Veidt’s German, American And English Career

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 175, 27 July 1938, Page 11

Veidt’s German, American And English Career

CO-STARRED WITH AfNNABELLA IN 4 4 THE RED ROBE” (Meteor: Screening Friday.) Conrad Veint, one of tlio greatest actors Europe lias known in recent years, has had three screen careers —one in his own native Germany, one in Hollywood, and now a third, in England, whence comes “Under the Red Robe,” in which he is costarred with Anuabeila.

It was only natural that, like other great figures of the German screen— F. W. Murnau, Ernst Lubitscli, Emil Jannings, Lotliar Meudes, and otter Veidt should finally succumb to the lure of Hollywood. What clinched his decision was an invitation from John Barrymore to appear with him in ‘ ‘ The Beloved Rogue.” His performance was such that Hollywood companies fought for his services. He signed with one company and made several films, in one of which “The Man Who Laughs,” he play a character whose features were fixed in a grotesque laugh, Veidt’s performance in that being acclaimed as one of the most remarkable achievements ever known on the screen.

Then came talkies. Veidt's second career was finished. Hollywood could not use him—his English was not good enough. So back he went to Berlin and the stage. Again he was a great success, and again pictures claimed him time German talkies. W'hen foreignlanguage versions became the craze, Veidt went to England to play German versions of English films, perfecting his English at the same time for use in the future. In “Congress Dances,’’ made in Germany V eidt for the first time did the English version as well as the German, and came back on the international film map.