Franciska Gaal

Franciska Gaal (born Franciska Silberspitz, 1 February 1903 – 13 August 1972) was a Hungarian cabaret artist and film actress of Jewish heritage. Gaal starred in a popular series of European romantic comedies during the 1930s. After attracting interest in Hollywood she moved there and made three films.

Early years Born in Budapest, Gaal was the last of the 13 children of a Jewish family. She studied at the Stage Academy in Budapest in 1919, and by 1920, she appeared in theaters in this city.

Early career Gaal debuted in film in (1919).

Later life She returned to Hungary in 1940 and remained there for the duration of World War II.

In 1946, she began work on the Soviet-backed Renee XIV with Johannes Heesters and Theo Lingen, but filming was halted during production and never was completed. She returned to the United States in 1947 with her husband Francis de Dajkovich (died in 1965), a Budapest-born attorney, In 1951, she replaced Eva Gabor in The Happy Time on Broadway.

Death Gaal died of thrombosis in New York City.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes1920 A bostonville-i kaland 1921 New-York express kábel Reporter A cornevillei harangok Serpolette, cselédlány 1932 Paprika Ilona von Takacs 1933 Greetings and Kisses, Veronika Veronika Scandal in Budapest Eva Balogh Romance in Budapest Eva Balogh 1934 A Precocious Girl Lucie Carell, nicknamed Csibi Spring Parade Marika Peter 17-year old Eva 1935 Little Mother Marie Bonnard 1936 Catherine the Last Katharina, Küchenmädchen Fräulein Lilli Fräulein Lilli 1938 The Buccaneer Gretchen The Girl Downstairs Katerina Linz 1939 Paris Honeymoon Manya 1946 Renee XIV uncompleted