Alfréd Deésy
Encyclopedia
Alfréd Deésy was a Hungarian
film director
, screenwriter and actor. He directed 77 films between 1915
and 1947
. Deésy also appeared as an actor in 28 films between 1913
and 1960
.
, Romania
); his stage name means "from Dés," much as "Lugosi" means "from Lugos." At the turn of the twentieth century, Deésy was making his name as a prominent actor on the Hungarian stage. Deésy became interested in the potential of motion pictures early, and in 1911 became co-manager of the Apollo movie theater in Debrecen
. The following year, Deésy began submitting scenarios to fledgling Hungarian film concerns, and in 1913 he made his debut as screen actor. His directorial career began with Csak semmi botrányt! (1915), produced by Star-film, a Hungarian film company over which Deésy ultimately took control and operated until 1919, when the Hungarian film industry was nationalized during the short-lived communist revolution that began that year.
After the revolution was quelled and Hungary went under military rule, Deésy joined the firm of Egyetértés as a director/writer, and soon assumed control of this movie company as well. In 1926, Deésy relocated to Vienna and made Sacco und Vanzetti (1927), an exceedingly controversial film that was banned in much of Europe, including Hungary. By 1931, Deésy was back in Hungary and in 1935 made his best known film, Nem élhetek muzsikaszó nélkül ("I Can't Live Without Music"). During the period of Hungarian collaboration within the Axis forces, Deésy continued to work as a director, making the notorious anti-Soviet film Üzenet a Volgapartról (1942) among others. After his last directorial effort, Fél pár györött kesztyö (1947), Deésy continued to work as an actor right up until a few months before he died, in Budapest
, at the age of 83 in 1961.
made his motion picture debut acting in Deésy's films, and Michael Curtiz
also made some of his early films there.
As a director whose career was mostly centered in the Hungarian silent period, very little of Deésy's work is known to survive; according to the Hungarian Film Institute, all but about 15 per cent of Hungarian silent features are lost. Nem élhetek muzsikaszó nélkül, however, has long been regarded as a popular classic in Hungary, and some of his silent films -- such as Á Leányasszony (1918) survive, though in most instances only in fragments, such as Casanova (1918).
Cinema of Hungary
Hungary has had a notable cinema industry from the beginning of the 20th century, with Hungarians who affected the world of motion picture both inside and outside the borders...
film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, screenwriter and actor. He directed 77 films between 1915
1915 in film
The year 1915 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 8 : D.W Griffith's The Birth of a Nation premieres at Clune's Auditorium Los Angeles and breaks box office and film length records, running at a total length of 3 hrs 10 minutes.* June 18 : The Motion Picture Directors...
and 1947
1947 in film
The year 1947 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*May 22 - Great Expectations is premiered in New York.*November 24 : The United States House of Representatives of the 80th Congress voted 346 to 17 to approve citations for contempt of Congress against the "Hollywood Ten".*November 25...
. Deésy also appeared as an actor in 28 films between 1913
1913 in film
The year 1913 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* The Squaw Man, the first Hollywood feature film, is made.* December 29, Charlie Chaplin signs a contract with Mack Sennett to begin making films at Keystone Studios.* D. W...
and 1960
1960 in film
The year 1960 in film involved some significant events, with Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho the top-grossing release in the U.S.-Events:* April 20 - for the first time since coming home from military service in Germany, Elvis Presley returns to Hollywood, California to film G.I...
.
Biography
Deésy was born Alfréd Kämpf in Dés, Austria-Hungary (now DejDej
Dej is a city in northwestern Romania, 60 km north of Cluj-Napoca, in Cluj County. It lies where the Someşul Mic River meets the river Someşul Mare River...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
); his stage name means "from Dés," much as "Lugosi" means "from Lugos." At the turn of the twentieth century, Deésy was making his name as a prominent actor on the Hungarian stage. Deésy became interested in the potential of motion pictures early, and in 1911 became co-manager of the Apollo movie theater in Debrecen
Debrecen
Debrecen , is the second largest city in Hungary after Budapest. Debrecen is the regional centre of the Northern Great Plain region and the seat of Hajdú-Bihar county.- Name :...
. The following year, Deésy began submitting scenarios to fledgling Hungarian film concerns, and in 1913 he made his debut as screen actor. His directorial career began with Csak semmi botrányt! (1915), produced by Star-film, a Hungarian film company over which Deésy ultimately took control and operated until 1919, when the Hungarian film industry was nationalized during the short-lived communist revolution that began that year.
After the revolution was quelled and Hungary went under military rule, Deésy joined the firm of Egyetértés as a director/writer, and soon assumed control of this movie company as well. In 1926, Deésy relocated to Vienna and made Sacco und Vanzetti (1927), an exceedingly controversial film that was banned in much of Europe, including Hungary. By 1931, Deésy was back in Hungary and in 1935 made his best known film, Nem élhetek muzsikaszó nélkül ("I Can't Live Without Music"). During the period of Hungarian collaboration within the Axis forces, Deésy continued to work as a director, making the notorious anti-Soviet film Üzenet a Volgapartról (1942) among others. After his last directorial effort, Fél pár györött kesztyö (1947), Deésy continued to work as an actor right up until a few months before he died, in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, at the age of 83 in 1961.
Legacy
Alfréd Deésy was one of the most important figures in Hungary's silent film industry, and specialized in straightforward entertainment fare; melodramas, period pictures, adventure films, romances and, ultimately, the musical. His approach to film-making, however, was not necessarily conventional and a reflection of this aspect of his personality can be seen in the work of directors whose talents he helped foster. The Star-film unit was the main incubator of Hungarian talent in the silent period, and Bela LugosiBéla Lugosi
Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó , commonly known as Bela Lugosi, was a Hungarian actor of stage and screen. He was best known for having played Count Dracula in the Broadway play and subsequent film version, as well as having starred in several of Ed Wood's low budget films in the last years of his...
made his motion picture debut acting in Deésy's films, and Michael Curtiz
Michael Curtiz
Michael Curtiz was an Academy award winning Hungarian-American film director. He had early creditsas Mihály Kertész and Michael Kertész...
also made some of his early films there.
As a director whose career was mostly centered in the Hungarian silent period, very little of Deésy's work is known to survive; according to the Hungarian Film Institute, all but about 15 per cent of Hungarian silent features are lost. Nem élhetek muzsikaszó nélkül, however, has long been regarded as a popular classic in Hungary, and some of his silent films -- such as Á Leányasszony (1918) survive, though in most instances only in fragments, such as Casanova (1918).
Selected filmography
- RablélekCaptive SoulsCaptive Souls is a 1913 Hungarian film directed by Michael Curtiz....
(1913) - A magyar föld erejeThe Strength of the FatherlandThe Strength of the Fatherland is a 1916 Hungarian film directed by Michael Curtiz....
(1916) - A KarthausiThe KarthauzerThe Karthauzer is a 1916 Hungarian film directed by Michael Curtiz....
(1916) - NászdalThe Wedding Song (film)The Wedding Song is a 1917 Hungarian film directed by Alfréd Deésy. It featured Béla Lugosi in his first onscreen appearance....
(1917) - A RégiséggyüjtöA RégiséggyüjtöA Régiséggyüjtö is a 1917 short Hungarian film directed by Alfréd Deésy and featuring Béla Lugosi.-Cast:* Norbert Dán* Béla Lugosi - * Camilla von Hollay -...
(1917) - Leoni LeoLeoni LeoLeoni Leo is a 1917 Hungarian adventure film directed by Alfréd Deésy and featuring Béla Lugosi.-Cast:* Norbert Dán* Béla Lugosi - Leoni Leo * Lilla Bársony - Princess Zagarolo* Róbert Fiáth - Marquis Lorenzo...
(1917) - CasanovaCasanova (1918 film)Casanova is a 1918 Hungarian film directed by Alfréd Deésy and featuring Béla Lugosi.-Cast:* Péter Andorffy - Hilmer,gyáros* Viktor Costa* Norbert Dán - Roland herceg* Alfréd Deésy - Casanova* László Faludi - Molnárlegény* Tessza Fodor...
(1918) - ÁlarcosbálMasked BallMasked Ball is a 1918 Hungarian film directed by Alfréd Deésy and featuring Béla Lugosi.-Cast:* Norbert Dán* Róbert Fiáth* Lajos Gellért - * Annie Góth* Richard Kornai* Béla Lugosi...
(1918) - Küzdelem a létértThe Leopard (1918 film)The Leopard is a 1918 Hungarian film directed by Alfréd Deésy and featuring Béla Lugosi.-Cast:* Annie Góth as Viktória hercegnõ* Péter Konrády* Ila Lóth as Postáskisasszony* Béla Lugosi as Orlay Pál,építész...
(1918) - Az Élet királyaThe Picture of Dorian Gray (1918 film)The Picture of Dorian Gray is a 1918 Hungarian drama film directed by Alfréd Deésy and featuring Béla Lugosi. It is based on Oscar Wilde's novel of the same name.-Cast:* Norbert Dán - Dorian Gray* Béla Lugosi - Lord Henry Wotton...
(1918) - Á Leányasszony (1918)
- Éva (1919)
- Petöfi (1922)
- Sacco und Vanzetti (1927)
- Nem élhetek muzsikaszó nélkül (1935)
- Üzenet a Volgapartról (1942)
- Fél pár györött kesztyö (1947)
External links
- NAVA page of clips from Deésy films http://kereso.nava.hu/documents/search?q=Alfréd+Deésy&search=Keresés
- Filmkutúra page on Á Leányasszony (in Hungarian) http://www.filmkultura.hu/regi/2005/articles/films/leanyasszony.hu.html