Gustav Machatý

Gustav Machatý (9 May 1901 – 13 December 1963) was a Czech film director, screenwriter and actor. He directed films in Czechoslovakia, the United States, and Germany, including Erotikon and Ecstasy.

Life He was born Augustín Otokar Jan Machatý in Prague. His father was a real estate investor. Machatý didn't finish high school and started to work in movies as a teenager. He worked as a cinema pianist, actor, screenwriter, producer and art director.

He directed his first film Teddy by kouřil in 1919. In 1920 he moved to the US, worked for Universal Pictures and returned to Czechoslovakia in 1922. In 1929 he made a symbolist drama Erotikon, in 1931 a social drama From Saturday to Sunday and an adaptation of Karel Poláček's novel Načeradec, král kibiců and in 1933 his best known film Ecstasy.

Selected filmography Year Title Actor Director Screenwriter Notes 1919 Akord smrti 1919 Teddy by kouřilShort film 1919 Lady with the Small Foot 1927 The Kreutzer Sonata 1927 Schweik in Civilian Life 1929 Erotikon 1931 From Saturday to Sunday 1931 Načeradec, král kibiců 1933 Ecstasy Won Best Director in 2nd Venice Film Festival 1934 Nocturno 1936 Ballerine 1937 The Good Earth Uncredited 1937 Madame X Uncredited 1937 Conquest Uncredited 1938 The Wrong Way Out Short film 1939 Within the Law 1945 Jealousy 1955 Es geschah am 20. Juli 1955 Lost Child 312