Alfred Abel

Alfred Peter Abel (12 March 1879 – 12 December 1937) was a German film actor, director, and producer. He appeared in more than 140 silent and sound films between 1913 and 1938. His best-known performance was as Joh Fredersen in Fritz Lang's 1927 film, Metropolis.

Early life Born in Leipzig on 12 March 1879, Alfred Peter Abel was the son of Louis Abel, a peddler, and Anna Maria Selma. Abel attempted to embark on a number of different careers before becoming an actor. In his early adulthood, he apprenticed with a forester and later abandoned a gardening apprenticeship in Saxon Mittweida. He subsequently underwent commercial training in hopes of having a career in business. A short study of art drafting then followed at the Leipzig Academy. During this time, Abel attended private acting classes.

Stage career Abel received his first acting job in the city of Lucerne, Switzerland. He continued acting in numerous theaters in the Lucerne canton, until he finally moved on to perform at the Baranowsky Theater in Berlin under the direction of Max Reinhardt. He quickly gained fame and was called to do several other acting jobs. where he remained for the next decade. By this point, he had performed in every theater in Berlin.

With the beginning of talkies, Abel remained a much desired actor and went on to star in 38 films. He worked with many renowned directors such as Detlef Sierck and Anatole Litvak. Some of his better-known sound films include Litvak's Dolly's Way to Stardom (1930) as Count Eberhard, Heinz Ruehmann's Meine Frau, die Hochstaplerin (1931), Reinhold Schuenzel's romance, Beautiful Adventure (1932) as Count d'Eguzon, and Franz Liszt's The Court Concert (1936) as Dichter Knips. Abel played the starring role of Sir John Menier in Alfred Hitchcock's Mary (1931), the German version of Hitchcock’s Murder! (1930). Abel's final film role was as Daffinger in Herbert Maisch's Frau Sylvelin (1938), which was not released until after his death.

Directing career At the beginning of the 1920s, Abel began considering a career as a director and created the production company Artifex Film. The company's only film was The Strike of the Thieves (1921), which Abel directed himself. The film was a box office failure. Abel did not direct again until 1929; Narcose is considered his most ambitious work.

Selected filmography

Eine Venezianische Nacht (1913) The Silent Mill (1914) Laugh Bajazzo (1915) The Vice (1915) The Confessions of the Green Mask (1916) Sinning Mother (1918) The Lady, the Devil and the Model (1918) Colomba (1918) Intoxication (1919) My Wife's Diary (1920) The Black Count (1920) The Woman Without a Soul (1920) The Secret of Bombay (1921) Sappho (1921) Nights of Terror (1921) Man Overboard (1921) Wandering Souls (1921) The Terror of the Red Mill (1921) The False Dimitri (1922) Phantom (1922) The Burning Soil (1922) The House of Molitor (1922) Bigamy (1922) Dr. Mabuse the Gambler (1922) The Vice of Gambling (1923) Poor Sinner (1923) The Flame (1923) The Grand Duke's Finances (1924) Dudu, a Human Destiny (1924) Playing with Destiny (1924) The Game of Love (1924) Man Against Man (1924) The Fire Dancer (1925) The Director General (1925) The Guardsman (1925) People to Each Other (1926) The Bank Crash of Unter den Linden (1926) Fadette (1926) Dancing Vienna (1927) Tragedy of a Marriage (1927) The Tragedy of a Lost Soul (1927) A Modern Dubarry (1927) The Vice of Humanity (1927) Metropolis (1927) - Johann (Joh) Fredersen Ariadne in Hoppegarten (1928) Who Invented Divorce? (1928) The Market of Life (1928) Princess Olala (1928) Strauss Is Playing Today (1928) L’Argent (1928) Marriage in Trouble (1929) My Heart is a Jazz Band (1929) Cagliostro (1929) Dolly Gets Ahead (1930) 1914 (1931) The Scoundrel (1931) Mary (1931) The Fate of Renate Langen (1931) My Wife, the Impostor (1931) The Office Manager (1931) The Trunks of Mr. O.F. (1931) Meine Frau, die Hochstaplerin (1931) The Beautiful Adventure (1932) Viennese Waltz (1932) Johnny Steals Europe (1932) The White Demon (1932) Viennese Waltz (1932) Spies at the Savoy Hotel (1932) The Burning Secret (1933) Bon Voyage (1933) The House of Dora Green (1933) Ways to a Good Marriage (1933) The Little Crook (1933) Manolescu, Prince of Thieves (1933) Love Conquers All (1934) Victoria (1935) Everything for a Woman (1935) The Court Concert (1936) A Strange Guest (1936) The Court Concert (1936) Game on Board (1936) Maria the Maid (1936) Seven Slaps (1937) Frau Sylvelin (1938)

Directorial work The Strike of the Thieves (1921) Narcose (1929) Bon Voyage (1933) Everything for a Woman (1935)