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Gustav Fröhlich in 1933

GUSTAV FRÖHLICH

1902-1987



You've found the only site on the ENTIRE internet dedicated solely to the great German film actor Gustav Fröhlich, the star of Fritz Lang's Metropolis and over 100 other films from the silent era to the 1980's. Hopefully if your as big a fan as I am you'll find just what your looking for right here, including tons of facts, films, links, pics, AND MORE PICS!!!


Biography:

Gustav Fröhlich was born on March 21, 1902 in Hannover, Germany and he grew up by foster parents. His father was an engineer, and his family moved around western Germany a lot while he was growing up, living in cities like Wiesbaden and Wurzburg. In 1916/17 he volunteered for the press surveillance in the occupied Belgium city of Brussels. He first started his career as an editor, but also spent his spare time doing local theatre shows. He also wrote two dime novels (Heinz Brandt, der Fremdenlegionär). His debut in film was in the role of "Franz Liszt" in the picture "Paganini" (1922).

His most famous film role as "Freder" in the famous silent film Metropolis came about by chance. He was discovered by Thea Von Harbou, Fritz Lang's wife, working on the set of Metropolis, and she immediatly cast him in the lead as Freder because of his striking good looks. In 1930 Gustav Fröhlich was engaged to Hollywood by Warner Bros. to do German versions of American movies: "Die heilige Flamme" (1930) and "Kismet" (1931). He also did the direction for "Rakoczy-Marsch" (1933), "Abenteuer eines jungen Herrn in Polen" (1934), "Wege im Zwielicht" (47), "Der Bagnosträfling" (49) and "Die Lüge" (50).

His first marriage was to the Hungarian Opera star Gitta Alpar, but it only lasted from 1931-1935. He then lived together with the Czech actress Lida Baarova from 1936-1938. When he lost her to the Nazi Propaganda-Minister Joseph Goebbels, Fröhlich had a fierce verbal dispute with Goebbels - that he had slapped Goebbels went round as a rumour. In 1941 he got remarried to Maria Hajek. In the same year he had to serve for the Wehrmacht (Armed forces) Landschützen-Regiment, interrupted by some movie engagements.

From the Sixties to the Eighties he had only a few entrances in the movie business - "Und keiner schämte sich" (60), "Der neue Talar" (61), "Die Dubarry" (63), "Laubenkolonie" (68), "Der lachende Apfel" (76), "Pommi Stern" (81), and "Die Laurents" (81). His last public appearance was in 1986, when Giorgio Moroder presented his revised version of Metropolis. He died after an operation in Lugano, Switzerland on December 22, 1987.

Klicken hier für die Biographie auf Deutsch

One of my favorite pics ;o)

Autobiography:

Gustav Fröhlich's autobiography was published in 1983, it is called
"Waren das Zeiten - Mein Film-Heldenleben"
Here are pictures of the front and back covers!


Filmography:

(Films in yellow and all caps are the ones I've seen, they link to more pictures!!!)

#

TITLE

YEAR

CHARACTER

1Paganini (1922) Franz Liszt
2Weg zum Licht, Der (1923) ?
3Frau mit dem Schlechten Ruf, Die (1925) James Compson
4Friesenblut (1925) Jörn Larsen, Fischer
5Schiff in Not (1925) Harry Petersen
6METROPOLIS (1926) Freder Fredersen
7Frau, Die Nicht "Nein" Sagen Kann, Die (1926) Edgar Jefferson
8Elf Teufel, Die (1927) Tommy, Mittelstürmer
9Meister Von Nürnberg, Der (1927) Walther von Stoltzing
10Gehetzte Frauen (1927) Fürst Alexander Radnay
11Ich Heirate Meine Frau
... aka Ihr Letztes Liebesabenteuer		 (1927) Dr. Werner Silesius
12Jahrmarkt des Lebens (1927) Paul Bronner
13Jugendrausch (1927) Armand
14Leichte Isabell, Die (1927) Hans Hartwig
15Pflicht Zu Scheigen, Die (1927) Gerhard Jorin, Forscher
16Schwere Jungens- Leichte Madchen (1927) Martin Overbeck Jr.
17Angst (1928) Francard, Maler
18HEIMKEHR
... aka Homecoming		 (1928) Karl
19Hurrah! Ich Lebe! (1928) Henrik Hansen
20Rothausgasse, Die (1928) Gustav Brenner
21Wenn die Schwalben Heimwarts Ziehn
... aka Der Fremdenlegionar
 (1928) Martin Frey, Fremdenlegionär
22Eva and the Grasshopper (1929) ?
23Asphalt (1929) Wachtmeister Albert Holk
24Brennende Herz, Das (1929) Georg Wittig, Komponist
25Hochverrat
... aka High Treason 		(1929) Wassili Gurmai, Student
26Brand in der Oper (1930) Richard Faber, Sekretär
27Unsterbliche Lump, Der
... aka Immortal Vagabond, The		 (1930) Hans Ritter, Komponist
28Zwei Menschen (1930) Junker Rochus
29Heilige Flamme, Die
... aka Sacred Flame, The		 (1931) Walter Taylor
30Kismet (1931) Kalif + Reisebegleiter
31Liebeslied (1931) Heinrich Brandt, Musiker
32Solang' Noch Ein Walzer Vom Strauß Erklingt (1931) Johann Strauß, Sohn
33Liebeskommando
(1931) Oberleutnant Ritter von Lorenz
34Mein Leopold (1931) Rudolf Starke, Werkführer
35Voruntersuchung
... aka Inquest
...aka Autour D'Une Enquete		 (1931) Fritz Bernt, Student
36GLORIA (1931) Georg Köhler, Pilot
37Unter Falscher Flagge
 (1932) Hauptmann Herbert Frank
38Kaiserwalzer
 (1932) ?
39Gitta Entdeckt Ihr Herz
 (1932) Peter, Komponist
40Mann mit Herz, Ein (1932) Paul Ritter, Bankangestellter
41Ein Lied, Ein Kuss, Ein Madel
 (1932) Peter Franke, Fabrikant
42Ich Will Nicht Wissen, Wer Du Bist
 (1932) Robert Lindt
43Verliebte Firma, Die
 (1932) Werner Loring Jr.
44Nacht der Grossen Liebe, Die
 (1933) Holger Rhon, Oberleutnant z. See
45Rund Um Eine Million
 (1933) Léon Saval, Angestellter
46Was Frauen Träumen
... aka What Women Dream		 (1933) Walter König, Angestellter
47Sonnenstrahl
... aka Gardez le sourire (French title)		 (1933) Hans/Jean Durand
48*Rakoczy-Marsch
... aka Rákóczi induló		 (1933) Oberleutnant Tarjan
49Flüchtling von Chicago, Der (1934) Michael Nissen
50*Abenteuer eines jungen Herrn in Polen
... aka Gefährliches Abenteuer, Ein
... aka Reiterlied
 (1934) Leutnant von Koller
51STRADIVARI (1935) Sándor Teleki
52BARCAROLE (1935) Eugen Colloredo, Globetrotter
53Ein Teufelskerl (1935) Bobby Tompson, Leutnant
54Liebesleute (1935) Hermann von Goven
55Oberwachtmeister Schwenke (1935) Willi Schwenke, Oberwachtmeister
56Es flüstert die Leibe (1935) Peter von Ronai, Gutsbesitzer
57Nacht der Verwandlung (1935) Frank Cornelius, Flieger
58Inkognito (1936) Severin Matthias
59Stunde der Versuchung, Die (1936) Dr. Leutters, Rechtsanwalt
60Entführung, Die (1936) Gerhard Frehel, Tiefseeforscher
61Stadt Anatol (1936) Ing. Jacques Gregor
62Gleisdreieck (1936) Hans Scheffler, U-Bahn-Beamter
63Unmögliche Frau, Die (1936) Heinz Wiegand, Ingenieur
64Gabriele: eins, zwei, drei (1937) Ing. Brack
65Alarm in Peking (1937) Oberleutnant Brock
66Es Leuchten Die Sterne (1937) Himself (er selbst)
67Kleine und die große Liebe, Die
... aka Minor Love and the Real Thing		 (1938) Dr. Alexander Bordam
68Frau Sixta (1938) Markus, Major a. D.
69In Geheimer Mission (1938) Jan Jenssen, Steuermann
70Renate Im Quartett (1939) Kurt Kielmannsdorf
71Alarm auf Station III (1939) Arne Kolk, Zollwachtmeister
72Ihr Privatsekretär (1940) Bert Kiepergaß
73Herz - modern möbliert (1940) Thomas Ostenhoff
74Herz geht vor Anker (1940) Fritz Ullmann, Steuermann
75Alles Schwindel (1940) Graf Peter von Asfeld
76Sechs Tage Heimaturlaub (1940) ?
77Clarissa (1941) Lutz Bornhoff, Bankangestellter
78Sechs Tage Heimaturlaub (1941) Werner Holt, Unteroffizier
79Große König, Der (1942) Treskow, Feldwebel
80Mit den Augen Einer Frau (1942) Paul v. Detky, Schriftsteller
81Tolle Nacht (1943) Peter
82Familie Buchholz (1944) Dr. Franz Wrenzchen
83Neigungsehe (1944) Dr. Franz Wrenzchen
84Grosse Preis, Der (1944) Ing. Westhoff
85Konzert, Das (1944) Dr. Jura, Wissenschaftler
86Alltägliche Geschichte, Eine
... aka Alltägliche Geschichte 		(1945) Bernd Falkenhagen, Schriftsteller
87Grosse Fall, Der (1945) Fred Merkl, Detektiv
88*Leb Wohl Christina (1945) ?
89Sag Die Wahrheit (1946) Peter Hellmer
90*Wege im Zwielicht
... aka Paths in Twilight		 (1948) Der Bürgermeister
91Verlorene Gesicht, Das (1948) Dr. Thomas Martin
92Diese Nacht Vergess Ich Nie (1949) Dr. Paul Schröter
93**Bagnostrafling, Der
... aka Prisoner, The		 (1949) N/A
94Dieser Mann Gehort Mir (1949) Dr. Wilhelm Löhnefink
95Sünderin, Die
... aka Sinner, The		 (1951) Alexander, Maler
96*Lüge, Die (1951) N/A
97Stips (1951) Dr. Klaus Michael Dirkhoff, Oberlehrer
98*Torreani (1951) Erich Holsten, Artist
99Abenteuer in Wien
... aka Gefährliches Abenteuer/Stolen Identity
... aka Ich war Jack Mortimer 		(1952) Toni Sponer, Taxichauffeur
100Haus des Lebens ... aka House of Life (1952) Dr. Peter Haidt
101Von der Liebe Reden Wir Später (1953) Jonny Pitter, Schriftsteller
102Ehe Für Eine Nacht (1953) Pedro Hoppe
103Rosen aus dem Süden (1954) ulien de Costa, Militärattaché
104Kleine Stadt Will Schlafen Gehen, Die (1954) Peter Bruck, Bildhauer
105Ball der Nationen (1954) Percy Buck, Reporter
106Der Erste Fruhlingstag (1954) Paul Frank, Bildhauer
107*Seine Tochter ist der Peter (1955) N/A
108Vergiss, Wenn Du Kannst (1956) Prof. Dr. Georg Sudeny
109Das gab's nur einmal (1958) Himself
110...Und Keiner Schamte Sich (1960) Dr. Karl Lebrecht, Regierungsrat
111Der Neue Talar (TV Film) (1961) ?
112Die Dubarry (TV Film) (1963) ?
113Kriminalmuseum - Die Frau im Nerz (TV Film) (1963) ?
114Laubenkolonie (TV Play) (1968) ?
115Der Lachende Apfel (TV Play) (1976) ?
116Schicht in Weiss (1976) ?
117Peter Alexander: Wir Gratulieren (TV Show) (1979) ?
118Pommi Stern (TV Film) (1981) ?
119Die Laurents (Television Series) (1981) ?
120Die Schonsten Melodien Der Welt (TV Show) (1982) ?
121Komodianten. Szenen Aus Dem Lachkabinett des Deutschen Films (TV Film) (1982) ?
* Stared and Directed ** Only Directed

This is the list I've compiled so far, with a big help from
THE INTERNET MOVIE DATABASE
and Movie Line


Miscellaneous Facts:

  • He was an Aries.
  • He lived in Locarno, Italy at one time.
  • He married the famous Hungarian opera singer Gitta Alpar in 1932.
  • He had one daughter with Gitta Alpar named Julika.
  • He married again in 1940 to Maria Hajek.
  • He passed away on December 22, 1987, in Lugano, Switzerland. :o(

Click here to view a collection of random Gustav photos.

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This site was last updated on August 18, 2006.