Willy FritschFilmography

Bellboy and the Playgirls

Synopsis: Originally filmed entirely in black-and-white, this German sex comedy centers on a bellhop who prepares for his dream job of becoming a detective by spying on half-naked chorines through a keyhole. Just before the film was distributed in the US, Francis Ford Coppola was hired to add additional Read More

Isola Bella

Hubertusjagd

Schwarzwaelder Kirsch

Synopsis: This is a German language film in which mistaken identity leads to laughter as musicians pretend to be artists. ~ All Movie Guide Read More

Mit Eva fing die Sünde an

Schwarzwaldmelodie

Wo Die Alten Waelder Rauschen

Synopsis: This German presentation tells the story of a businessman who takes his son and his governess on a business trip. The father flirts with the governess and the boy runs away. ~ All Movie Guide Read More

Das Donkosakenlied

So Lange Noch Die Rosen Blueh'n

Synopsis: In this German language film, a doctor obsesses over her career to the exclusion of all else, including a potential suitor. ~ All Movie Guide Read More

Par Ordre Du Tsar

Actors: Michel Simon, Jacques Francois, Lucienne Lemarchand, Willy Fritsch

Synopsis: Par Ordre du Tsar (At the Order of the Czar) is liberally based on an incident in the life of famed composer -- and notorious lover -- Franz Liszt. The story concerns the romance between Liszt (Jacques Francois) and the beautiful Russian princess Caroline (Colette Marchand). Alas, Caroline is Read More

Damenwahl

Ungarische Rhapsodie

Synopsis: The story of the romance between composer Franz Liszt and Princess Caroline is covered here. Presented in German only. ~ All Movie Guide Read More

Am Brunnen Vor Dem Tore

Ferien Vom Ich

Synopsis: A movie about two men opening up a health resort. The characters are a ship's doctor and a burned-out millionaire. ~ All Movie Guide Read More

Wonderful Times

Actors: Willy Fritsch

Synopsis: Given their recent experiences, it was hardly surprising that Germans in 1951 would want to celebrate the years prior to, and between, the two World Wars. The German documentary Wonderful Times concentrates on the years 1900-1913 and 1919-1939, with Willi Fritsch weaving in and out of the Read More

Herrliche Zeiten

Die Wunderschoene Galathee

Actors: Hannelore Schroth, Viktor de Kowa, Willy Fritsch

Synopsis: Die Wunderschoene Galathee restages the legend of Pygmalion in turn-of-the-century Vienna. Amorous sculptor Victor (Viktor de Kowa) selects shopgirl Leni (Hannelore Schroth) as his model. Once his masterpiece is completed, Victor abandons Leni--only to find himself romantically attached to the Read More

Film without a Name

Actors: Hildegarde Neff, Willy Fritsch, Hans Söhnker, Irene von Meyendorf, Fritz Odemar

Synopsis: The reminiscences of a maid provide the basis for this German drama. The story is told via flashback. The maid recalls the affair between she and the employer who fell in love with her. They are separated, but then they come back together. All of this is from the imagination of the screenwriter Read More

Derby

Die Fledermaus

Actors: Marte Harell, Johannes Heesters, Will Dohm, Hans Brausewetter, Dorit Kreysler

Synopsis: Though made in Germany, this film version of Johann Strauss' comic opera Die Fledermaus was distributed in the U.S. by the Russian firm of Artkino. Such full-throated singing personalities as Marte Harell, Johannes Heesters, Willi Dohm and Haus Brauseweiter go through the time-honored paces of the Read More

Film Ohne Titel

Der Kleine Grenzverkehr

Wiener Blut

Geliebte Welt

Leichte Muse

Dreimal Hochzeit

Frau Am Steuer

Das Mädchen Von Gestern Nacht

Actors: Willy Fritsch, Paul Westermeier, Gusti Huber, Hilde Hildebrand

Synopsis: Das Maedchen von Gestern Nacht was released outside of Germany under the streamlined and somewhat colorless title of Midnight Happenings. Set amongst England's "upper crust," the film stars Willy Fritsch as devil-may-care bachelor Lord Stanley Stalton. Falling in love with American heiress Jean Read More

Menschen Ohne Vaterland

Sieben Ohrfeigen

Actors: Alfred Abel, Lilian Harvey, Willy Fritsch, Oska Sima, Erich Fiedler

Synopsis: The title of this German musical translates as Seven Boxes on the Ear, referring to the painful punishment doled out to financier Anton Terbanks (Alfred Abel). Thanks to a run on Wall Street caused by Terbanks' financial finagling, Scotsman MacFab (Willy Fritsch) loses his life savings of seven Read More

Gewitterflug Zu Claudia

Streit Um Den Knaben Jo

Boccaccio

Actors: Albrecht Schoenhals, Willy Fritsch, Heli Finkenzeller, Paul Kemp

Synopsis: This operetta provides a vision of how the Nazis of Germany envisioned the Italian Renaissance. The residents of the town of Ferrara are swept up in a tide of emotion and physical passion by the writings of a Renaissance author. Before long, the town is in chaos and it becomes difficult to keep Read More

Glückskinder

Actors: Lilian Harvey, Willy Fritsch, Paul Kemp, Oska Sima

Synopsis: Glueckskinder (Children of Fortune) serves as yet another sprightly vehicle for European film favorites Lilian Harvey and Willy Fritsch. Unlike the stars' previous musical concoctions, this one takes place in New York City (or a reasonable facsimile constructed on the UFA back lot). To save Ann Read More

Saison in Kairo

Des Jungen Dessauers Grosse Liebe

Walzerkrieg

Actors: Anton Walbrook, Paul Hoerbiger, Renate Mueller, Willy Fritsch, Rosie Barsony

Synopsis: Another spin on the life of "waltz king" Joseph Strauss, Walzerkrug (Battle of the Waltzes) is typical of the escapist musicals produced in Germany during the Third Reich. Having never heard a Viennese waltz, young Queen Victoria (Hanna Waag) orders the British ambassador to Austria to check out a Read More

Ein Toller Einfall

Actors: Willy Fritsch, Jacob Tiedtke, Max Adalbert, Heinz Salfner, Dorothea Wieck

Synopsis: Ein Toller Einfall (A 'Phantastic' Idea) features comic actor Max Adelbert as a "poor rich man," who in spite of his magnificent mansion and priceless possessions hasn't a penny in the bank. Heading to England to negotiate the sale of his mansion, he leaves the place in the care of his nephew Read More

Un Reve Blond

Actors: Henri Garat, Lilian Harvey, Willy Fritsch, Pierre Brasseur, Willi Forst, Paul Hoerbiger, Trude Hesterberg

Synopsis: The internationally popular screen team of Lillian Harvey and Willy Fritsch scored another box-office bull's-eye with Ein Blonder Traum (A Blonde Dream). Harvey plays a Jou-Jou, a struggling artist who is deceived and victimized by a man posing as an American millionaire. Taking pity on the poor Read More

Ich Bei Tag und du Bei Nacht

Actors: Kaethe von Nagy, Willy Fritsch, Julius Falkenstein

Im Geheimdienst

Actors: Brigitte Helm, Willy Fritsch, Oscar Homolka, Theodor Loos, Karl Ludwig Diehl

Synopsis: Allegedly based on a true story, Im Geheimdienst (Secret Service) takes place during WWI. German spy Willy Fritsch, posing as an American violinist, manages to move within the uppermost circles of Russian society with impunity. He inveigles Brigitte Helm, the wife of Russian general Oscar Homolka Read More

Ronny

Actors: Kaethe von Nagy, Willy Fritsch, Lucien Baroux, Otto Wallburg, Aribert Waescher

Synopsis: Kaethe Von Nagy stars as Ronny, a pretty costume designer in the mythical European kingdom of Perusa. Willy Fritsch co-stars as the Perusian prince, who also dabbles in composing operettas. When the star of the Prince's latest extravaganza walks out, Ronny goes on stage in her place, becoming an Read More

Einbrecher

Actors: Lilian Harvey, Willy Fritsch, Ralph Arthur Roberts, Heinz Rühmann

Synopsis: Einbrecher (Burglars) is a vehicle for Lillian Harvey and Willy Fritsch, designed as a follow-up to their copacetic pairing in Drei von der Tankstelle. Like most operettas of this nature, the plot is the film's least important element. The story has something to do with an ingenuous young bride Read More

Der Kongress Tanzt

Actors: Lilian Harvey, Willy Fritsch, Henri Garat, Otto Wallburg, Armand Bernard, Conrad Veidt, Lil Dagover, Gibb McLaughlin, Carl-Heinz Schroth

Synopsis: During the 1814 Congress in Vienna, the crowned heads of Europe gather together to decide the shape (and fate) of the continent (which would hold -- with some serious cracks -- for exactly 100 years) and devise a strategy for dealing with Napoleon. The ordinary Austrians chafe at the cost of Read More

Ihre Hoheit Befiehlt

Actors: Kaethe von Nagy, Willy Fritsch, Reinhold Schuenzel, Paul Hoerbiger, Paul Heidemann

Synopsis: Princess Marie Christine (Kaethe Von Nagy) doesn't want to marry the man picked out for her by her parents. Likewise, aristocrat Lt. Von Conradi (Willy Fritsch) balks at the notion of an arranged marriage. Now the scenes shifts to a costume ball: Princess Marie pretends to be a humble manicurist Read More

Docks of Hamburg

Actors: Jenny Jugo, Willy Fritsch, Fritz Rasp, Fritz Alberti

Synopsis: This self-conscious German "art" picture stars musical-comedy favorite Jenny Jugo, here doing a Marlene Dietrich imitation (before Dietrich had been "invented" by Josef Von Sternberg). Nearly plotless, the film concentrates on a group of low-lifes who hang out along the waterfront in Hamburg. Read More

Hokuspokus

Actors: Lilian Harvey, Willy Fritsch, Oscar Homolka, Gustaf Gründgens, Otto Wallburg

Synopsis: Lillian Harvey made her talking-picture debut in the German romantic comedy Hokuspokus. Things begin on a somber note as Kitty Kellerman (Harvey) is put on trial for the murder of her husband Peter. It so happens, however, that hubby (Willy Fritsch) isn't dead: A starving artist, he'd decided that Read More

The Love Waltz

Actors: Lilian Harvey, John Batten, Willy Fritsch, Georg Alexander

Synopsis: Originally Liebeswalzer, this German operetta was the third talkie vehicle for the effervescent Lillian Harvey. The plot is a typical Graustarkian affair, with Princess Eva (Harvey) preparing to marry a duke whom she's never met. Getting cold feet, the duke ducks the wedding, persuading a handsome Read More

Liebeswalzer

Actors: Julia Serda, Lilian Harvey, Karl Ludwig Diehl, George Alexander

Drei Von Der Tankstelle

Actors: Lilian Harvey, Willy Fritsch, Olga Tschechowa, Fritz Kampers, Oscar Karlweis

Synopsis: If a poll had ever been conducted amongst fans of international musical-comedy star Lillian Harvey, the actress's most popular vehicle would probably have been Die Drei von Der Tankstelle (Three From the Gas Station) -- with Congress Dances running a very close second. The story opens as three Read More

Ihr Dunkler Punkt

Melodie des Herzens

Actors: Dita Parlo, Willy Fritsch

Synopsis: Long before actress Dita Parlo was brought to Hollywood as "the new Garbo," she enjoyed a substantial film career in Europe. In Melodies des Herzens (Melody of the Heart), Parlo is cast as Julia Balog, a pretty peasant girl who lands a housemaid's job in the Big City. Swept off her feet by Read More

Hungarian Rhapsody

Actors: Lil Dagover, Willy Fritsch, Dita Parlo, Fritz Greiner

Synopsis: Originally Ungarische Rhapsodie, this opulent Erich Pommer production stars Lil Dagover, Dita Parlo, and Willy Fritsch. The latter is cast as Franz, a dissolute young Austrian Army officer who gets himself into an embarrassing situation with the worldly Camilia (Dagover), the wife of elderly Baron Read More

Woman in the Moon

Actors: Willy Fritsch, Klaus Pohl, Gerda Maurus, Fritz Rasp

Synopsis: One of the first major films to dwell upon the possibility of space travel, Fritz Lang's Woman in the Moon (Frau im Mond) is, like many of its modern-day counterparts, more successful on a special-effects level than it is in terms of character development. The titular female, played by Gerda Maurus Read More

Dance Fever

Actors: María Corda, Willy Fritsch

Spies

Actors: Rudolf Klein-Rogge, Gerda Maurus, Lien Deyers, Craighall Sherry, Willy Fritsch, Louis Ralph, Lupu Pick

Synopsis: Spies (Spione) was the first independent production of German "thriller" director Fritz Lang. The years-ahead-of-its-time plotline involves Russian espionage activity in London. The mastermind is Haghi (Rudolph Klein-Rogge), a supposedly respectable carnival sideshow entertainer. Heading the good Read More

Ungarische Rhapsodie

The Last Waltz

Actors: Hans Adalbert von Schlettow, Willy Fritsch, Liane Haid, Suzy Vernon

Synopsis: This silent German production is based on the same-named operetta by Oscar Strauss -- minus the musical score, of course. Hans von Schlettow plays the caddish Crown Prince of a mythical European country. Eve willing to sacrifice his honor in favor of a good wine or a pretty girl, the Prince is Read More

Ein Walzertraum

Actors: Jacob Tiedtke, Mady Christians, Willy Fritsch, Julius Falkenstein

Synopsis: This UFA silent, based on an old operetta, is far more light-hearted and spirited than the moody, heavy-handed fare that generally came out of Germany. It is a romantic comedy involving the pretty-but-prudish Princess Alix (Mady Christians). She is pawned off on the playful Count Nicholas Preyn (Willy Fritsch Read More

Mutter und Kind

Hubertus Jagd

Synopsis: This German performance tells the story of a man who decides to sell his estate and his horses after he has an accident. Available in German only. ~ All Movie Guide Read More