Géza von Cziffra
Encyclopedia
Géza von Cziffra (ˈɡeːzɒ fɔn ˈtsifrɒ; 19 December 1900 – 28 April 1989) was a Hungarian
and Austria
n film director
and screenwriter
.
in the Banat
region, at that date in the Kingdom of Hungary
, now in Romania
.
Cziffra made films from the 1930s onwards, at first in Hungary, and from 1936 in Germany
as well, where however he was initially more active as a screenwriter.
In 1945 in Prague
, then occupied by the Germans
, he made the film Leuchtende Schatten ("Glowing Shadows"). As adviser for the criminal police he was assigned SS-Sturmbannführer
Eweler, a member of the SD
and brother of the actress Ruth Eweler. After some time Cziffra banned Eweler from the studios for excessive and obstructive criticism. Shortly afterwards he was arrested and taken to the Prague Gestapo
Headquarters in the Pecec Palace, where he was accused of having eaten several times in the Czech
restaurant "Neumann" without using German currency. He was eventually dispatched to Pankrác Prison
, the remand and interrogation prison of Prague, and sentenced to six months' imprisonment, beginning on 12 February. He was released from detention on 19 April, shortly before the end of the war.
In 1945 in Vienna
Cziffra founded the first post-war Austrian film production company: Cziffra-Film.
Principally, and for preference, he made light entertainment and musical films with well-known German and Austrian actors such as Peter Alexander, Rudolf Platte
, Senta Berger
and Hubert von Meyerinck
. Through the input of musicians like Bill Ramsey
or Bully Buhlan the films mostly progressed to being musical revues with a local Austrian slant and flavour (Heimatfilme). Cziffra also worked as an actor himself, and later in his life published a number of books.
He died on 28 April 1989 in Diessen am Ammersee in Bavaria
. His remains are interred in the crematorium in Munich
.
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...
and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n 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:...
and screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
.
Life
Cziffra was a Banat German in origin, born in 1900 in AradArad, Romania
Arad is the capital city of Arad County, in western Romania, in the Crişana region, on the river Mureş.An important industrial center and transportation hub, Arad is also the seat of a Romanian Orthodox archbishop and features two universities, a Romanian Orthodox theological seminary, a training...
in the Banat
Banat
The Banat is a geographical and historical region in Central Europe currently divided between three countries: the eastern part lies in western Romania , the western part in northeastern Serbia , and a small...
region, at that date in the Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
, now in 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...
.
Cziffra made films from the 1930s onwards, at first in Hungary, and from 1936 in Germany
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...
as well, where however he was initially more active as a screenwriter.
In 1945 in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, then occupied by the Germans
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, he made the film Leuchtende Schatten ("Glowing Shadows"). As adviser for the criminal police he was assigned SS-Sturmbannführer
Sturmbannführer
Sturmbannführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party equivalent to major, used both in the Sturmabteilung and the Schutzstaffel...
Eweler, a member of the SD
Sicherheitsdienst
Sicherheitsdienst , full title Sicherheitsdienst des Reichsführers-SS, or SD, was the intelligence agency of the SS and the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany. The organization was the first Nazi Party intelligence organization to be established and was often considered a "sister organization" with the...
and brother of the actress Ruth Eweler. After some time Cziffra banned Eweler from the studios for excessive and obstructive criticism. Shortly afterwards he was arrested and taken to the Prague Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
Headquarters in the Pecec Palace, where he was accused of having eaten several times in the Czech
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
restaurant "Neumann" without using German currency. He was eventually dispatched to Pankrác Prison
Pankrác Prison
Pankrác Prison, officially Prague Pankrác Remand Prison , is a prison in Prague, Czech Republic...
, the remand and interrogation prison of Prague, and sentenced to six months' imprisonment, beginning on 12 February. He was released from detention on 19 April, shortly before the end of the war.
In 1945 in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
Cziffra founded the first post-war Austrian film production company: Cziffra-Film.
Principally, and for preference, he made light entertainment and musical films with well-known German and Austrian actors such as Peter Alexander, Rudolf Platte
Rudolf Platte
-Selected filmography:* Gold * Columbus Discovers Kraehwinkel * Mamitschka * Dr. Sibelius * Destination Death * Veronika Voss...
, Senta Berger
Senta Berger
Senta Berger is an Austrian film, stage and television actress, producer and author.Regarded by critics as one of the greatest actresses of the post-war period, and frequently named as one of the leading German-speaking actresses in polls, Berger has received many award nominations for her acting...
and Hubert von Meyerinck
Hubert von Meyerinck
Hubert von Meyerinck was a German film actor. He appeared in over 280 films between 1921 and 1970.He was born in Potsdam, Germany and died in Hamburg, Germany.-Selected filmography:* Manon Lescaut ...
. Through the input of musicians like Bill Ramsey
Bill Ramsey
William Thrace Ramsey, Jr. was an American professional baseball player who was an outfielder for the Boston Braves for a single Major League Baseball season in 1945....
or Bully Buhlan the films mostly progressed to being musical revues with a local Austrian slant and flavour (Heimatfilme). Cziffra also worked as an actor himself, and later in his life published a number of books.
He died on 28 April 1989 in Diessen am Ammersee in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
. His remains are interred in the crematorium in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
.
Selected filmography
- 1924: Gullivers Reise(screenplay and direction)
- 1930: Der Greifer with Hans AlbersHans AlbersHans Philipp August Albers was a German actor and singer. He was the single biggest male movie star in Germany between 1930 and 1945 and one of the most popular German actors of the twentieth century.- Life and work :...
, Harry HardtHarry HardtHarry Hardt was an Austrian actor. The son of a military officer, he initially planned a military career for himself, studying at a military academy and serving during World War I...
, Karl Ludwig DiehlKarl Ludwig DiehlKarl Ludwig Diehl was a German film actor. He appeared in 66 films between 1924 and 1957.-Selected filmography:* The Squeaker * Rasputin, Dämon der Frauen * On Secret Service...
and Charlotte SusaCharlotte Susa-Biography:Susa was born Charlotta Wegmüller near Memel, East Prussia and first appeared at a stage in 1915 at Tilsit. She chose her mothers maiden name "Susa" as her stage name and began a successful career as a singer and actress at different German Opera and Operetta stages, e.g...
(screenplay and assistance with direction) - 1936: Wo die Lerche singt with Marta EggerthMarta EggerthMarta Eggerth is a singer/actress from "The Silver Age of Operetta". Many of the 20th century's most famous operetta composers, including Franz Lehár, Fritz Kreisler, Robert Stolz, Oscar Straus, and Paul Abraham, composed works especially for her...
, Hans SöhnkerHans SöhnkerHans Söhnker was a German film actor. He appeared in 105 films between 1933 and 1980.He was born in Kiel, Germany and died in Berlin, Germany.-Selected filmography:* Faithful * Beloved Corinna...
and Lucie EnglischLucie Englisch-Selected filmography:* Mein Leopold * The Countess of Monte-Christo * Marionette * Zwei Bayern in Bonn...
(author) - 1945: Liebe nach Noten with Rudolf PrackRudolf Prack-Selected filmography:* The Thief of Bagdad * Die Privatsekretärin * Ball at the Savoy * Mariandl * Mariandl's Homecoming * Holiday in St. Tropez * The Standard -External links:...
and Sonja ZiemannSonja ZiemannSonja Ziemann is a German film and television actress.-Selected filmography:* The Heath Is Green * Die Privatsekretärin * Mädchen ohne Grenzen... - 1949: Gefährliche Gäste with Wolf Albach-RettyWolf Albach-RettyWolf Albach-Retty was a Vienna-born Austrian actor. He had a daughter with German actress Magda Schneider named Romy Schneider....
and Käthe HaackKäthe HaackKäthe Haack was a German actress. She appeared in over 200 films between 1915 and 1980.She was born Käte Lisbeth Minna Sophie Isolde Haack in Berlin, Germany and was previously married to actor Heinrich Schroth, with whom she had a daughter, actress Hannelore Schroth in 1922.-Selected... - 1951: A Tale of Five CitiesA Tale of Five CitiesA Tale of Five Cities is a 1951 British-Italian drama film directed by Romolo Marcellini and five other directors.-Cast:* Bonar Colleano - Bob Mitchell* Barbara Kelly - Lesley - American Magazine Editor* Anne Vernon - Jeannine Meunier...
- 1957: Die Beine von Dolores with Germaine Damar, Claus BiederstaedtClaus BiederstaedtClaus Biederstaedt is a German actor and voice actor. He studied in Hamburg and began his career working with Joseph Offenbach...
, Grethe WeiserGrethe WeiserGrethe Weiser was a German actress.- Biography :Born in Hanover, she spent her childhood in Dresden. She escaped from her dominant and sometimes violent father by marrying a Jewish confectionery manufacturer in 1920. Her only child, a son, was born in 1922...
and Bum Krüger - 1953: Das singende Hotel with Rudolf PlatteRudolf Platte-Selected filmography:* Gold * Columbus Discovers Kraehwinkel * Mamitschka * Dr. Sibelius * Destination Death * Veronika Voss...
, Fita Benkhoff and Bully Buhlan - 1958: So ein Millionär hat's schwer with Peter Alexander, Germaine Damar
- 1960: Kriminaltango with Peter Alexander and Vivi BachVivi BachVivi Bach is a Danish film actress. She appeared in 48 films between 1958 and 1974.She was born in Copenhagen, Denmark.-Selected filmography:* Krudt og klunker * Pigen og vandpytten...
- 1961: Die Abenteuer des Grafen Bobby with Peter Alexander, Vivi BachVivi BachVivi Bach is a Danish film actress. She appeared in 48 films between 1958 and 1974.She was born in Copenhagen, Denmark.-Selected filmography:* Krudt og klunker * Pigen og vandpytten...
and Gunther PhilippGunther Philipp-Selected filmography:* Der Schuß durchs Fenster * The Count of Luxemburg * Bombs on Monte Carlo * The White Horse Inn * Season in Salzburg * Mariandl * Mariandl's Homecoming... - 1961: Junge Leute brauchen Liebe with Cornelia FroboessCornelia FroboessCornelia Froboess is a German actress and a teen idol of the 1950s and early 1960s. During that time, Froboess appeared in many musical films, especially after the rock and roll wave had hit Germany...
, Johannes HeestersJohannes HeestersJohan Marius Nicolaas "Johannes" Heesters is a Dutch actor, singer and entertainer with a -year career, almost exclusively in the German-speaking world. In Germany and Austria, Heesters is mainly known for his acting career...
and Waltraut HaasWaltraut HaasWaltraut Haas is a popular Austrian stage and film actress and singer.Born in Vienna, Haas grew up at Schloss Schönbrunn, where her mother was a restaurateur. Haas made her stage debut in Linz but was soon won over to the big screen... - 1961: Kauf Dir einen bunten LuftballonKauf dir einen bunten LuftballonKauf dir einen bunten Luftballon is a 1961 West German / Austrian film directed by Géza von Cziffra.- Cast :*Ina Bauer as Inge König*Toni Sailer as Hans Haller*Heinz Erhardt as Knapp, Theaterdirektor*Ruth Stephan as Mia*Walter Gross as Josef...
with Ina BauerIna Bauer (figure skater)Ina Bauer is a German retired competitive figure skater. She is the 1957-1959 German national champion. She twice placed fourth at the World Figure Skating Championships, once in 1958 and once in 1959...
, Anton SailerToni SailerAnton Engelbert "Toni" Sailer was an Austrian alpine ski racer, who is considered among the best the in the sport. He won three gold medals in alphine skiing at the 1956 Winter Olympics, becoming the only triple gold medalist from that Games and thus the most successful athlete in 1956...
, Heinz ErhardtHeinz ErhardtHeinz Erhardt was a German comedian, musician, entertainer, actor, and poet.Heinz Erhardt was the son of Baltic German Kapellmeister Gustl Erhardt. He lived most of his childhood at his grandparents in Riga, where his grandfather, Paul Nelder, owned a music house...
, Ralf WolterRalf Wolter-Selected filmography:* Peter Voss, Hero of the Day * Conny und Peter machen Musik * Freddy und das Lied der Südsee * The Heathens of Kummerow * Hannibal Brooks * Heintje: A Heart Goes on a Journey...
and Ruth StephanRuth StephanRuth Stephan was a German film and stage actress. She appeared with Heinz Erhardt in the 'Willi' series of films.- Biography :Ruth Stephan was born to retail merchant Kurt Stephan and his wife Kriemhilde... - 1962: Die Fledermaus with Peter Alexander, Marika RökkMarika RökkMarika Rökk was an Austrian-German singer, dancer and actress of Hungarian descent, who became famous in German films, notably in the Nazi era.- Life and work :...
, Willy MillowitschWilly MillowitschWilly Millowitsch was a German stage and TV actor and the director of the Volkstheater Millowitsch in Cologne.-Early life:...
, Gunther PhilippGunther Philipp-Selected filmography:* Der Schuß durchs Fenster * The Count of Luxemburg * Bombs on Monte Carlo * The White Horse Inn * Season in Salzburg * Mariandl * Mariandl's Homecoming...
, Boy GobertBoy Gobert-Selected filmography:* The Ideal Woman * Die Fledermaus * Emma Hamilton * Shadow of Angels * The Roaring Fifties -External links:...
, Hans MoserHans Moser (actor)Hans Moser was an Austrian actor who, during his long career, from the 1920s up to his death, mainly played in comedy films. He was particularly associated with the genre of the Wiener Film...
and Oskar SimaOskar SimaOskar Sima was an Austrian actor who is best remembered for appearing in supporting roles in countless comedy films from the 1930s to the 1960s.Born in Hohenau an der March, Lower Austria, Sima attended high school in Vienna... - 1962: Der Vogelhändler with Cornelia FroboessCornelia FroboessCornelia Froboess is a German actress and a teen idol of the 1950s and early 1960s. During that time, Froboess appeared in many musical films, especially after the rock and roll wave had hit Germany...
, Georg ThomallaGeorg ThomallaGeorg Thomalla was a German actor.He appeared in a number of German films from 1939 to 1992.However, Thomalla was mostly known in Germany as a voice-over artist, dubbing particularly comedians, such as Peter Sellers as Inspector Closeau in the Pink Panther movies, and he also was the standard...
and Peter WeckPeter Weck-Selected filmography:Actor* Mariandl * Almost Angels * Mariandl's Homecoming * The Cardinal * Marry Me, Cherie * When the Grapevines Bloom on the Danube... - 1962: Nachts ging das Telefon
- 1963: Charleys Tante with Peter Alexander and Fritz EckhardtFritz EckhardtFritz Eckhardt was an Austrian actor, director, and writer. He is remembered for playing the lead role as chief inspector Marek in the Österreichischer Rundfunk version of the detective series Tatort. He also played cabaret and wrote numerous theatre plays and film scripts.-References:...
Awards
- 1975: Goldenes Ehrenzeichen der Stadt Wien
- 1976: Bundesverdienstkreuz der Republik Österreich
- 1985: Filmband in Gold for long and excellent work in the German film industry
Selected bibliography
- Tanja und ihre vierzig Männer. Ein Roman. Wancura-Verlag, Vienna 1957
- Kauf dir einen bunten Luftballon. Erinnerungen an Götter und Halbgötter. Herbig, Munich 1975, ISBN 3-7766-0708-4
- Immer waren es die Frauen ... Eine intime Zeitgeschichte. Herbig, Munich 1976, ISBN 3-7766-0784-X
- Das Beste aus meiner Witze- und Anekdotensammlung vom Film. Heyne, Munich 1977, ISBN 3-453-00739-5
- Hanussen. Hellseher des Teufels. Die Wahrheit über den Reichstagsbrand. Herbig, Munich 1978, ISBN 3-7766-0879-X
- Tango. Roman einer Berliner Familie. Herbig, Munich 1980, ISBN 3-7766-0946-X
- Der Kuh im Kaffeehaus. Die goldenen Zwanziger in Anekdoten. Herbig, Munich 1981, ISBN 3-7766-1147-2
- Der heilige Trinker (über Joseph RothJoseph RothJoseph Roth, born Moses Joseph Roth , was an Austrian journalist and novelist, best known for his family saga Radetzky March about the decline and fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and for his novel of Jewish life, Job as well as the seminal essay 'Juden auf Wanderschaft' translated in...
). Lübbe, Bergisch Gladbach 1983, ISBN 3-404-10215-0 - Es war eine rauschende Ballnacht. Eine Sittengeschichte des deutschen Films. Herbig, Munich 1985, ISBN 3-7766-1341-6
- Im Wartesaal des Ruhms. Begegnungen mit berühmten Persönlichkeiten wie Bert Brecht, Albert Einstein, Erich Kästner u.a. (= Bastei Lübbe Allgemeine Reihe, Band 10660). Lübbe, Bergisch Gladbach 1985, ISBN 3-404-10660-1
- Dr Martin Ottler, Mitläufer. Roman (= Lambda-Dossier, No. 3). Lambda-Edition, Hamburg 1988, ISBN 3-925495-25-8
- Ungelogen. Erinnerungen an mein Jahrhundert (Autobiographie). Herbig, Munich 1988, ISBN 3-7766-1500-1