Grete Mosheim
Encyclopedia
Margaret "Grete" Mosheim (8 January 1905 – 29 December 1986) was a German
film, theatre and television actress of Hungarian
Jewish ancestry.
, Berlin from 1922 to 1931. She began studying at Max Reinhardt
's School of Drama under Berthold Held in early 1922, alongside Marlene Dietrich
.
Mosheim became established under Max Reinhardt, and he gave her the chance to substitute in the American play "The Speaking Ape" when the female lead became ill. Mosheim learned the difficult role from Albert Bassermann
in just 24 hours and became a superstar
almost overnight. Until 1933, when she went to London
to escape Adolf Hitler
's rise to power, she was pre-eminent in the Berlin theatre scene. She appeared in a wide variety of roles, being equally at home in drama and comedy. After intensive study, she mastered English well enough to appear in Two Share a Dwelling in London in 1934. She appeared again on stage in Germany in 1952, but did not return to films until her appearance as the grandmother in Moritz, Dear Moritz in 1978.
in Berlin on 28 June 1928, but they divorced in London
in 1933 after leaving Germany. She married a second time to American industrialist Howard Gould
in 1937. This marriage also ended in divorce ten years later.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
film, theatre and television actress of Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
Jewish ancestry.
Early life
Mosheim was born in Berlin, Germany on 8 January 1905. Her sister was actress Lori Lahner, who had a brief film career, appearing in Summer Storm in 1944.Theatre
Mosheim started her acting career at the age of 17 and was a member of Deutsches TheaterDeutsches Theater
The Deutsches Theater in Berlin is a well-known German theatre. It was built in 1850 as Friedrich-Wilhelm-Städtisches Theater, after Frederick William IV of Prussia. Located on Schumann Street , the Deutsches Theater consists of two adjoining stages that share a common, classical facade...
, Berlin from 1922 to 1931. She began studying at Max Reinhardt
Max Reinhardt
----Max Reinhardt was an Austrian theater and film director and actor.-Biography:...
's School of Drama under Berthold Held in early 1922, alongside Marlene Dietrich
Marlene Dietrich
Marlene Dietrich was a German-American actress and singer.Dietrich remained popular throughout her long career by continually re-inventing herself, professionally and characteristically. In the Berlin of the 1920s, she acted on the stage and in silent films...
.
Mosheim became established under Max Reinhardt, and he gave her the chance to substitute in the American play "The Speaking Ape" when the female lead became ill. Mosheim learned the difficult role from Albert Bassermann
Albert Bassermann
Albert Bassermann was a German stage and screen actor.-Career:Bassermann began his acting career in 1887 in his birthplace, Mannheim. He then spent four years at the Hoftheater in Meiningen. He then moved to Berlin. From 1899, he worked for Otto Brahm. He began work at the Deutsches Theater...
in just 24 hours and became a superstar
Superstar
A superstar is a widely acclaimed celebrity.Superstar or superstars may also refer to:-People:* Warhol Superstar, associates of Andy Warhol* WWE Superstar, the term used to refer to entertainers from the WWE...
almost overnight. Until 1933, when she went to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to escape Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
's rise to power, she was pre-eminent in the Berlin theatre scene. She appeared in a wide variety of roles, being equally at home in drama and comedy. After intensive study, she mastered English well enough to appear in Two Share a Dwelling in London in 1934. She appeared again on stage in Germany in 1952, but did not return to films until her appearance as the grandmother in Moritz, Dear Moritz in 1978.
Films
Mosheim appeared in numerous German films, mostly silent movies, starting with Michael in 1924. Until she fled Germany in 1933, she starred in many films, including Dreyfus (1930) and Yorck (1931).Personal life
Mosheim married twice, but had no children. She married actor Oscar HomolkaOscar Homolka
Oskar Homolka was an Austrian film and theatre actor. Homolka's strong accent, stocky appearance, bushy eyebrows and Slavic name led many to believe he was Eastern European or Russian, but he was born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary.- Career :After serving in the Austro-Hungarian Army during World War...
in Berlin on 28 June 1928, but they divorced in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1933 after leaving Germany. She married a second time to American industrialist Howard Gould
Howard Gould
Howard Gould was a financier and the son of Jay Gould.- Birth and marriage :He was the son of Jay Gould and Helen Day Miller . He married Katherine Clemmons on October 12, 1898. She was an actress whose career had been heavily subsidized by William F. Cody...
in 1937. This marriage also ended in divorce ten years later.
Partial filmography
- MichaelMichael (1924 film)Michael was a silent film released in 1924, directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer, director of other notable silents such as The Passion of Joan of Arc , Master of the House , and Leaves from Satan's Book...
(Germany 1924) - Derby (Germany 1926)
- Der Geiger von Florenz (Germany 1926)
- Junges Blut (Germany 1926)
- Die Siebzehnjährigen (Germany 1928)
- DreyfusDreyfus (1930 film)Dreyfus was a 1930 film on the Dreyfus affair, based on a novel by Bruno Weil. It was translated into English as Dreyfus.-Cast:*Fritz Kortner - Alfred Dreyfus*Grete Mosheim - Lucie Dreyfus...
(Germany 1930) - Der Mörder Dimitri Karamasoff (Germany 1931)
- YorckYorckYorck is a 1931 German war film directed by Gustav Ucicky and starring Werner Krauss, Grete Mosheim and Rudolf Forster. It portrays the life of the Prussian General Ludwig Yorck von Wartenburg, particularly his refusal to serve in Napoleon's army during the French Invasion of Russia in 1812.-Cast:*...
(Germany 1931) - Car of DreamsCar of DreamsCar of Dreams is a 1935 British romantic comedy film directed by Graham Cutts and Austin Melford and starring Grete Mosheim, John Mills, Norah Howard and Robertson Hare. A tycoon's son falls in love with a woman who works at his father's factory. It was based on the 1934 Hungarian film...
(UK 1935) - Underground and Emigrants (USA 1976)
- Moritz, lieber MoritzMoritz, Dear MoritzMoritz, Dear Moritz is a 1978 German drama film directed by Hark Bohm. It was entered into the 28th Berlin International Film Festival.-Cast:* Michael Kebschull - Moritz Stuckmann* Kyra Mladeck - Mutter Stuckmann* Walter Klosterfelde - Vater Stuckmann...
(Germany 1978)