Marta Flantz, also spelled Flanz (1885 – 1938) was a Polish German-speaking actress and film director. She was among the first women in Poland to direct a feature film.

Biography

Marta Flantz was born in 1885. She studied acting in Vienna with

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 ...

; she acted in German. Flantz was married to the film director Bolesław Land. Together with Nina Niovilla, Stanisława Perzanowska (co-director of ''Jego wielka miłość''; 1936) and

Wanda Jakubowska Wanda Jakubowska (10 November 1907 – 25 February 1998) was a Polish film director. Although she directed as many as 15 films over 50 years, Jakubowska is best known for her work on the Holocaust. Her 1948 film '' The Last Stage'' was an early a ...

, she was one of four women who directed full-length

feature films A feature film or feature-length film (often abbreviated to feature), also called a theatrical film, is a film ( motion picture, "movie" or simply “picture”) with a running time long enough to be considered the principal or sole presentation ...

in the

interwar Poland The Second Polish Republic, at the time officially known as the Republic of Poland, was a country in Central and Eastern Europe that existed between 7 October 1918 and 6 October 1939. The state was established in the final stage of World War I. ...

. In 1929, Flantz played the title role in ''The Morality of Mrs. Dulska'' (1930) – the first Polish sound film, an adaptation of Gabriela Zapolska's play with the same

title A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify their generation, official position, military rank, professional or academic qualification, or nobility. In some languages, titles may be ins ...

. Flantz was also a co-director of the sound scenes. Because she played in German, her role was dubbed. Her acting received favorable reviews. In the 1930s, Flantz joined the Leo-Film production company ran by Maria Hirszbein. Flantz, together with Bolesław Land, wrote the screenplay for ''

Prokurator Alicja Horn ''Prokurator Alicja Horn'' is a 1933 Polish film directed by Marta Flantz and Michał Waszyński. The film's art direction was by Jacek Rotmil. Cast *Jadwiga Smosarska ... Alicja Horn * Zofia Mirska ... Julka * Franciszek Brodniewicz ... Jan ...

'' (1933), based on the novel by

Tadeusz Dołęga-Mostowicz Tadeusz Dołęga-Mostowicz (; 10 August 1898 – 20 September 1939) was a Polish writer, journalist and author of over a dozen popular novels. One of his best known works, which in Poland became a byword for fortuitous careerism, was '' The Career ...

. Flantz also directed the film together with

Michał Waszyński Michał Waszyński (29 September 1904 – 20 February 1965) was first a film director in Poland, then in Italy, and later (as Michael Waszynski) a film producer, producer of major United States, American films, mainly in Spain. Known for h ...

. Two years later, she was the sole director of the romantic comedy '' Kochaj tylko mnie'' produced by Leo-Film. The main roles were played by: the debutante Lidia Wysocka,

Kazimierz Junosza-Stępowski Kazimierz Junosza-Stępowski (26 November 1880 – 5 July 1943) was a Polish stage and film actor. He was a legendary figure in Polish cinema who had appeared in the earliest Polish films in 1902. Junosza-Stępowski was killed while trying to pro ...

Michał Znicz Michał Znicz (born Michał Feiertag) (1888–1943) was a Polish stage and film actor. Selected filmography * '' Młody las'' (1934) * ''Pieśniarz Warszawy'' (1934) * '' Co mój mąż robi w nocy?'' (1934) * ''Love, Cherish, Respect'' (1934) * ...

, Witold Zacharewicz and

Helena Grossówna Helena Grossówna (25 November 1904 – 1 July 1994) was a Polish actress and dancer, who starred in several popular Polish films during the interwar period. Early life She was the daughter of Leonard Gross, a German, and Valeria Winiawska, a P ...

. The film followed love affairs of a theater star. Flantz died in 1938.

Works

* 1929: ''Policmajster Tagiejew'' – the role of Ciotunia * 1930: ''

The Morality of Mrs. Dulska ''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The ...

'' – the role of Aniela Dulska, direction of sound scenes * 1931: '' Uwiedziona'' – the role of Madame * 1933: ''

'' – screenplay and direction * 1935: '' Kochaj tylko mnie'' – direction

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Flantz, Marta 1885 births 1938 deaths Polish women film directors Polish women screenwriters Women film pioneers 20th-century Polish actresses