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Pál Jávor (actor)

February 15, 2024

The native form of this personal name is Jávor Pál. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.

Pál Jávor (31 January 1902 – 14 August 1959) was a Hungarian actor, and the country's first male movie star.[1]

Pál Jávor
Actor Pál Jávor on a Danube boat with the Chain Bridge in the background. Fortepan (1940)
Born(1902-01-31)31 January 1902
Arad, Kingdom of Hungary (today in Romania)
Died14 August 1959(1959-08-14) (aged 57)
Budapest, Hungary
Resting placeFarkasréti Cemetery, Budapest, Hungary
OccupationActor
SpouseOlga Landesmann (1934-1984)

Life edit

Early years edit

Pál Jávor (born Pál Jermann) was born 31 January 1902 in Arad to Pál Jermann, a 53-year-old cashier and Katalin Spannenberg, a 17-year-old servant-maiden. His parents, who only married after his birth, had 3 children to care for, which made life hard for the family, who moved often. His mother later opened a grocery store in Arad's Kossuth street. Jávor was a student in a state operated gymnasium, but often played truant to see movies in the town's two theatres. From very early on, he wanted to break away from his homeland, and from the simple life his mother wished for him.

During World War I, he ran away to serve on the front as a courier. He was caught and transported back months later by military police. In 1918, after the Romanian occupation, having worked as a junior reporter for the Aradi Hírlap, he chose not to take the oath of allegiance of the new state, and set out to emigrate to Denmark, so he could act in the Danish movies he idolized. As the state offered free train tickets to anyone who wished to leave the country, he willingly chose exile from Romania, but his ticket was revoked in Budapest.[why?]

Theatre life edit

Jávor, now seeking to gain fame in the Hungarian capital, went to study in the Academy of Drama. Living in great poverty, and expelled from the academy for unknown reasons, he earned his degree in the Actor's Guild school, in 1922. Jávor acted in various theatres in Budapest, Székesfehérvár and several other small towns, but his dissolute lifestyle made him hard to work with. After being banned from the Guild in 1926, he acted in small roles around the country, and later in Budapest, helped by mentors from the theatrical world, and slowly waking the interest of the critics. He was a member of the Vígszínház between 1930 and 1935, and the National Theatre between 1935 and 1944.

Becoming a movie star edit

The opportunity to appear in movies first came in 1929, when he starred in Csak egy kislány van a világon, what was to be the last Hungarian silent film. Ironically, this was also the first one to feature voice, as technicians got hold of the technology by the last days of shooting. This allowed Jávor to sing a song in one of the scenes, which, combined with the charm and temperament that became his later trademark, secured him firm employment in the country's waking film industry. He took the lead role in the first Hungarian movie with sound, Kék Bálvány, and a smaller one in the second, Hyppolit, a lakáj, which became the first real hit among the public.

Jávor quickly became an idol of the 30s, appearing in numerous movies, but also remained popular on stage. The sudden fame weighed heavily on the young actor, leading to him returning to alcohol, and to frequent clashes with co-workers and the then-powerful newspaper owners, resulting in numerous scandals. His life was eased when he met and, in 1934, married Olga Landesmann, a Jewish widow with two children, who provided him with a welcoming home and family.

During the war edit

After 1940, World War II slowly became the part of life for Hungarian citizens and the theatre world alike, working conditions became increasingly harsher, which Jávor could hardly bear. Being anxious about the regulation of the theatre, and the defaming of fellow actors, he often clashed with superiors. Charged with making unlawful political comments, he became the target of the Gestapo. After hiding in Balatonfüred and Agárd, he returned to Budapest, thinking that the danger of arrest was over. After another quarrel with the Actor's Guild's manager, the Guild suspended him from practicing the profession, and also banned his movies.

After the German invasion of Hungary, he was arrested by Arrow party members. Jávor was first held in the prison of Sopronkőhida under dire conditions, then transported to Germany. After being liberated by Allied forces, he awaited for the end of the war in Tann and Pfarrkirchen. His confinement lasted over nine months, about which he wrote a recollection published in 1946.

After the war he found that the theatre world had largely rejected him, offering him only a few roles. The intellectual and cultural cleansing of the new Communist government leaving him virtually no possibilities. Between July and August, 1946, Jávor made a successful tour of Romania, and then on 15 October, answering several calls, travelled to the United States.

Living in the United States edit

After arriving in the United States, he was met with great acclaim by the emigrant community, but despite this, he could only arrange small comedic and musical shows, which he found humiliating. Slowly sinking into depression and reaching again for alcohol, the quality of his shows also sank, emptying audience seats. While he thought about returning home, he received no encouraging news from Hungary, and the increasingly tense political situation also forced him to remain in the States. He traveled to Hollywood to seek film roles, but his limited English left him few possibilities. His best known Hollywood role is probably the small part of opera baritone Antonio Scotti in the hit film The Great Caruso (1951), starring Mario Lanza.

With humiliating castings and low ranking roles he found degrading, Jávor joined a touring group, performing Hungarian hit songs. Later he also worked part-time as a gatekeeper, and computer operator. During his 11 years in the US, Jávor met numerous difficulties, but also remembered joyful moments: he wrote numerous articles in American-Hungarian papers, and with his journalist ID he could visit movie theatres for free. Through a voluntary detoxication cure, he gave up alcohol-addiction, and befriended several emigrant artists living in the United States, including Sándor Márai.

Final years edit

In 1956, touring Israel with an occasional group, he learnt that he could finally go home - which he did in 1957, awaited by friends, and jobs in the Jókai and Petőfi theatres. However, the years of hardships laid still fresh on Jávor, and several critics found his acting lacking. But his still living legend carried him on, making several successful appearances, and a movie deal.

But his health could not tolerate the high intensity life. While spending over one year in bed, the National Theatre re-hired him, and he was often visited by old friends, also resolving some grudges of the past. His state worsened and, after a seizure, he was transported to a Budapest hospital, where he died on 14 August 1959 from stomach cancer.[2] He was 57 years old

His burial was a theatrical ceremony, his coffin followed by tens of thousands of fans to the Farkasréti Cemetery.

Legacy edit

Pál Jávor is regarded as one of the most influential actors of Hungarian film, a widely recognized character of his era.

Filmography edit

References edit

  1. ^ Cunningham, John (2004). Hungarian Cinema: From Coffee House to Multiplex. Wallflower Press. pp. 39–51. ISBN 978-1-903364-79-6.
  2. ^ ""Fény és árnyék"". 6 March 2017.
  • Tibor, Bános. Jávor Pál. Budapest: Athaneum 2000 Kiadó, 2001. ISBN 963-9261-76-9.
  • [1] – Pál Jávor in the Hungarian Theatrical Lexicon (György, Székely. Magyar Színházművészeti Lexikon. Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1994. ISBN 978-963-05-6635-3), freely available on mek.oszk.hu

External links edit

  • Pál Jávor at IMDb

February 15, 2024
pál, jávor, actor, native, form, this, personal, name, jávor, pál, this, article, uses, western, name, order, when, mentioning, individuals, pál, jávor, january, 1902, august, 1959, hungarian, actor, country, first, male, movie, star, pál, jávoractor, pál, jáv. The native form of this personal name is Javor Pal This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals Pal Javor 31 January 1902 14 August 1959 was a Hungarian actor and the country s first male movie star 1 Pal JavorActor Pal Javor on a Danube boat with the Chain Bridge in the background Fortepan 1940 Born 1902 01 31 31 January 1902Arad Kingdom of Hungary today in Romania Died14 August 1959 1959 08 14 aged 57 Budapest HungaryResting placeFarkasreti Cemetery Budapest HungaryOccupationActorSpouseOlga Landesmann 1934 1984 Contents 1 Life 1 1 Early years 1 2 Theatre life 1 3 Becoming a movie star 1 4 During the war 1 5 Living in the United States 1 6 Final years 2 Legacy 3 Filmography 4 References 5 External linksLife editEarly years edit Pal Javor born Pal Jermann was born 31 January 1902 in Arad to Pal Jermann a 53 year old cashier and Katalin Spannenberg a 17 year old servant maiden His parents who only married after his birth had 3 children to care for which made life hard for the family who moved often His mother later opened a grocery store in Arad s Kossuth street Javor was a student in a state operated gymnasium but often played truant to see movies in the town s two theatres From very early on he wanted to break away from his homeland and from the simple life his mother wished for him During World War I he ran away to serve on the front as a courier He was caught and transported back months later by military police In 1918 after the Romanian occupation having worked as a junior reporter for the Aradi Hirlap he chose not to take the oath of allegiance of the new state and set out to emigrate to Denmark so he could act in the Danish movies he idolized As the state offered free train tickets to anyone who wished to leave the country he willingly chose exile from Romania but his ticket was revoked in Budapest why Theatre life edit Javor now seeking to gain fame in the Hungarian capital went to study in the Academy of Drama Living in great poverty and expelled from the academy for unknown reasons he earned his degree in the Actor s Guild school in 1922 Javor acted in various theatres in Budapest Szekesfehervar and several other small towns but his dissolute lifestyle made him hard to work with After being banned from the Guild in 1926 he acted in small roles around the country and later in Budapest helped by mentors from the theatrical world and slowly waking the interest of the critics He was a member of the Vigszinhaz between 1930 and 1935 and the National Theatre between 1935 and 1944 Becoming a movie star edit The opportunity to appear in movies first came in 1929 when he starred in Csak egy kislany van a vilagon what was to be the last Hungarian silent film Ironically this was also the first one to feature voice as technicians got hold of the technology by the last days of shooting This allowed Javor to sing a song in one of the scenes which combined with the charm and temperament that became his later trademark secured him firm employment in the country s waking film industry He took the lead role in the first Hungarian movie with sound Kek Balvany and a smaller one in the second Hyppolit a lakaj which became the first real hit among the public Javor quickly became an idol of the 30s appearing in numerous movies but also remained popular on stage The sudden fame weighed heavily on the young actor leading to him returning to alcohol and to frequent clashes with co workers and the then powerful newspaper owners resulting in numerous scandals His life was eased when he met and in 1934 married Olga Landesmann a Jewish widow with two children who provided him with a welcoming home and family During the war edit After 1940 World War II slowly became the part of life for Hungarian citizens and the theatre world alike working conditions became increasingly harsher which Javor could hardly bear Being anxious about the regulation of the theatre and the defaming of fellow actors he often clashed with superiors Charged with making unlawful political comments he became the target of the Gestapo After hiding in Balatonfured and Agard he returned to Budapest thinking that the danger of arrest was over After another quarrel with the Actor s Guild s manager the Guild suspended him from practicing the profession and also banned his movies After the German invasion of Hungary he was arrested by Arrow party members Javor was first held in the prison of Sopronkohida under dire conditions then transported to Germany After being liberated by Allied forces he awaited for the end of the war in Tann and Pfarrkirchen His confinement lasted over nine months about which he wrote a recollection published in 1946 After the war he found that the theatre world had largely rejected him offering him only a few roles The intellectual and cultural cleansing of the new Communist government leaving him virtually no possibilities Between July and August 1946 Javor made a successful tour of Romania and then on 15 October answering several calls travelled to the United States Living in the United States edit After arriving in the United States he was met with great acclaim by the emigrant community but despite this he could only arrange small comedic and musical shows which he found humiliating Slowly sinking into depression and reaching again for alcohol the quality of his shows also sank emptying audience seats While he thought about returning home he received no encouraging news from Hungary and the increasingly tense political situation also forced him to remain in the States He traveled to Hollywood to seek film roles but his limited English left him few possibilities His best known Hollywood role is probably the small part of opera baritone Antonio Scotti in the hit film The Great Caruso 1951 starring Mario Lanza With humiliating castings and low ranking roles he found degrading Javor joined a touring group performing Hungarian hit songs Later he also worked part time as a gatekeeper and computer operator During his 11 years in the US Javor met numerous difficulties but also remembered joyful moments he wrote numerous articles in American Hungarian papers and with his journalist ID he could visit movie theatres for free Through a voluntary detoxication cure he gave up alcohol addiction and befriended several emigrant artists living in the United States including Sandor Marai Final years edit In 1956 touring Israel with an occasional group he learnt that he could finally go home which he did in 1957 awaited by friends and jobs in the Jokai and Petofi theatres However the years of hardships laid still fresh on Javor and several critics found his acting lacking But his still living legend carried him on making several successful appearances and a movie deal But his health could not tolerate the high intensity life While spending over one year in bed the National Theatre re hired him and he was often visited by old friends also resolving some grudges of the past His state worsened and after a seizure he was transported to a Budapest hospital where he died on 14 August 1959 from stomach cancer 2 He was 57 years oldHis burial was a theatrical ceremony his coffin followed by tens of thousands of fans to the Farkasreti Cemetery Legacy editPal Javor is regarded as one of the most influential actors of Hungarian film a widely recognized character of his era Filmography editCsak egy kislany van a vilagon 1929 The Blue Idol 1931 Hyppolit a lakaj 1931 Miss Iza 1933 A bor 1933 The Rakoczi March 1933 Ida regenye 1934 Emmy 1934 Thanks for Knocking Me Down 1935 The Homely Girl 1935 The Students of Igloi 1935 Miss President 1935 I Can t Live Without Music 1935 The New Landlord 1935 Salary 200 a Month 1936 Half Rate Honeymoon 1936 Sister Maria 1937 Pay Up Madam 1937 A torockoi menyasszony 1937 All Men Are Crazy 1937 Viki 1937 Beauty of the Pusta 1937 Maga lesz a ferjem 1937 Marika 1937 Two Prisoners 1938 Number 111 1938 Young Noszty and Mary Toth 1938 Black Diamonds 1938 Bence Uz 1938 Stars of Variety 1939 Wedding in Toprin 1939 The Perfect Man 1939 Halalos tavasz 1939 Fuszer es csemege 1939 Jojjon elsejen 1940 Gul Baba 1940 Queen Elizabeth 1940 Danko Pista 1940 Yes or No 1940 Much Ado About Emmi 1940 Egy csok es mas semmi 1940 Mirage by the Lake 1940 A szerelem nem szegyen 1940 Flames 1941 Left Handed Angel 1941 Today Yesterday and Tomorrow 1941 Silent Monastery 1941 A Bowl of Lentils 1941 Three Bells 1941 Lelki klinika 1941 Eletre iteltek 1941 The Last Song 1942 The Talking Robe 1942 A Woman Looks Back 1942 Guard House Number 5 1942 Carmela 1942 Yellow Hell 1942 Estelyi ruha kotelezo 1942 Pista tekintetes ur 1942 opiumkeringo 1942 Keso 1943 The Marsh Flower 1943 Makrancos holgy 1943 Kerek Ferko 1943 The White Train 1943 Something in the Water 1944 Eva Szovathy 1944 A Plane Has Not Returned 1944 Madach 1944 The Schoolmistress 1945 The Great Caruso 1951 as Antonio Scotti Assignment Paris 1952 References edit Cunningham John 2004 Hungarian Cinema From Coffee House to Multiplex Wallflower Press pp 39 51 ISBN 978 1 903364 79 6 Feny es arnyek 6 March 2017 Tibor Banos Javor Pal Budapest Athaneum 2000 Kiado 2001 ISBN 963 9261 76 9 1 Pal Javor in the Hungarian Theatrical Lexicon Gyorgy Szekely Magyar Szinhazmuveszeti Lexikon Budapest Akademiai Kiado 1994 ISBN 978 963 05 6635 3 freely available on mek oszk huExternal links editArticle on Pal Javor from Nyugati Jelen Polgari Napilap 1 February 2002 Biography on szineszkonyvtar hu Pal Javor at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pal Javor actor amp oldid 1195068890, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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