Ossi Oswalda
Acting
Biography
Ossi Oswalda (born Oswalda Amalie Anna Stäglich, 2 February 1897 – 7 March 1947) was a German actress, who mostly appeared in silent films. She was given the nickname 'The German Mary Pickford' due to her popularity at the time. Oswalda trained as a ballerina and became a dancer for a theater in Berlin. She made her film debut in Richard Oswald's Nächte des Grauens (Night of Horrors) before being discovered by the actor and screenwriter Hanns Kräly, who in turn recommended her to director Ernst Lubitsch. During her early career, she starred in several films by Lubitsch, including The Merry Jail, I Don't Want to Be a Man, The Oyster Princess and The Doll. Her popularity at the time earned her the nickname 'The German Mary Pickford'. In 1921, Oswalda started her own film production company with her husband at the time, the Hungarian Baron Gustav Wilhelm Viktor Freiherr von Koczian-Miskolczy (1877–1958). However, during the next four years they only produced four films, all starring Oswalda. From 1925 on, she was contracted to Ufa. The couple divorced in 1925, and Oswalda began a high profile affair with Wilhelm, German Crown Prince. Oswalda's career waned along with the silent film era, and she only acted in two sound films, making her final appearance on screen in the 1933 film The Star of Valencia. She escaped Nazi Germany and emigrated to Prague with her partner Julius Aubenberg in the 1930s. Later on, she became a stage actor, and in 1943, wrote the screenplay for the Czechoslovakian film Čtrnáctý u stolu. By spring 1947, Oswalda went bankrupt and was suffering from multiple health problems. Oswalda died penniless in Prague at the age of 50. She is buried at Olsany Cemetery.
Known For
The misadventures of an effete young man who must get married in order to inherit a fortune. He opts to purchase a remarkably lifelike doll and marry it instead, not realizing that the doll is actually the dollmaker’s flesh-and-blood daughter in disguise.
The Doll
A pampered American oyster tycoon decides to buy a husband for his daughter, but things don’t go quite as planned. Along the way there are mishaps, misunderstandings and a foxtrot sequence that must be seen to be believed.
The Oyster Princess
An extremely jealous artist slips into a monkey costume and kills all those men who come too close to his wife, another artist.
A Night of Horror
Directed by Ernst Lubitsch.
Ossis Tagebuch
The fun-loving laundress Mieze spends a romantic evening with the womanizer and fashion designer Max, who, however, wants nothing to do with her the next day. This only changes when Mieze appears to be the daughter of a count and "Countess Radebeul" moves into the elegant Hotel Bristol. After all sorts of complications and embarrassments, the countess turns out to be a misunderstanding, and Mieze and Max find each other after all.
Gräfin Plättmamsell
A teenage tomboy, tired of being bossed around by her strict guardian, impersonates a man so she can have more fun. She quickly discovers that being the opposite sex isn’t as easy as she had hoped for. What ensues is a gender-bending comedy decades ahead of its time.
I Don't Want to Be a Man
The new artistic director Dr. Fersen is appointed at the princely court theater in Dillingen. He is not only attractive, but also a bachelor, which delights the local women. But even the men of the town suddenly show an affinity for the theater, as a new prima ballerina has been hired in the form of the dancer Ossi. Prince Adolf himself is delighted with Ossi and never misses one of her performances. The envious are not long in coming, especially the president of the Dillingen Women's Association is suspicious of the current events. This is hardly surprising, as an unwritten law in Dillingen states that the theater's prima ballerina must be married. This suits Ossi and Dr. Fersen, as the two have been seeing each other in secret for some time. The marriage is quickly arranged. The only downer for the couple is that the Dillinger's interest in art has suddenly disappeared. Lost.
The Ballet Girl
While making a movie in the Alps, the female star falls in love with a nobleman.
My Wife, the Movie Star
No description available.
A Crazy Night
No description available.
Der Hilferuf
Silent romantic comedy set on a train.
Express Train of Love
Peter Verdy falls in love with Lola (Ossi Oswalda) who is mistaken for a boy when she appears in stage regalia before a rich uncle who has other marriage plans for his nephew. The tangle ensuing is finally sorted out with excellent results all round.
Die Kleine vom Varieté
No description available.
Hundemamachen
Prince Sami comes from Nigeria and is an uncivilized "nature boy." He is sent to the highly civilized court of Duchess Maria of Arragon, where he initially causes chaos. In the end, however, he becomes the duchess's husband.
Prinz Sami
Sally Pinkus is an German-Jewish boy who takes a job as a shoe store clerk after being expelled from school for goofing around. Soon fired for trying to court the owner's daughter, Pinkus lands another job in a more 'upmarket' shoe salon, only to be fired again, before charming a rich benefactress to fund his ultimate dream: Pinkus' Shoe Palace.
Pinkus's Shoe Palace
Thirteen people have gathered at Mayor Bartoš's. The company is uneasy about this number and therefore warmly welcomes the fourteenth guest, who is the new librarian Pavel Čtrnáctý...
Čtrnáctý u stolu
White slave traders kidnap a cabaret singer aboard a ship headed for South America,but they have not counted on her husband aboard a nearby coast guard cutter.
Der Stern von Valencia
No description available.
Das Mädel mit der Maske
No description available.
Niniche
The Swabian journeyman watchmaker Christoph Bühler is in love with Lorle, the daughter of his boss. One day, the factory owner Ferdinand Hausegger woos Bühler away, whereupon the young man seems to forget the Swabian girl. Only after four years does he propose to her, but the marriage is not under a good star. While Christoph, who has long since moved away from the Swabian province with his wife, makes a career for himself, he neglects his Lorle more and more and soon seems ashamed of her simple origins. Feeling unloved and misunderstood, Lorle finally leaves him and returns to her familiar home in the Black Forest. Only now does Christoph realize what he has in his wife. He is transferred and becomes the manager of a Hausegger branch in the Black Forest. Now nothing stands in the way of reconciliation.