieterle William Dieterle (July 15, 1893 – December 9, 1972) was a German-born actor and film director who emigrated to the United States in 1930 to leave a worsening political situation. He worked in Cinema of the United States, Hollywood primarily a ...
, with Deyers featuring as main character Rosemarie von Brauneck) * 1928-1929: ''Rund um die Liebe'' (compilation with Deyers in clippings) * 1929: ''Das Donkosakenlied'' (silent; operetta with Deyers as Natascha) * 1929: '' Ich lebe für dich'', English title ''Triumph of Love'' (silent; romantic drama by and with William Dieterle, main character Deyers as Nicoline) * 1929: '' Frühlingsrauschen'', English title ''Rustle of Spring'' (silent; romantic drama by and with William Dieterle, main character Deyers as Viola) * 1929: '' Le Capitaine Fracasse'' (silent; historical drama by
Alberto Cavalcanti Alberto de Almeida Cavalcanti (February 6, 1897 – August 23, 1982) was a Brazilian-born film director and producer. He was often credited under the single name "Cavalcanti". Early life Cavalcanti was born in Rio de Janeiro, the son of a p ...
, main character Deyers as Isabelle) * 1930: '' Gehetzte Mädchen'' (silent; director
Erich Schönfelder Erich Schönfelder (1885–1933) was a German screenwriter, actor, and film director of the silent film, silent and early sound film, sound eras. Early in his career he worked frequently with Ernst Lubitsch. Selected filmography Writer * ''Shoe ...
) * 1930: '' Der Nächste, bitte!'' (silent; comedy by Erich Schönfelder, Deyers supporting as Minchen Bangigkeit) * 1930: ''
Rosenmontag (, ) is the highlight of the German (carnival), and takes place on the Shrove Monday before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Mardi Gras, though celebrated on Fat Tuesday, is a similar event. is celebrated in German-speaking countries, in ...
'' (drama by
Hans Steinhoff Hans Steinhoff (10 March 1882 – 20 April 1945) was a German film director, best known for the propaganda films he produced in Nazi Germany. Life and career Steinhoff started his career as a stage actor in the 1900s and later worked as a sta ...
, main character Deyers as Traute Reimann) * 1930: ''Der Hampelmann'' (comedy by E. W. Emo, main character Deyers as Lissy) * 1930: '' Das alte Lied'' (romantic drama by
Erich Waschneck Erich John Waschneck (29 April 1887, in Grimma, Kingdom of Saxony – 22 September 1970, in Berlin) was a German cameraman, director, screenwriter, and film producer. Early life Erich was the son of Karl Hermann Waschneck, a blacksmith, and his ...
, main character Deyers as Annerl Haslinger) * 1931: '' Die Männer um Lucie'', English title ''The Men Around Lucy'' (drama by
Alexander Korda Sir Alexander Korda (; born Sándor László Kellner; ; 16 September 1893 – 23 January 1956)
, Deyers supporting as Daisy) * 1931: '' Der Mann, der seinen Mörder sucht'', English title ''The Man in Search of His Murderer'' (black comedy by
Robert Siodmak Robert Siodmak (; 8 August 1900 – 10 March 1973) was a German Jewish film director. His career spanned some 40 years, working extensively in the United States and France, as well as in his native country. Though he worked in many genres, he was ...
, main character Deyers as Kitty alongside
Heinz Rühmann Heinrich Wilhelm "Heinz" Rühmann (; 7 March 1902 – 3 October 1994) was a German film actor who appeared in over 100 films between 1926 and 1993. He is one of the most famous and popular German actors of the 20th century, and is considered a Ge ...
) * 1931: ''Sein Scheidungsgrund'' (comedy by
Alfred Zeisler Alfred Zeisler (September 26, 1897 – March 1, 1985) was an American-born German film producer, director, actor and screenwriter. He produced 29 films between 1927 and 1936. He also directed 16 films between 1924 and 1949. Selected filmogr ...
, featuring Deyers als Liane Roland) * 1931: '' Der Herzog von Reichstadt'', English title ''The Duke of Reichstadt'' (historical drama, main character Deyers as Maria Louise) * 1932: ''Durchlaucht amüsiert sich'' (comedy, main character Deyers as Maria) * 1932: ' (comedy by
Max Neufeld Max Neufeld (13 February 1887 – 2 December 1967) was an Austrian film director, actor and screenwriter. He directed 70 films between 1919 and 1957. He directed the 1934 film ''The Song of the Sun'', which starred Vittorio De Sica. Selecte ...
, main character Deyers as Das Mädchen Hasenklein) * 1932: '' Melodie der Liebe'', English title ''Melody of Love'' (musical with Deyers supporting alongside Richard Tauber) * 1932: '' Die verliebte Firma'', English title ''The Company's in Love'' (comedy by
Max Ophüls Maximillian Oppenheimer ( , ; 6 May 1902 – 26 March 1957), known as Max Ophüls ( , , ) or simply Ophuls, was a German and French film director and screenwriter. He was known for his opulent and lyrical visual style, with heavy use of trac ...
, main character Deyers as Gretl Krummbichler) * 1933: ''Ist mein Mann nicht fabelhaft?'' (comedy, main character Deyers as Lu) * 1933: '' Lachende Erben'', English title ''The Merry Heirs'' (comedy by Max Ophüls, main character Deyers as Gina alongside Heinz Rühmann) * 1933: ''Die vom Niederrhein'' (comedy, main character Deyers as Hanne Stahl) * 1933: ''Die Fahrt ins Grüne'' (drama, main character Deyers as Lotte Krause alongside Hermann Thimig) * 1934: '' Der Doppelbräutigam'', English title ''The Double Fiance'' (comedy, main character Deyers as Eva) * 1934: ''Ich sing' mich in dein Herz hinein'' (musical with Deyers supporting as Doris) * 1934: ''
Gold Gold is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol Au (from Latin ) and atomic number 79. In its pure form, it is a brightness, bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile metal. Chemically, gold is a transition metal ...
'' (science-fiction 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 ...
, Deyers supporting as Margit Moller) * 1934: ''Karneval und Liebe'' (comedy, main character Deyers as Loretta alongside Hermann Thimig) * 1934: '' Der Vetter aus Dingsda'', English title ''The Cousin from Nowhere'' (operetta/comedy, main character Deyers as Julia) * 1935: ''Ein ganzer Kerl'' (comedy, main character Deyers as Grete Bolle) * 1935: '' I Love All the Women'' (musical comedy with Deyers as Susi alongside Jan Kiepura and Adele Sandrock) * 1935: ''
Punks Arrives from America ''Punks Arrives from America'' (German: ''Punks kommt aus Amerika'') is a 1935 German comedy film directed by Karl Heinz Martin and starring Attila Hörbiger, Lien Deyers, Ralph Arthur Roberts and Sybille Schmitz. Produced and distributed by ...
'' (drama featuring Deyers as Marlis alongside Sybille Schmitz) * 1935: '' Die selige Exzellenz'', English title ''His Late Excellency'' (comedy with Deyers supporting as Else)


Bibliography

*
Kay Weniger Kay Weniger (born 1956) is an Austrian writer of books on media issues. He published an eight-volume encyclopaedia on international film people. Biography Weniger is the son of the German stage and film actress and the Austrian stage actor ...
: 'Es wird im Leben dir mehr genommen als gegeben …'. Lexikon der aus Deutschland und Österreich emigrierten Filmschaffenden 1933 bis 1945. Eine Gesamtübersicht. S. 138 f., Acabus-Verlag, Hamburg 2011, * Gemünden, Gerd. ''A Foreign Affair: Billy Wilder's American Films''. Berghahn Books, 2008.


References


External links

*
Lien Deyers
at Virtual History {{DEFAULTSORT:Deyers, Lien 1909 births Year of death missing Dutch actresses Dutch film actresses Dutch silent film actresses Actresses from Amsterdam Dutch expatriates in Germany 20th-century Dutch actresses Actresses from The Hague