Johannes Guter (born Jānis Gūters; 25 April 1882 – 18 March 1962) was a Latvian-born German filmmaker, screenwriter, and occasional film producer. Although most of his work is now lost, he is considered a pioneer of German silent cinema and expressionism.[1]
Born in Riga, Governorate of Livonia, Russian Empire, Guter was educated at the Technical University in his home city and made a name for himself as a budding theatrical actor. After the Russian Revolution of 1905, he fled to Berlin in Germany, only to be arrested for the murder of a police officer when he returned to his homeland in 1907. In 1908, after bail was posted, he fled again before his trial, this time settling in Vienna. By 1910 he had directed his first play in Vienna, before moving to Frankfurt where he worked at the New Theatre as a director. In 1917 he was employed at the Hessian State Theatre in Wiesbaden and finally at the Trianon Theatre in Berlin.
At the Trianon Theatre, Guter was first introduced to contacts in the film industry. He directed his first silent movie The Diamond Foundation in 1917, starring his then girlfriend, and fellow Latvian, Marija Leiko. He followed this in 1918 with two more Stuart Webbs detective movies, The Ghost Hunt and Ein rätselhafter Blick, both starring Ernst Reicher in the lead.
In 1919 Guter formed his own production company, Centaurfilm, and in 1920 released Die Frau im Käfig (The Woman in the Cage) his only foray as a producer. In 1920 he signed a contract with Erich Pommer, and during the 1920s his films took on a more fantastical slant, but he also directed melodramas and comedies. His most significant release during this period was his 1925 film Der Turm des Schweigens (The Tower of Silence), which became the first of Guter's movies to be restored and was re-premier at the 2007 Berlin Film Festival. The 1920s also saw Guter directing films with some of Germany's most popular actors, including several films with Willy Fritsch: Blitzzug der Liebe (1925), Die Boxerbraut (1926) and Der Tanzstudent (1928). Despite his connection with the German film industry, Guter spent much of the 1920s living in Latvia, where he spent time attempting to build a Latvian film industry.
The 1930s saw a drop in the number of feature films directed by Guter, though he began directing an increasing number of film shorts, a venture he began in 1929 with Meister des weißen Sports bei bedeutenden Spielen. Guter also directed several cultural films during the 1930s, mainly for Universum Film AG. Between 1939 and 1940 he directed Tran and Helle comedy shorts, Nazi propaganda films which normally accompanied Die Deutsche Wochenschau cinema newsreels. Guter fell out of favour as a director in the 1940s, Ein fröhliches Haus (1944) starring Carla Rust and Rolf Weih, being the only notable production during the 1940s.
The majority of Guter's output is now considered 'lost', and although his work was mostly overlooked by subsequent generations, he is today considered one of the pioneers of early German Expressionist cinema.[2]
Personal history
Guter was first married to Latvian actress Mirdza Šmitchene and in 1919 he married opera singer Heidy Wilms.
^Nathan Southern. "Der Turm des Schweigens (1924)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
^Manvel, Sarah (26 December 2006). "The Tower of Silence". cinemattraction.com. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
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Johannes Guter born Janis Guters 25 April 1882 18 March 1962 was a Latvian born German filmmaker screenwriter and occasional film producer Although most of his work is now lost he is considered a pioneer of German silent cinema and expressionism 1 Johannes GuterBornJanis Guters 1882 04 25 25 April 1882Riga Russian EmpireDied18 March 1962 1962 03 18 aged 79 Greifswald GermanyOccupation s Film director film producer writerYears active1917 1944Spouse s Mirdza Smitchene Heidy Wilms from 1919 Contents 1 Film career 2 Personal history 3 Filmography 4 References 5 External linksFilm career EditBorn in Riga Governorate of Livonia Russian Empire Guter was educated at the Technical University in his home city and made a name for himself as a budding theatrical actor After the Russian Revolution of 1905 he fled to Berlin in Germany only to be arrested for the murder of a police officer when he returned to his homeland in 1907 In 1908 after bail was posted he fled again before his trial this time settling in Vienna By 1910 he had directed his first play in Vienna before moving to Frankfurt where he worked at the New Theatre as a director In 1917 he was employed at the Hessian State Theatre in Wiesbaden and finally at the Trianon Theatre in Berlin At the Trianon Theatre Guter was first introduced to contacts in the film industry He directed his first silent movie The Diamond Foundation in 1917 starring his then girlfriend and fellow Latvian Marija Leiko He followed this in 1918 with two more Stuart Webbs detective movies The Ghost Hunt and Ein ratselhafter Blick both starring Ernst Reicher in the lead In 1919 Guter formed his own production company Centaurfilm and in 1920 released Die Frau im Kafig The Woman in the Cage his only foray as a producer In 1920 he signed a contract with Erich Pommer and during the 1920s his films took on a more fantastical slant but he also directed melodramas and comedies His most significant release during this period was his 1925 film Der Turm des Schweigens The Tower of Silence which became the first of Guter s movies to be restored and was re premier at the 2007 Berlin Film Festival The 1920s also saw Guter directing films with some of Germany s most popular actors including several films with Willy Fritsch Blitzzug der Liebe 1925 Die Boxerbraut 1926 and Der Tanzstudent 1928 Despite his connection with the German film industry Guter spent much of the 1920s living in Latvia where he spent time attempting to build a Latvian film industry The 1930s saw a drop in the number of feature films directed by Guter though he began directing an increasing number of film shorts a venture he began in 1929 with Meister des weissen Sports bei bedeutenden Spielen Guter also directed several cultural films during the 1930s mainly for Universum Film AG Between 1939 and 1940 he directed Tran and Helle comedy shorts Nazi propaganda films which normally accompanied Die Deutsche Wochenschau cinema newsreels Guter fell out of favour as a director in the 1940s Ein frohliches Haus 1944 starring Carla Rust and Rolf Weih being the only notable production during the 1940s The majority of Guter s output is now considered lost and although his work was mostly overlooked by subsequent generations he is today considered one of the pioneers of early German Expressionist cinema 2 Personal history EditGuter was first married to Latvian actress Mirdza Smitchene and in 1919 he married opera singer Heidy Wilms Filmography EditThe Diamond Foundation 1917 The Ghost Hunt 1918 Ein ratselhafter Blick 1918 Kameraden 1919 Die Frau im Kafig 1919 also producer Eternal River 1920 Die Frau im Himmel 1920 also co writer Die Tophar Mumie Das Haupt des Juarez Weib und Palette 1921 also writer The Thirteen of Steel 1921 also co writer The Black Panther 1921 also co writer Circus of Life 1921 Der Mord in der Greenstreet 1921 Lust for Life 1922 Barmaid 1922 also writer The Call of Destiny 1922 Princess Suwarin 1923 Leap Into Life 1924 The Tower of Silence 1924 Express Train of Love 1925 The Adventure of Mr Philip Collins 1925 The Boxer s Bride 1926 Die Konigin des Varietes 1927 Rhenish Girls and Rhenish Wine 1927 Grand Hotel 1927 Two Under the Stars 1927 At Ruedesheimer Castle There Is a Lime Tree 1928 Because I Love You Der Tanzstudent 1928 The Blue Mouse 1928 Meister des weissen Sports bei bedeutenden Spielen 1929 In Jena sind alle Madels so blond 1929 Eveline und ihr Rin Tin Tin 1929 Cafe Kalau 1929 2 Ungarische Rhapsodie 1929 Her Dark Secret 1929 Foolish Happiness 1929 Alte Kleider 1929 Once You Give Away Your Heart 1929 Die singenden Babies 1930 Donner Blitz und Regen 1930 Goldgraber in Rumanien 1931 The Wrong Husband 1931 Um eine Nasenlange 1931 Die Vier vom Bob 13 1932 The Triangle of Fire 1932 Rundfunk einst und jetzt 1932 Geigenzauber 1932 Wasche Waschen Wohlergehen 1932 Schuberts Lieder 1932 Wasch Gemakkelijk Wasch Voordelig 1933 Kannst Du pfeifen Johanna 1934 Miss Liselott 1934 Kampf um Kraft 1935 Die Heimat im Lied 1936 Don Kosaken Chor 1936 Aus der Schatzkammermusik 1936 Am Lagerfeuer 1936 Die Stadt der sieben Turme 1936 Kampf um Raum und Zeit 1937 Bojarenhochzeit 1937 Rheinland 1939 Twelve Minutes After Midnight 1939 In Sachen Herder contra Brandt 1939 Ein frohliches Haus 1944 References Edit Nathan Southern Der Turm des Schweigens 1924 Movies amp TV Dept The New York Times Archived from the original on 16 February 2013 Retrieved 18 January 2013 Manvel Sarah 26 December 2006 The Tower of Silence cinemattraction com Retrieved 18 January 2013 External links EditJohannes Guter at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Johannes Guter amp oldid 1111316215, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
