Engel was born in Hamburg, where later he studied at the School of Applied Arts. After finishing there he worked briefly as a journalist, then learnt acting at the Thalia Theatre in Hamburg, after which he spent several years with a touring theatre company.
In 1930 Engel also began directing films, but in order to avoid being commissioned to make propaganda films for the National Socialists he concentrated on comedies, characterised by their irony and wit. Among the principal actors in his early films were Jenny Jugo in Fünf von der Jazzband (1932), Gustav Waldau in Unser Fräulein Doktor (1940) and Otto Gebühr in Viel Lärm um Nixi (1942). In this period he worked closely with Theo Mackeben as composer and musical director. He was also engaged as theatrical director at the Berliner Deutsche Theater.
In Vienna in 1935 he produced the film ... nur ein Komödiant, with Rudolf Forster in a double role. Set in the 18th century, this film was opposed to militarism and authoritarianism, as is recognisable inter alia in the scene when a military officer refuses an order to fire indiscriminately on a crowd of rebellious peasants. Probably because of the film's period setting, which seems to have veiled its political stance, it was passed by both the Austrian and the German censors.
During the National Socialist period Engel made numerous films for UFA. After World War II he became the director of the Münchner Kammerspiele, but from 1949 lived and worked in the DDR. Among other pieces he directed for DEFA in 1948 the film Affäre Blum and in 1951 Kommen Sie am Ersten with Inge Meysel.
As senior director in Brecht's Berliner Ensemble Engel returned to the Theater am Schiffbauerdamm, where after the death of Brecht he directed the premiere in 1957 of the Leben des Galilei with the choreographer Jean Soubeyran.
He died in Berlin in 1966 and is buried in the Dorotheenstadt burial ground near the graves of Bertolt Brecht and Heinrich Mann.
Thomas Engel
His son Thomas Engel (1922-2015) was also a director (for among others the ARD, for whom he produced the television series Tatort) and screenplay writer. Father and son co-directed the film Annaluise and Anton (1953).
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For the German entomologist see Erich Otto Engel Not to be confused with Erich Engels Erich Gustav Otto Engel 14 February 1891 10 May 1966 was a German film and theatre director 1 Erich Engel in 1962 Grave of Erich Engel in the Dorotheenstadt burial ground in Berlin Contents 1 Biography 2 Thomas Engel 3 Selected filmography 4 Notes 5 External linksBiography EditEngel was born in Hamburg where later he studied at the School of Applied Arts After finishing there he worked briefly as a journalist then learnt acting at the Thalia Theatre in Hamburg after which he spent several years with a touring theatre company In 1917 and 1918 Engel was the dramaturgist in the Deutsches Schauspielhaus and later in the Hamburger Kammerspiele After a short engagement with the Bayerische Staatstheater in Munich he moved in 1924 to Berlin At the Deutsche Theater he produced among other pieces Bertolt Brecht s Im Dickicht der Stadte and soon became one of the foremost interpreters of Brecht s works on the German stage His breakthrough came with Brecht s Dreigroschenoper the premiere of which he produced opening on 31 August 1928 in the Theater am Schiffbauerdamm Berlin In 1930 Engel also began directing films but in order to avoid being commissioned to make propaganda films for the National Socialists he concentrated on comedies characterised by their irony and wit Among the principal actors in his early films were Jenny Jugo in Funf von der Jazzband 1932 Gustav Waldau in Unser Fraulein Doktor 1940 and Otto Gebuhr in Viel Larm um Nixi 1942 In this period he worked closely with Theo Mackeben as composer and musical director He was also engaged as theatrical director at the Berliner Deutsche Theater In Vienna in 1935 he produced the film nur ein Komodiant with Rudolf Forster in a double role Set in the 18th century this film was opposed to militarism and authoritarianism as is recognisable inter alia in the scene when a military officer refuses an order to fire indiscriminately on a crowd of rebellious peasants Probably because of the film s period setting which seems to have veiled its political stance it was passed by both the Austrian and the German censors During the National Socialist period Engel made numerous films for UFA After World War II he became the director of the Munchner Kammerspiele but from 1949 lived and worked in the DDR Among other pieces he directed for DEFA in 1948 the film Affare Blum and in 1951 Kommen Sie am Ersten with Inge Meysel Later films that he made for DEFA included Geschwader Fledermaus 1958 in which he opposed the French colonial war in Vietnam For his many DEFA productions he received the Nationalpreis der DDR However he also directed in West Germany for Artur Brauner As senior director in Brecht s Berliner Ensemble Engel returned to the Theater am Schiffbauerdamm where after the death of Brecht he directed the premiere in 1957 of the Leben des Galilei with the choreographer Jean Soubeyran He died in Berlin in 1966 and is buried in the Dorotheenstadt burial ground near the graves of Bertolt Brecht and Heinrich Mann Thomas Engel EditHis son Thomas Engel 1922 2015 was also a director for among others the ARD for whom he produced the television series Tatort and screenplay writer Father and son co directed the film Annaluise and Anton 1953 Selected filmography EditMysterien eines Frisiersalons 1923 co director with Bert Brecht with Karl Valentin Blandine Ebinger Carola Neher and Max Schreck Love Is the Power of Women 1924 with Fern Andra Who Takes Love Seriously 1931 with Jenny Jugo and Max Hansen Five from the Jazz Band 1932 with Jenny Jugo Inge and the Millions 1933 with Brigitte Helm and Paul Wegener Hard Luck Mary 1934 with Jenny Jugo The Secret of Cavelli Austria 1934 with Rudolf Forster and Hans Moser nur ein Komodiant Austria 1935 with Rudolf Forster Christl Mardayn Hilde von Stolz Paul Wegener Pygmalion 1935 with Jenny Jugo Gustaf Grundgens and Kathe Haack The Night With the Emperor 1936 with Jenny Jugo and Paul Henckels A Wedding Dream 1936 with Ida Wust Theo Lingen Ferdinand Marian Victoria in Dover 1936 with Jenny Jugo Paul Henckels and Erik Ode Dangerous Game 1937 The Muzzle 1938 with Elisabeth Flickenschildt Paul Henckels and Will Quadflieg based on the novel by Heinrich Spoerl A Hopeless Case 1938 with Jenny Jugo Karl Ludwig Diehl Axel von Ambesser Hotel Sacher 1939 with Willy Birgel and Wolf Albach Retty Our Miss Doctor 1940 Nanette 1940 with Jenny Jugo and Hans Sohnker Much Ado About Nixi 1942 Sommerliebe 1942 with O W Fischer Altes Herz wird wieder jung 1943 with Emil Jannings and Viktor de Kowa Es lebe die Liebe 1944 with Lizzi Waldmuller and Johannes Heesters Wo ist Herr Belling 1945 with Emil Jannings Journey to Happiness 1948 with Kathe Dorsch Rudolf Forster and Hildegard Knef Blum Affair East Germany 1948 with Hans Christian Blech Paul Bildt and Gisela Trowe The Beaver Coat East Germany 1949 with Fita Benkhoff Werner Hinz and Kathe Haack based on an original work by Gerhart Hauptmann Das seltsame Leben des Herrn Bruggs de West Germany 1951 with Gustav Knuth Under the Thousand Lanterns West Germany 1952 with Inge Meysel Rene Deltgen and Gisela Trowe The Merry Vineyard West Germany 1952 with Gustav Knuth Camilla Spira and Willy Reichert based on an original work by Carl Zuckmayer Consul Strotthoff West Germany 1954 Du bist die Richtige West Germany 1955 Before God and Man West Germany 1955 Love Without Illusions West Germany 1955 with Sonja Ziemann and Curd Jurgens Geschwader Fledermaus East Germany 1958 Notes Edit He is often confused with another German film director called Erich Engels who specialised in comedy and crime films External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Erich Engel Erich Engel in the German National Library catalogue Erich Engel at IMDb Thalia Theatre Hamburg in German film zeit de biography in German Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Erich Engel amp oldid 1131743226, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
