64-430: Fire Over England is a 1937 London Film Productions film drama, notable for providing the first pairing of Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh . It was directed by William K. Howard and written by Clemence Dane , nominally from the 1936 novel Fire Over England by AEW Mason . Leigh's performance in the film helped to convince David O. Selznick to cast her as Scarlett O'Hara in his 1939 production of Gone with
128-742: A British subject on 25 February 1939. By this point multi-lingual, Veidt made films both in French with expatriate French directors and in English, including three of his best-known roles for British director Michael Powell in The Spy in Black (1939), Contraband (1940) and The Thief of Bagdad (1940). By 1941, he and Ilona had settled in Hollywood to assist in the British effort in making American films that might persuade
192-508: A 1941 interview he said, There are two different kinds of men. There are the men men, what do you call them, the man's man, who likes men around, who prefers to talk with men, who says the female can never be impersonal, who takes the female lightly, as playthings. I do not see a man like that in my mirror. Perhaps, it is because I think the female and the male attract better than two men, that I prefer to talk with females. I do. I find it quite as stimulating and distinctly more comfortable. I have
256-787: A German, later naturalised British, actor. He attracted early attention for his roles in the films Different from the Others (1919), The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), and The Man Who Laughs (1928). After a successful career in German silent films, where he was one of the best-paid stars of UFA , Veidt and his new Jewish wife Ilona Prager left Germany in 1933 after the Nazis came to power. The couple settled in Britain, where he took citizenship in 1939. Veidt subsequently appeared in many British films, including The Thief of Bagdad (1940). After emigrating to
320-460: A club in Berlin. Veidt said of Lilli in an October 1934 interview with The Sunday Dispatch , Lilli was the woman I had been seeking all my life. For her I was the man. In Lilli I found the miracle of a woman who had all to give that I sought, the perfect crystallisation in one lovely human being, of all my years of searching. Lilli had the mother complex too. But in the reverse ratio to mine. In her,
384-615: A disfigured young outcast servant whose face is cut into a permanent grin, provided the (visual) inspiration for the iconic Batman villain the Joker . Veidt starred in other silent horror films such as The Hands of Orlac (1924), also directed by Robert Wiene, The Student of Prague (1926) and Waxworks (1924), in which he played Ivan the Terrible . Veidt also appeared in Magnus Hirschfeld 's film Anders als die Andern ( Different from
448-451: A few films, such as George Cukor 's A Woman's Face (1941), where he received billing under Joan Crawford , and Nazi Agent (1942), in which he had a dual role as both an aristocratic German Nazi spy and the man's twin brother, an anti-Nazi American. His best-known Hollywood role was as the sinister Major Heinrich Strasser in Casablanca (1942), a film which began pre-production before
512-690: A heart attack on 3 April 1943 while playing golf at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles with singer Arthur Fields and his personal physician. The Conrad Veidt Society (CVS) was formed in 1990 to commemorate his 1993 centennial of birth and then to find a final home for the Veidt ashes, which Lily Veidt's nephew Ivan Rado had given to the society's founder James H. Rathlesberger along with Veidt family papers and memorabilia. An earlier German-based Conrad Veidt Society had become inactive some years before
576-624: A heart condition in January 1922. From September 1926 to 1929 Veidt lived with his wife and daughter in a Spanish-style house in Beverly Hills . Veidt enjoyed relaxing and playing with his daughter in their home, and enjoyed the company of the immigrant community, including F. W. Murnau , Carl Laemmle , and Greta Garbo , as well as the American Gary Cooper . The family returned to Germany in 1929, and moved several times afterwards, including
640-459: A heretic. While Michael is returning home, the Spanish Armada sails against England and Elizabeth addresses her army at Tilbury . Michael meets her there and reveals the names of the traitors. Elizabeth knights Michael before confronting the six traitors, inviting them to fulfill their plot and kill her. Overwhelmed with shame, they agree to accompany Michael on a mission to deploy fire ships in
704-468: A night attack on the Armada, massed off the coast of England. The tactic succeeds, and Elizabeth allows Michael and Cynthia to marry. With the working title of Glorianna , principal photography took place at Denham Studios, where a large water tank was used to launch the model ships representing the Spanish Armada and the English naval defenders. Originally Conrad Veidt was to star, but Alexander Korda saw
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#1732863233005768-486: A powerful medium) and nonfiction. On 10 June 1918, Veidt married Gussy Holl , a cabaret entertainer. They had first met at a party in March 1918, and Conrad described her to friends as "very lovely, tall, dignified and somewhat aloof". They separated in 1919 but attempted to reconcile multiple times. Holl and Veidt divorced in 1922. Veidt said of Holl, "She was as perfect as any wife could be. But I had not learnt how to be
832-466: A proper husband," and "I was elated by my success in my work, but shattered over my mother's death, and miserable about the way my marriage seemed to be foundering. And one day when my wife was away, I walked out of the house, and out of her life, trying to escape from something I could put no name to." Holl later told Françoise Rosay , "I excused a lot of his failings and whims because I loved him. But one day he did something to me that I couldn't forgive. I
896-568: A small part as a priest that got him his first rave review, the reviewer hoping that "God would keep Veidt from the films" or "God save him from the cinema!" From 1917 until his death, Veidt appeared in more than 100 films. One of his earliest performances was as the murderous somnambulist Cesare in director Robert Wiene 's The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), a classic of German Expressionist cinema , with Werner Krauss and Lil Dagover . His starring role in The Man Who Laughs (1928), as
960-416: A surgeon. His hopes for a medical career were thwarted, though, when, in 1912, he graduated without a diploma and ranked 13th out of 13 pupils and became discouraged over the amount of study necessary for him to qualify for medical school. A new career path for Veidt opened up in 1911 during a school Christmas play in which he delivered a long prologue before the curtain rose. The play was badly received, and
1024-399: A temporary relocation to Vienna , Austria, while Veidt participated in a theatrical tour of the continent. Radke and Veidt divorced in 1932, with Radke saying the frequent relocations and the separations necessitated by Veidt's acting schedule frayed their marriage. Radke at first granted custody of their daughter to Veidt, but after further consideration he decided that their daughter needed
1088-411: A theory about this – it all goes back to the mother complex. In every woman, the man who looks may find – his mother. The primary source of all his comfort. I think also that females have become too important just to play with. When men say the female cannot discuss impersonally, that is no longer so. When it is said that females cannot be geniuses, that is no longer so, either. The female is different from
1152-400: Is far better than we are accustomed to in English films", but considered the production to have "strayed out of history" and called certain scenes "absurd" and "embarrassing". The League of Nations Committee on Motion Pictures awarded the 1937 Cinema Medal of Honor to Fire Over England . Notes Bibliography London Film Productions Too Many Requests If you report this error to
1216-507: Is nonetheless impressed by Elena's charms. Miguel brings Michael the sad news that Sir Richard, his father, has been executed as a heretic. The grieving Michael denounces his rescuers and flees to England in a small fishing boat. When he is granted an audience with the Queen he urges her to fight the Spanish menace by whatever means necessary, and swears undying loyalty to her. Elizabeth is flattered by
1280-467: The Battle of Gravelines , was used in the 1939 World War II propaganda documentary The Lion Has Wings . It is used to compare the Spanish invasion attempt to a Nazi invasion , demonstrating how Great Britain had survived against great odds in the past, and would again. Fire Over England was the first British film to have its US premiere at Los Angeles. Overall, the picture garnered positive reviews. In
1344-459: The Deutsches Theater after every performance, waiting for the actors and hoping to be mistaken for one. In the late summer of 1912 he met a theatre porter who introduced him to actor Albert Blumenreich, who agreed to give Veidt acting lessons for six marks. He took 10 lessons before auditioning for Max Reinhardt , reciting Goethe 's Faust . During Veidt's audition, Reinhardt looked out of
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#17328632330051408-697: The Imperial German Army . In 1915, he was sent to the Eastern Front as a non-commissioned officer and took part in the Battle of Warsaw . He contracted jaundice and pneumonia , and had to be evacuated to a hospital on the Baltic Sea . While recuperating, he received a letter from his girlfriend Lucie Mannheim , telling him that she had found work at the Front Theatre in Libau . Intrigued, Veidt applied for
1472-597: The Ayn Rand Institute. CVS reached out to German film officials who wished to receive the Veidt ashes but hesitated to act following controversies surrounding similar honors for Marlene Dietrich . After efforts stalled to take the Veidt ashes to Berlin, CVS raised funds for interment at Golders Green, close to where the Veidts had lived in London. Londoner Vivienne Phillips was instrumental in arranging this. On 3 April 1998, on
1536-545: The British film Jew Süss only after a diplomatic intervention on behalf of the British government was he allowed to leave. The German newspaper Völkischer Beobachter "wrote on this in 1933 that "It is known that the Jewish film production in England produced two coarse, sensational films for purposes of Jewish propaganda: the film Wandering Jew and a second film - Jud Süss. [...] Conrad Veidt plays leading roles in both. [...] Conrad Veidt
1600-466: The English, led by his old friend Sir Richard Ingolby ( Lyn Harding ) the English are captured. Miguel allows Richard's son Michael (Laurence Olivier) to escape. Michael swims ashore on Miguel's estate, and his wounds are tended to by Miguel's daughter Elena ( Tamara Desni ), who quickly becomes enamoured of the handsome Englishman, despite her being engaged to marry. As the months pass, Michael recovers and laments being apart from Cynthia, his sweetheart, but
1664-701: The Gay Museum in Berlin. CVS donated most of the Veidt materials to the University of California's Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive . Among its efforts was a 650 Deutschmark/$ 450 contribution to the Stiftung Deutsche Kinemathek as seed money for SDK's Homage to Conrad Veidt film series held during the 1993 Berlin International Film Festival. Two Veidt scrapbooks, his monogrammed silver cigarette case and gold Dunhill lighter went to
1728-532: The London area during Christmas 1940. The air raid shelter marshal wrote back to Veidt thanking him for the gifts. Noting Veidt's unusual kindness, he stated in his letter to him, "It is significant to note that, as far as is known to me, you are the only member of the Theatrical Profession who had the thought to send Christmas presents to the London children." Veidt smuggled his parents-in-law from Austria to neutral Switzerland, and in 1935 he managed to get
1792-601: The Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Film, video and audio mix from a short film entitled "Conny" that Rado produced using memorabilia inherited from Lily was donated to the University of Southern California Max Kade Institute and UCLA Film & Television Archive. The PFA in Berkeley has a VHS tape of the film, as does the Max Kade Institute and
1856-456: The Nazi government to let his ex-wife Radke and their daughter move to Switzerland. He also offered to help Felizitas' mother, Frau Radke, of whom he was fond, leave Germany. However, she declined. A proud, strong-willed woman who was attached to her home country, she declared that "no damned little Austrian Nazi corporal" was going to make her leave her home. She reportedly survived the war, but none of
1920-512: The Nazis before 1933 switched allegiances. In answering the questionnaire by stating he was a Jew, Veidt rendered himself unemployable in Germany, but stated this sacrifice was worth it as there was nothing in the world that would compel him to break with his wife. Goebbels remarked that he would never act in Germany again. He was put under house arrest on Goebbels' orders after he voiced his wishes to act in
1984-551: The New World. Elizabeth's chief advisers are the Lord Treasurer , Lord Burleigh ( Morton Selten ), and her longtime admirer, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester ( Leslie Banks ). Burleigh's 18-year-old granddaughter Cynthia (Vivien Leigh) is one of Elizabeth's ladies-in-waiting, and the ageing queen is plagued by jealousy of the girl's beauty and vivacity. In a sea battle between the Spanish, led by Don Miguel ( Robert Rendel ), and
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2048-519: The Others , 1919), one of the earliest films to sympathetically portray homosexuality, although the characters in it do not end up happily. He had a leading role in Germany's first talking picture, Das Land ohne Frauen ( Land Without Women , 1929). He moved to Hollywood in the late 1920s and made a few films there, but the advent of talking pictures and his difficulty with speaking English led him to return to Germany. During this period, he lent his expertise to tutoring aspiring performers, one of whom
2112-747: The US-based society began. The CVS motto "Courage Integrity Humanity" honored qualities the legendary film star exemplified while claiming to be "only an actor." CVS supported 1993 retrospectives at the Internationale Filmfestspiele in Berlin, La Cinematheque Francaise in Paris, the Goethe Institute and British Film Institute's National Film Theatre in London, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, as well as
2176-503: The United States around 1941, he was cast as Major Strasser in Casablanca (1942), his last film role to be released during his lifetime. Hans Walter Conrad Veidt was born on 22 January 1893 in his parents' home at Tieckstraße 39 in Berlin to Amalie Marie (née Gohtz) and Philipp Heinrich Veidt, a former military man turned civil servant. Veidt would later recall, "Like many fathers, he
2240-426: The United States entered World War II . Commenting about this well-received role, Veidt noted that it was an ironical twist of fate that he was praised "for portraying the kind of character who had forced him to leave his homeland". Ivan J. Rado, the nephew of Veidt's third wife Lily, commented: The fact that he wanted to leave Hollywood had nothing to do with anything but his disgust at the parts offered him, which
2304-433: The Veidts ever saw her again. Veidt was perhaps bisexual. During his youthful career in the decadent Weimar Republic cabaret-era he was part of the avant-garde, experimental artists' lifestyle, even cross-dressing. Rado, while having a family interest, commented with insights consistent with the record available: ... there are a few facts that I would like to share with everyone interested. Aside from his work, which
2368-476: The Wikimedia System Administrators, please include the details below. Request from 172.68.168.150 via cp1114 cp1114, Varnish XID 450592376 Upstream caches: cp1114 int Error: 429, Too Many Requests at Fri, 29 Nov 2024 06:53:53 GMT Conrad Veidt Hans Walter Conrad Veidt ( / f aɪ t / FYTE ; German: [ˈkɔnʁaːt ˈfaɪt] ; 22 January 1893 – 3 April 1943) was
2432-582: The Wind . The film is a historical drama set during the reign of Elizabeth I focusing on England's victory over the Spanish Armada . During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I , England is concerned by the impending arrival of the Spanish Armada . In 1588, relations between Spain and England are at breaking point. With the support of Queen Elizabeth I ( Flora Robson ), English privateers such as Sir Francis Drake regularly capture Spanish merchantmen bringing gold from
2496-489: The age of 9. The family spent their summers in Potsdam . Two years after Karl's death, Veidt's father fell ill and required heart surgery. Knowing that the family could not afford to pay the lofty fee that accompanied the surgery, the doctor charged only what the family could comfortably pay. Impressed by the surgeon's skill and kindness, Veidt vowed to "model my life on the man that saved my father's life" and he wished to become
2560-405: The audience was heard to mutter, "Too bad the others didn't do as well as Veidt." Veidt began to study all of the actors he could and wanted to pursue a career in acting, much to the disappointment of his father, who called actors 'gypsies' and 'outcasts'. With the money he raised from odd jobs and the allowance his mother gave him, Veidt began attending Berlin's many theatres. He stood outside of
2624-434: The couple emigrated to Britain before any action could be taken against either of them. Goebbels had imposed a "racial questionnaire" in which everyone employed in the German film industry had to declare their "race" to continue to work. When Veidt was filling in the questionnaire, he answered the question about his Rasse (race) by writing Jude (Jew). Veidt was not Jewish, but his wife was, and Veidt would neither renounce
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2688-431: The first train to Berlin and wept as he met mother and child at the hospital; he was so hysterical from joy they had to sedate him and keep him in the hospital overnight. Emil Jannings was Viola's godfather and Elisabeth Bergner was her godmother. She was named after one of Bergner's signature characters, Shakespeare 's Viola . The birth of his daughter helped Veidt move on from the death of his mother, who had died of
2752-544: The full-time parent. Conrad received generous visitation rights, and Viola called her summer vacations with her father "The Happy Times". She stayed with him three or four months of the year until the outbreak of World War II . Viola passed away on 2 February 2004 in New Orleans, Louisiana in the U.S. Veidt last married Flora Ilona Barta Greger, a Hungarian Jew also known as "Lilli" or "Lily", in Berlin 24 March 1933. They remained together until his death. The two had met at
2816-415: The male. Because she was born to be a mother. There is no doubt about that. But that does not mean that, in some cases, she is not also born a genius. Not all males are geniuses either. And among females today there are some very fine actresses, very fine; fine doctors, lawyers, even scientists and industrialists. I see no fault in any female when she wears slacks, smokes (unless it is on the street, one thing,
2880-408: The mother instinct was so powerful that she poured it out, indiscriminately almost, on everyone she knew. She mothers her own mother. Meeting Lilli was like coming home to an enchanted place one had always dreamed of, but never thought to reach. For her it was the same. Our marriage is not only flawless, it is a complete and logical union, as inevitable as daybreak after night, as harmonious and right as
2944-431: The only thing, which I don't like), when she drives a car ... when men say things like "I bet it is a woman driving" if something is wrong with the car ahead – no, no. These are old, worn out prejudices, they do not belong in today. In the 1930s, Veidt learned that he had a heart condition which had killed his mother; the condition was aggravated by his chain smoking , and Veidt took nitroglycerin tablets. He died of
3008-408: The palace Michael meets Elena. Her father has been killed by the English and she is now married to Don Pedro ( Robert Newton ), the palace governor. Elena keeps Michael's identity a secret as long as she can, but finally must tell her husband out of loyalty to him. Philip sees through Michael's disguise and orders his arrest. Pedro helps him escape so that it will not be discovered that his wife aided
3072-432: The production as a star vehicle for Vivien Leigh, who was under contract to Korda. Along with the historical drama that was portrayed, Fire Over England was also a costume romance that served to showcase Leigh and Olivier, a real-life romantic couple. A portion of the film, including the beacons being lit on the English coast, and an armour-clad Queen Elizabeth giving her speech to the surrounding soldiers at Tilbury before
3136-577: The review in Variety , the comment was "This is a handsomely mounted and forcefully dramatic glorification of Queen Bess. It holds a succession of brilliantly played scenes, a wealth of choice diction, pointed excerpts from English history and a series of impressive tableaux." Writing for The Spectator in 1937, Graham Greene gave the film a mixed review, acknowledging it as "well-directed and lavish", but criticizing its lack of historical realism. Greene stated that "the sets are magnificent" and that "the acting
3200-534: The theatre as well. As his condition had not improved, the army allowed him to join the theatre so that he could entertain the troops. While performing at the theatre, his relationship with Mannheim ended. In late 1916, he was re-examined by the Army and deemed unfit for service; he was given a full discharge on 10 January 1917. Veidt returned to Berlin where he was readmitted to the Deutsches Theater. There, he played
3264-658: The then-neutral and still isolationist United States to join the war against the Nazis, who at that time controlled all of continental Europe and were bombing the United Kingdom . Before leaving the UK, the Veidts gave a large portion of their life savings to the British government to help finance the war effort, and then provided an American home for an English child for the duration of the war. Realizing that Hollywood would most likely typecast him in Nazi roles, he had his contract mandate that they must always be villains. He starred in
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#17328632330053328-432: The window the entire time. He offered Veidt a contract as an extra for one season's work, from September 1913 to August 1914 with a pay of 50 marks a month. During this time, he played bit parts as spear carriers and soldiers. His mother attended almost every performance. His contract with the Deutsches Theater was renewed for a second season, but by this time World War I had begun, and on 28 December 1914, Veidt enlisted in
3392-471: The woman he loved nor collaborate with the regime as many others did. Veidt was opposed to antisemitism and showed solidarity with the German Jewish community, who were being stripped of their rights as German citizens in the spring of 1933. Veidt had been informed that if he divorced and declared support for the new regime, he could continue to act in Germany. Several other leading actors unsympathetic to
3456-527: The words that exactly fit the music. My search is finished. The picture in my mind of my mother is of a woman great and holy. But it is a picture clear and distinct, a deep and humble memory of a woman no one could replace; but now it is not blurred by the complex which before had harassed my mind. Veidt and Lilli moved from London to Los Angeles, arriving on 13 June 1940. They resided at 617 North Camden Drive in Beverly Hills. Even after leaving England, Veidt
3520-423: The young man's fervent devotion and later has an opportunity to take advantage of his offer of service when Hillary Vane ( James Mason ), an Englishman spying for Spain, is killed before the names of his English co-conspirators can be uncovered. Michael, disguised as Vane, goes to the court of King Philip II of Spain ( Raymond Massey ) to get the letters that will set into motion a plan to assassinate Elizabeth. At
3584-644: Was affectionately autocratic in his home life, strict, idealistic. He was almost fanatically conservative." By contrast, Amalie was sensitive and nurturing. Veidt was nicknamed "Connie", also spelled "Conny", by his family and friends. His family was Lutheran , and Veidt was baptized on 26 March 1893. He was later confirmed in a ceremony at the Protestant Evangelical Church in Alt- Schöneberg , Berlin, on 5 March 1908. Veidt's only sibling, an older brother named Karl, died in 1900 of scarlet fever at
3648-422: Was also his life, there is little to know about Conny; he was an intensely private man who loved his home and his friends, but did not carouse in public nor was prey to scandalous behavior. In his work, he was intense and generous, the consummate professional. ... Early on he saw what was happening in Germany, and moved to London, where he did some important work in movies. He was not a political person, and
3712-494: Was certainly not to be caught out on religious themes. The fact that his wife was Jewish meant nothing to him; they loved each other and loved being together. He was always honest, totally straight forward and kind. Shirley Conway, in her 1993 tribute, also comments, consistent with other reports of the man being somewhat different from the screen image, that "Veidt surprised and delighted everyone with his modesty and ineffable charm." He showed fondness and respect for women. In
3776-410: Was concerned over the plight of children cooped up in London air raid shelters, and he decided to try to cheer up their holiday. Through his lawyers in London, Veidt donated enough money to purchase 2,000 one-pound tins of candy, 2,000 large packets of chocolate, and 1,000 wrapped envelopes containing presents of British currency. The gifts went to children of needy families in various air raid shelters in
3840-509: Was from an aristocratic Austrian family. They met at a party in December 1922 or at a Charleston dance competition in 1923. Radke divorced her husband for him, and they married on 18 April 1923. Their daughter, Vera Viola Maria, nicknamed "Kiki" and also known as "Viola", was born on 10 August 1925. Conrad was not present at her birth due to being in Italy working on The Fiddler of Florence , but took
3904-526: Was mainly Nazis. In Above Suspicion , he is at some rally, and when at the end everyone goes "Heil", he just very casually half lifts his right hand, more in a wave than a salute, and with an ironic smile on his face, which to me, embodies his feelings. ... The fact that he left Germany ... was his disgust at what was happening that made him move to London with Lily. Veidt enjoyed sports, gardening, swimming, golfing, classical music, and reading fiction (including occultism ; Veidt once considered himself
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#17328632330053968-514: Was paid for this betrayal of his country – by the praise of the Jewish public. As such, he no longer possesses enough human dignity that even one single person should utter a word of praise for him." After arriving in Britain, Veidt improved his English and starred in the original anti-Nazi versions of The Wandering Jew (1933) and Jew Süss (1934). The latter film was directed by the exiled German-born director Lothar Mendes and produced by Michael Balcon for Gaumont-British . He naturalised as
4032-414: Was singing that evening at the cabaret. I left him home and he told me: 'I invited a few friends; we'll dine while we wait for you.' And it just so happened I had received a new dress from Paris. That evening, after work, I arrived home and what do I see? All these gentlemen dressed as women. And Conrad had put on my Paris dress. At this point, I divorced!" Veidt's second wife, Anna Maria "Felizitas" Radke,
4096-588: Was the later American character actress Lisa Golm . Veidt opposed the Nazi regime and later contributed funds for the relief of Britons during the German Blitz bombings. Soon after the Nazi Party took power in Germany, by March 1933, Joseph Goebbels was purging the film industry of political opponents and Jews. In April 1933, a week after Veidt's marriage to Ilona Prager, a Jewish woman, also known as "Lilli" or "Lily",
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