Rudolf (or Rudolph) Schanzer (12 January 1875 – 1944) was an Austrian playwright and journalist. He is primarily known for the numerous

operetta Operetta is a form of theatre and a genre of light opera. It includes spoken dialogue, songs and including dances. It is lighter than opera in terms of its music, orchestral size, and length of the work. Apart from its shorter length, the oper ...

librettos that he wrote for composers such as

Leo Fall Leopold Fall (2 February 187316 September 1925) was an Austrian Kapellmeister and composer of operettas. Life Born in Olmütz (Olomouc), Leo (or Leopold) Fall was taught by his father Moritz Fall (1848–1922), a bandmaster and composer, who sett ...

, Jean Gilbert,

Emmerich Kálmán Emmerich Kálmán ( ; 24 October 1882 – 30 October 1953) was a Kingdom of Hungary, Hungarian composer of operettas and a prominent figure in the development of Operetta#Austria–Hungary, Viennese operetta in the 20th century. Among his most p ...

, and

Ralph Benatzky Ralph Benatzky (5 June 1884 – 16 October 1957), born in Mährisch Budwitz ( Moravské Budějovice) as Rudolph Franz rantišekJosef Benatzky, was an Austrian composer of Moravian origin. He composed operas and operettas, such as '' Casanova'' ...

. He was born in Vienna and died in Italy where he committed suicide after his arrest by the

Gestapo The (, ), Syllabic abbreviation, abbreviated Gestapo (), was the official secret police of Nazi Germany and in German-occupied Europe. The force was created by Hermann Göring in 1933 by combining the various political police agencies of F ...

Life and career

Schanzer was born into a Jewish family in Vienna where his father worked as a shipping agent. From 1894 to 1895 he studied law at the

University of Vienna The University of Vienna (, ) is a public university, public research university in Vienna, Austria. Founded by Rudolf IV, Duke of Austria, Duke Rudolph IV in 1365, it is the oldest university in the German-speaking world and among the largest ...

and then went to Paris where he worked as a private secretary and journalist. After Paris, he settled in Berlin working there as a journalist, critic, and editor for the '. He also began writing theatrical pieces in his spare time. Some of his earliest works were for

pantomime Pantomime (; informally panto) is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment, generally combining gender-crossing actors and topical humour with a story more or less based on a well-known fairy tale, fable or ...

s and cabaret and variety shows. He then began collaborating on operetta librettos with his friends and fellow writers

Rudolf Bernauer Rudolf Bernauer (20 January 1880, in Vienna – 27 November 1953, in London) was an Austrian lyricist, librettist, screenwriter, film director, producer,"Rudolph Bernauer" (aka Rudolf Bernauer), IMDb, 2009, webpageIMDb-76587. and actor. His aut ...

and Ernst Welisch. Their success led him to becoming a full-time librettist. During the course of his career he would write or co-write over 30 operetta and

musical theatre Musical theatre is a form of theatre, theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, ...

librettos, many of which were later made into films. With the rise of

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

and the enactment of the antisemitic

Nuremberg Laws The Nuremberg Laws (, ) were antisemitic and racist laws that were enacted in Nazi Germany on 15 September 1935, at a special meeting of the Reichstag convened during the annual Nuremberg Rally of the Nazi Party. The two laws were the Law ...

in 1935, Schanzer left Berlin and moved to his villa in the Austrian spa town of

Bad Ischl Bad Ischl (Austrian German ) is a spa town in Austria. It lies in the southern part of Upper Austria, at the river Traun in the centre of the Salzkammergut region. The town consists of the Katastralgemeinden ''Ahorn'', ''Bad Ischl'', ''Haiden ...

. He returned to Vienna in 1936, but following the German annexation of Austria in 1938, he fled to Abbazia, a town now in

Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...

but then under Italian control. He tried to emigrate to the US or England but was unsuccessful. Schanzer was arrested by the

in 1944 and was to be deported to a concentration camp. He committed suicide while in custody by taking the poison which he had always carried with him after his flight from Austria.

Librettos

Librettos written or co-written by Schanzer include: *''Der schwarze Mann'',

comic opera Comic opera, sometimes known as light opera, is a sung dramatic work of a light or comic nature, usually with a happy ending and often including spoken dialogue. Forms of comic opera first developed in late 17th-century Italy. By the 1730s, a ne ...

in 1 act composed by Oscar Straus; premiered Berlin, Secessionstheater, 23 December 1901 *'' Lord Piccolo'' (with

Carl Lindau Karl Lindau (also Carl Lindau, born Karl Gemperle; 26 November 1853 – 15 January 1934) was an Austrians, Austrian actor and writer. He excelled in comic roles at the Theater an der Wien, and wrote several plays, librettos for operettas and songs ...

in 2 acts composed by Henri Berény; premiered Vienna, Johann Strauss Theater, 9 January 1910 *''

Filmzauber ''Filmzauber'', literally 'Film Magic', is a Posse mit Gesang (a kind of popular musical drama) in four scenes by Walter Kollo and Willy Bredschneider, with a German libretto by Rudolf Bernauer and Rudolph Schanzer. A parody of (then popular) sil ...

'' (with

), ''

Posse mit Gesang ("farce with singing", plural: ) is a form of popular German-language music drama, that developed in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Early examples are sometimes called or . It is also sometimes referred to simply as (farce). Associate ...

'' in 4 acts composed by

Walter Kollo Walter Kollo (28 January 1878 – 30 September 1940) was a German composer of operettas, Possen mit Gesang, and Singspiele as well as popular songs. He was also a conductor and a music publisher. Kollo was born in Neidenburg, East Prussia ...

; premiered Berlin, , 19 October 1912 *' (with Rudolf Bernauer), operetta in 4 acts composed by Walter Kollo; premiered Berlin, Berliner Theater, 4 October 1913 *''Die tolle Komtess'' (with Rudolf Bernuauer), operetta in 3 acts composed by Walter Kollo; premiered Berlin, Berliner Theater, 21 February 1917 *''Blitzblaues Blut'' (with Rudolf Bernauer), operetta in 3 acts composed by Walter Kollo; premiered Berlin, Berliner Theater, 9 February 1918 *''Sterne, die wieder leuchten'' (with Rudolf Bernauer), operetta in 3 acts composed by Walter Kollo; premiered Berlin, Berliner Theater, 6 September 1918 *''Die Frau im Hermelin'' (with Ernst Welisch), operetta in 3 acts composed by Jean Gilbert; premiered Berlin,

Theater des Westens The Theater des Westens (Theatre of the West) is one of the most famous theatres for musicals and operettas in Berlin, Germany, located at 10–12 in Charlottenburg. It was founded in 1895 for plays. The present house was opened in 1896 and ded ...

, 22 August 1919 *''Der Geiger von Lugano '' (with Ernst Welisch ), operetta in 3 acts composed by Jean Gilbert; premiered Berlin, Thalia Theater, 26 September 1920 *''Die Braut des Lucullus'' (with Ernst Welisch ), operetta in 3 acts composed by Jean Gilbert; premiered Berlin, Theater des Westens, 26 August 1921 *''

Madame Pompadour Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour (, ; 29 December 1721 – 15 April 1764), commonly known as Madame de Pompadour, was a member of the French court. She was the official chief mistress of King Louis XV from 1745 to 1751, and rema ...

'' (with Ernst Welisch ), operetta in 3 acts composed by

; premiered Berlin, Berliner Theater, 9 September 1922 *''Riquette'' (with Ernst Welisch), operetta in 3 acts composed by Oscar Straus; premiered Berlin, , 17 January 1925 *''Die Teresina'' (with Ernst Welisch), operetta in 3 acts, composed by Oscar Straus; premiered Berlin, Deutsches Künstlertheater, 11 September 1925 *''Das Spiel um die Liebe'' (with Ernst Welisch), operetta in 3 acts composed by Jean Gilbert; premiered Berlin, Theater des Westens, 19 December 1925 *''Eine Frau von Format'' (with Ernst Welisch), operetta in 3 acts composed by Michael Krausz; premiered Berlin, Theater des Westens, 21 September 1927 *'' Casanova'' (with Ernst Welisch ), operetta in 3 acts composed by

; premiered Berlin,

Großes Schauspielhaus The Großes Schauspielhaus (Great Theater) was a theater in Berlin, Germany, designed by architect Hans Poelzig for theater director Max Reinhardt. The structure was built as a market hall in 1867 and then served as a circus and event venue. Poel ...

, 1 September 1928 *' (with Ernst Welisch), operetta in 3 acts composed by Ralph Benatzky; premiered Berlin, Großes Schauspielhaus, 31 August 1929 *''Die erste Beste'' (with Ernst Welisch), operetta in 3 acts, composed by Oscar Straus; premiered Prague, Neues Deutsches Theater, 19 October 1929 *''Das Mädel am Steuer'' (with Ernst Welisch), musical comedy in 3 acts composed by Jean Gilbert; premiered Berlin,

Komische Oper The Komische Oper Berlin is a German opera company based in Berlin. The company produces operas, operettas and musicals. The opera house is located on Behrenstraße, near Unter den Linden. Since 2004, the Komische Oper Berlin, along with the ...

, 17 September 1930 *''Der Teufelsreiter'' (with Ernst Welisch), operetta in 3 acts composed by

; premiered Vienna,

Theater an der Wien The is a historic theatre in Vienna located on the Left Wienzeile in the Mariahilf district. Completed in 1801, the theatre has hosted the premieres of many celebrated works of theatre, opera, and symphonic music. Since 2006, it has served prim ...

, 10 March 1932

Filmography

* '' Maytime'', directed by

Louis J. Gasnier Louis Joseph Gasnier (September 15, 1875 – February 15, 1963) was a French-American film director, producer, screenwriter and stage actor. A cinema pioneer, Gasnier shepherded the early career of comedian Max Linder, co-directed the enormously ...

(1923, based on the operetta ''Wie einst im Mai'') * '' Maytime'', directed by

Willi Wolff Willi Wolff (16 April 1883 – 6 April 1947) was a German screenwriter, film producer, and director. He was married to the silent film star Ellen Richter, whose films he often worked on. Selected filmography Director * ''Lola Montez, the King's ...

(Germany, 1926, based on the operetta ''Wie einst im Mai'') * '' The Lady in Ermine'', directed by

James Flood James Joseph Flood (July 31, 1895 – February 5, 1953) was an American film director. Born in New York City, Flood became an assistant director with Biograph in 1912 and was active through 1952. Career When working on ''The Swellhead'', Fl ...

(1927, based on the operetta ''Die Frau im Hermelin'') * ''

'', directed by

Herbert Wilcox Herbert Sydney Wilcox Order of the British Empire, CBE (19 April 1890 – 15 May 1977) was a British film producer and film director, director. He was one of the most successful British filmmakers from the 1920s to the 1950s. He is best know ...

(UK, 1927, based on the operetta ''

'') * ''

Princess Olala ''Princess Olala'' (German: ''Prinzessin Olala'') is a 1928 German silent drama film directed by Robert Land and starring Carmen Boni, Walter Rilla, Marlene Dietrich and Hans Albers.Wood p.65 It is also known by the alternative title of ''A ...

'', directed by

Robert Land Robert Land (1887–1940) was an Austrian-Jewish film director of Moravian descent. Biography Born as Robert Liebmann to a German-speaking Jewish Family in Kroměříž. Land moved to Vienna to study German literature and art history. He started ...

(Germany, 1928, based on the operetta ''Prinzessin Olala'') * '' A Woman with Style'', directed by

Fritz Wendhausen Fritz Wendhausen (7 August 1890 – 5 January 1962) was a German actor, screenwriter and film director. He is also credited as Frederick Wendhausen and F.R. Wendhausen. In 1938 he immigrated to Britain from Nazi Germany. Selected filmography Scre ...

(Germany, 1928, based on the operetta ''Eine Frau von Format'') * '' The Crazy Countess'', directed by

Richard Löwenbein Richard Löwenbein (1894–1943) was an Austrian screenwriter and film director. He was active in the Cinema of Germany, German film industry during the Weimar Republic. The Jewish Löwenbein left Germany for France following the Nazi Party's ris ...

(Germany, 1928, based on the operetta ''Die tolle Komtess'') * ''

Bride of the Regiment ''Bride of the Regiment'' is a 1930 American pre-Code musical film directed by John Francis Dillon and filmed entirely in Technicolor. The screenplay by Ray Harris and Humphrey Pearson is based on the book of the 1922 stage musical ''The Lady ...

'', directed by John Francis Dillon (1930, based on the operetta ''Die Frau im Hermelin'') * (The 1937 film '' Maytime'' is not based on Rudolf Schanzer's play) * ''

That Lady in Ermine ''That Lady in Ermine'' is a 1948 American Technicolor musical film directed by Ernst Lubitsch. The screenplay by Samson Raphaelson is based on the 1919 operetta ''Die Frau im Hermelin'' by Rudolph Schanzer and Ernst Welisch. Although Lubitsc ...

'', directed by

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 ...

(1948, based on the operetta ''Die Frau im Hermelin'') * ''Wie einst im Mai'', directed by Thomas Engel (West Germany, 1961, TV film, based on the operetta ''Wie einst im Mai'') * ''Madame Pompadour'', directed by

Eugen York Eugen York (26 November 1912 – 18 November 1991) was a German film director. He directed 35 films between 1938 and 1984. He was born in Rybinsk, Russian Empire and died in Berlin, Germany. After a career in Germany until the 1940s, he made ...

(West Germany, 1974, TV film, based on the operetta ''

'')

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schanzer, Rudolf Austrian operetta librettists Writers from Vienna 1875 births 1944 suicides 1944 deaths Austrian Jews who died in the Holocaust Suicides by poison Suicides by Jews during the Holocaust Suicides in Italy