Steve Sekely (February 25, 1899 – March 9, 1979) was a

Hungarian Jewish The history of the Jews in Hungary dates back to at least the Kingdom of Hungary, with some records even predating the Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin in 895 CE by over 600 years. Written sources prove that Jewish communities lived i ...

film director. Born István Székely, he was known by several names, based on his changing professional and immigration status, including Stefan Szekely. He directed films in Hungarian, German, and English.

Biography

He worked as a newspaper journalist in Germany, before returning to Hungary in the early 1930s. He directed one of the most famous classic Hungarian films, the frequently revived comedy '' Hyppolit, a lakáj'' (1931). That film was remade in 2000 and the original was later digitally restored and released on DVD. Sekely left pre-war Hungary, fleeing growing

fascism Fascism ( ) is a far-right, authoritarian, and ultranationalist political ideology and movement. It is characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forcible suppression of opposition, belief in a natural social hie ...

and laws restricting rights and professional opportunities for Jews. He worked in

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...

for much of his subsequent career, directing mostly

B movies A B movie, or B film, is a type of cheap, low-budget commercial motion picture. Originally, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, this term specifically referred to films meant to be shown as the lesser-known second half of a double feature, ...

and early episodic TV, although he directed his best-known English language film, the cult

science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...

thriller ''

The Day of the Triffids ''The Day of the Triffids'' is a 1951 post-apocalyptic novel by the English science fiction author John Wyndham. After most people in the world are blinded by an apparent meteor shower, an aggressive species of plant starts killing people. A ...

'' in the UK and returned to Hungary to direct his final film, ''The Girl Who Liked Purple Flowers,'' which was released in 1973.

Partial filmography

* ''

Next, Please! ''Next, Please!'' () is a 1930 German comedy film directed by Erich Schönfelder and starring Charles Puffy, Adele Sandrock, and Albert Paulig. The film's sets were designed by the art directors Gustav A. Knauer and Willy Schiller. It was releas ...

'' (1930) Germany * ''

The Great Longing ''The Great Longing'' () is a 1930 Cinema of Germany, German comedy film directed by Steve Sekely in his directorial debut and starring Camilla Horn, Theodor Loos, and Harry Frank. It was shot at the EFA Studios in Berlin. The film's sets were de ...

'' (1930) Germany * '' Hyppolit, the Butler'' (1931) Hungary * ''

Flying Gold ''Flying Gold'' (Hungarian: ''Repülő arany'') is a 1932 Hungarian crime film directed by Steve Sekely and starring Steven Geray, Gyula Kabos and Lajos Gárday. It was shot at the Hunnia Studios in Budapest. A French-language version ' was als ...

'' (1932) Hungary * ''

Rouletabille the Aviator ''Rouletabille the Aviator'' (French: ''Rouletabille aviateur'') is a 1932 French thriller film directed by Steve Sekely and starring Roland Toutain, Léon Belières and Germaine Aussey.Crisp p.396 The film was inspired by the Joseph Rouletabille ...

'' (1932) France * '' A Tremendously Rich Man'' (1932) Germany * ''

Romance in Budapest ''Romance in Budapest'' (Hungarian: ''Pardon, tévedtem'') is a 1933 Hungarian romantic comedy film directed by Steve Sekely and Géza von Bolváry and starring Franciska Gaal, Paul Hörbiger and S.Z. Sakall. It was shot at the Hunnia Studios i ...

'' (1933) Hungary * ''

Scandal in Budapest ''Scandal in Budapest'' () is a 1933 German-Hungarian comedy film, filmed in Hungary in the German language and directed by Géza von Bolváry and Istvan Szekely and starring Franciska Gaal, Werner Pledath, and Lotte Spira. It was made at Budap ...

'' (1933) * ''

Miss Iza ''Miss Iza'' (Hungarian: ''Iza néni'') is a 1933 Hungarian comedy film directed by Steve Sekely, Istvan Szekeley and starring Sári Fedák, Pál Jávor (actor), Pál Jávor and Ella Gombaszögi. It was shot at the Hunnia Studios in Budapest. The ...

'' (1933) Hungary * ''

The Rakoczi March ''The Rakoczi March'' () is a 1933 drama film directed by Gustav Fröhlich and Steve Sekely and starring Fröhlich, Leopold Kramer and Camilla Horn. It was a International co-production, co-production between Austria, Germany and Hungary.Dassa ...

'' (1933) Austria/Germany/Hungary * ''

Emmy The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award catego ...

'' (1934) Hungary * ''

Purple Lilacs ''Purple Lilacs'' (Hungarian: ''Lila akác'') is a 1934 Hungarian musical comedy film directed by Steve Sekely and starring Irén Ágay, Irén Biller and György Nagy. It was shot at the Hunnia Studios in Budapest. The film's sets were designe ...

'' (1934) Hungary * ''

Cornflower ''Centaurea cyanus'', commonly known as cornflower or bachelor's button (among other names), is an annual flowering plant in the family Asteraceae native to Europe. In the past, it often grew as a weed in cornfields (in the broad sense of "co ...

'' (1934) Hungary * ''

Romance of Ida ''Romance of Ida'' (Hungarian: ''Ida regénye'') is a 1934 Hungarian drama film directed by Steve Sekely and starring Gábor Rajnay, Irén Ágay and Pál Jávor.Bolton & Wright p.53 It is based on a novel by Géza Gárdonyi. It was shot at th ...

'' (1934) Hungary * '' Ball at the Savoy'' (1935) Austria/Hungary * '' Address Unknown'' (1935) Hungary * ''

Be True Until Death ''Be True Until Death'' (Hungarian: ''Légy jó mindhalálig'') is a 1936 Hungarian drama film directed by Steve Sekely and starring Klári Tolnay, Kálmán Rózsahegyi and Gyula Csortos.Parish & Pitts p.347 It was shot at the Hunnia Studios in Bu ...

'' (1936) Hungary *''

Half-Rate Honeymoon ''Half-Rate Honeymoon'' (Hungarian: ''Nászút féláron'') is a 1936 Hungarian romance film directed by Steve Sekely and starring Irén Ágay, Pál Jávor and Gyula Kabos.Cunningham p.45 A German-language version '' Hochzeitsreise zu 50%'' was ...

'' (1936) Hungary * ''

Cafe Moscow ''Cafe Moscow'' (Hungarian: ''Café Moszkva'') is a 1936 Hungarian adventure film directed by Steve Sekely and starring Anna Tõkés, Gyula Csortos and Ferenc Kiss. Art direction was by József Pán. It is also known by the alternative title ''O ...

'' (1936) Hungary * ''

Danube Rendezvous ''Danube Rendezvous'' (Hungarian: ''Dunaparti randevú'') is a 1936 Hungarian romantic comedy film directed by Steve Sekely and starring Zita Perczel, Imre Ráday and Gyula Csortos.Juhász p.72 It was shot at the Hunnia Studios in Budapest. The ...

'' (1936) Hungary * ''

Sensation Sensation (psychology) refers to the processing of the senses by the sensory system. Sensation or sensations may also refer to: In arts and entertainment In literature *Sensation (fiction), a fiction writing mode *Sensation novel, a British ...

'' (1936) Hungary * ''

A Girl Sets Out ''A Girl Sets Out'' (Hungarian: ''Egy lány elindul'') is a 1937 Hungarian comedy film directed by Steve Sekely and starring Éva Szörényi, Antal Páger and Gyula Csortos. It was shot at the Hunnia Studios in Budapest. The film's sets were ...

'' (1937) Hungary * ''

An Affair of Honour ''An Affair of Honour'' (Hungarian: ''Lovagias ügy'') is a 1937 Hungarian romantic comedy film directed by Steve Sekely and starring Zita Perczel, Imre Ráday and Gyula Kabos.Somlyódy & Somlyódy p.551 It is based on the 1935 play of the sam ...

'' (1937) Hungary * ''

Beauty of the Pusta ''Beauty of the Pusta'' (Hungarian: ''Pusztai szél'') is a 1937 Hungarian historical drama film directed by Steve Sekely and starring Mária Lázár, Pál Jávor and Ferenc Kiss.Cunningham p.227 It is based on a 1931 play of the same title by ...

'' (1937) Hungary * ''

Help, I'm an Heiress ''Help, I'm an Heiress'' (Hungarian: ''Segítség, örököltem!'') is a 1937 Hungarian comedy film directed by Steve Sekely and starring Irén Ágay, Tivadar Uray and Piroska Vaszary.Frey p.148 It was shot at the Hunnia Studios. The film's sets ...

'' (1937) Hungary * ''

Two Prisoners ''Two Prisoners'' (Hungarian: ''Két fogoly'') is a 1938 Hungarian war drama film directed by Steve Sekely and starring Gizi Bajor, Pál Jávor and Irén Ágay. Parish & Pitts p.347 It was shot at the Hunnia Studios in Budapest. The film's sets ...

'' (1938) Hungary * ''

Young Noszty and Mary Toth ''Young Noszty and Mary Toth'' (Hungarian: ''A Noszty fiú esete Tóth Marival'') is a 1938 Hungarian-German romantic comedy film directed by Steve Sekely and starring Pál Jávor, Éva Szörényi and Erika von Thellmann. It is based on the 1909 ...

'' (1938) Hungary * '' Number 111'' (1938) Hungary * '' Miracle on Main Street'' (1939) first US film * '' Behind Prison Walls'' (1943) US * '' Revenge of the Zombies'' (1943) US * ''

Women in Bondage ''Women in Bondage'' is a 1943 World War II film about conditions for women under Hitler's regime directed by Steve Sekely and starring Gail Patrick and Nancy Kelly. The plot involves two women imprisoned for speaking out against the government. ...

'' (1943) US * ''

Lady in the Death House ''Lady in the Death House'' is a 1944 American film directed by Steve Sekely and starring Jean Parker and Lionel Atwill. Plot Mary Kirk Logan is led from her cell to the electric chair, to be "killed by the hand of the man I love." A psychol ...

'' (1944) US * '' Waterfront'' (1944) US * '' My Buddy'' (1944) US * '' Lake Placid Serenade'' (1944) US * ''

The Fabulous Suzanne ''The Fabulous Suzanne'' is a 1946 American romantic comedy film directed by Steve Sekely and starring Barbara Britton, Rudy Vallee and Otto Kruger. A waitress inherits a fortune from one of her customers. Plot The young and beautiful Suzanne O' ...

'' (1946) US * ''

Blonde Savage ''Blonde Savage'' is a 1947 American adventure film directed by Steve Sekely and written by Gordon Bache. The film stars Leif Erickson (actor), Leif Erickson, Gale Sherwood, Veda Ann Borg, Douglass Dumbrille, Frank Jenks, and Matt Willis. It was ...

'' (1947) US * ''

Hollow Triumph ''Hollow Triumph'' (working title ''The Man Who Murdered Himself'', reissued in the United States as ''The Scar'') is a 1948 American film noir crime film directed by Steve Sekely starring Paul Henreid, Joan Bennett and Leslie Brooks. It was rele ...

'' (1948) US * ''

Amazon Quest ''Amazon Quest'' is a 1949 American adventure film directed by Steve Sekely and written by Al Martin. The film stars Tom Neal, Carole Mathews, Carole Donne, Don Zelaya, Ralph Graves, Joseph Crehan, Jack George, Joseph Granby, Edward Clark and Ju ...

'' (1949) US * ''

Stronghold A fortification (also called a fort, fortress, fastness, or stronghold) is a military construction designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from La ...

'' (1951) US * ''

The Empress of China ''The Empress of China'' () is a 2014 Chinese television series based on events in the 7th and 8th-century Tang dynasty, starring producer Fan Bingbing as the titular character Wu Zetian—the only female emperor (empress regnant) in Chinese hi ...

'' (1953) West Germany * ''The Missing Scientists'' (1955) UK * ''Cartouche'' (1955) Italy/France * ''

Desert Desperadoes ''Desert Desperadoes'' () is a 1959 American/Italian Biblical drama film directed by Steve Sekely from an original screenplay by Victor Stoloff and Robert Hill. Co-produced by the Italian company Venturini Express and the American studio Nasht P ...

'' (1959) Italy * ''

'' (1962) UK * ''

Kenner Kenner Products, known simply as Kenner, was an American toy brand owned by Hasbro. Kenner Products began as a toy company founded in 1946, going on to produce several highly recognizable toys and merchandise lines including action figures for t ...

'' (1969) US * ''The Girl Who Liked Purple Flowers'' (1973) Hungary

Notes

External links

* 1899 births 1979 deaths Film people from Budapest People from the Kingdom of Hungary Hungarian Jews Hungarian film directors German-language film directors Hungarian emigrants to the United States {{Hungary-film-director-stub