Skip to main content
Home
Published on filmportal.de (https://www.filmportal.de)

Richard Oswald

Weitere Namen
Richard W. Ornstein (Geburtsname)
Date of Birth
11/05/1880 - 12:00
Geburtsort
Wien, Österreich-Ungarn (heute Österreich)
Sterbedatum
09/11/1963 - 12:00
Sterbeort
Düsseldorf
Biography

Richard Oswald was born November 5, 1880 in Vienna. Son to a wealthy businessman, he pursued a career in the theatre, and from 1907 on, he was writing and directing plays in Vienna. After falling victim to Anti-Semitic attacks, he moved to Düsseldorf and worked as an stage actor. In 1911, he appeared in two films of Reinhard Bruck and subsequently established himself as a successful writer for the new medium with the crime caper "Der Hund von Baskerville".

In the wake of WWI, Oswald debuted as a director and his feature "Das eiserne Kreuz" marked the first of many encounters with state censorship. He was hired as a director and author by the Greenbaum-Film GmbH, where he continued his popular "Baskerville"-series. He created the character of German detective Engelbert Fox and directed "Hoffmans Erzählungen", which saw the screen debut of Werner Krauß.

In 1916, Oswald founded the Richard Oswald-Film-Gesellschaft, which produced and released literature adaptations and detective stories under the label "Das unheimliche Haus" (The Haunted House). Based on an idea by Lupu Pick, the feature "Es werde Licht!" became the first of Oswald's "Aufklärungsfilme" – films that explicitly deal with sex-oriented themes and intermingle genre entertainment with public education and socially and politically progressive agenda –, which would become his most successful as well as controversial asset over the next years. These films, which were frequently cast with daring actors like Anita Berber, Conrad Veidt, Werner Krauß and Reinhold Schünzel, included "Tagebuch einer Verlorenen", "Dida Ibsens Geschichte" and, most importantly, "Anders als die Anderen", the first motion picture ever to address and condemn the public defamation and prosecution of homosexuals.

Apart from these widely discussed works, Oswald also enjoyed success with more conventional works like "Jettchen Geberts Geschichte", "Die Arche" and "Lady Hamilton", a historical epic which played extremely well in foreign markets.

In 1919, Oswald expanded by opening the Richard-Oswald-Lichtspiele, his own movie theatre in Berlin. Following several flops, his production company had to cope with severe financial problems in the mid-1920s and eventually went bankrupt in 1926. Nevertheless, Oswald remained as busy as ever, producing and directing for other companies like Heinrich Nebenzahl's newly founded Nero Film.

Alternating between popular romps like "Wir sind vom K.uK. Infanterieregiment" and risk-taking dramas like "Feme", which was viciously attacked by the political right, Oswald almost effortlessly made the transition to sound film, his first talkie "Wien, du Stadt der Lieder" proving to be a big success.

Also he remained an expert in delivering entertaining film operettas, comedies and sentimental love stories, his lasting fame as a director in the sound era was again build on three features which expressed his other, far more challenging approach to filmmaking: "Dreyfus", an early court room drama taking on Anti-Semitism and socio-political hypocrisy; "1914-Die letzten Tage vor dem Weltbrand", which re-imagined the the circumstances leading to WWI and caused a censorship scandal, and "Der Hauptmann von Köpenick", a satirical adaptation of Carl Zuckmayer's famous play.

In 1933, the premiere of Oswald's music film "Ein Lied geht um die Welt", featuring Jewish star tenor Joseph Schmidt, was attended by the Nazi-Regime's new Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels. Still, among the first films to be banned in Nazi-Germany was Oswald's "Ganovenehre" and consequently, Oswald emigrated and finally arrived in the USA in 1930. Like many artists forced into exile, he had a hard time adapting to the Hollywood Studio System and could therefore never achieve the success he had experienced in Germany. One of the few projects he managed to realize was the con-man comedy "The Loveable Cheat", starring fellow emigrant Curt Bois and cinema legend Buster Keaton in minor parts.

While Richard Oswald dabbled in television, his old sound films were re-released in West-Germany. During his travels through Europe, Richard Oswald died in Düsseldorf on September 11, 1963. His son, Gerd Oswald (1919-1989), established himself successfully as a producer and director in Hollywood.

 
Filmography
1949
The Lovable Cheat
  • Director
  • Producer
1944
I Was a Criminal
  • Director
1940
Der ewige Jude. Dokumentarfilm über das Weltjudentum
  • Participation
1937/1938
Tempête sur l'Asie
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1936
Heut' ist der schönste Tag in meinem Leben
  • Director
  • Screenplay
1934
Bleeke Bet
  • Director
1933/1934
Wenn du jung bist, gehört dir die Welt
  • Creative supervisor
1933
Abenteuer am Lido
  • Director
1932/1933
Die Blume von Hawaii
  • Director
  • Producer
1933
Ein Lied geht um die Welt
  • Director
  • Producer
1932
Gräfin Mariza
  • Director
  • Producer
1932
Ganovenehre. Ein Film aus der Berliner Unterwelt
  • Director
  • Producer
1932
Unheimliche Geschichten
  • Director
  • Producer
1930/1931
Schuberts Frühlingstraum
  • Director
  • Producer
1931
Arm wie eine Kirchenmaus
  • Director
  • Producer
1931
Der Hauptmann von Köpenick
  • Director
  • Producer
1931
Viktoria und ihr Husar
  • Director
  • Producer
1929/1930
Alraune
  • Director
  • Producer
1930
Die zärtlichen Verwandten
  • Director
  • Producer
1930
Dreyfus
  • Director
  • Producer
  • Unit production manager
1930
Wien, du Stadt der Lieder
  • Director
  • Producer
  • Unit production manager
1930
Der Filmball 1930
  • Participation
1930
"1914". Die letzten Tage vor dem Weltbrand
  • Director
  • Producer
1929
Ehe in Not
  • Director
1929
Frühlings Erwachen. Eine Kindertragödie
  • Director
  • Producer
1929
Der Hund von Baskerville
  • Director
1928/1929
Cagliostro
  • Director
1929
Die Herrin und ihr Knecht
  • Director
1928
Villa Falconieri
  • Director
  • Producer
1927/1928
Die Rothausgasse
  • Director
  • Producer
1927/1928
Geächtet. Die Tragödie eines Homosexuellen
  • Director
1927
Dr. Bessels Verwandlung
  • Director
  • Producer
1927
Gesetze der Liebe
  • Director
1927
Feme
  • Director
  • Producer
1927
Gehetzte Frauen
  • Director
  • Producer
1926/1927
Lützows wilde verwegene Jagd
  • Director
  • Producer
1927
Funkzauber. Ein Volksstück von der Liebe und des Rundfunks Wellen
  • Director
  • Producer
1925
Vorderhaus und Hinterhaus
  • Director
  • Screenplay
1926
Im weißen Rößl
  • Director
  • Producer
1926
Wir sind vom K.u.K. Infanterie-Regiment
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1926
Dürfen wir schweigen?
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1926
Als ich wiederkam
  • Director
  • Producer
1926/1927
Eine tolle Nacht
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1925
Halbseide
  • Director
  • Screenplay
1925
Die Frau von vierzig Jahren
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1923/1924
Don Carlos und Elisabeth
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1924
Lumpen und Seide
  • Director
  • Producer
1922/1923
Paganini
  • Producer
1922/1923
Erdgeist
  • Producer
1922
Lucrezia Borgia
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1921/1922
Das Logierhaus für Gentlemen
  • Producer
1922
Die Dame und ihr Friseur
  • Producer
1921
Lady Hamilton
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1921
Das Haus in der Dragonergasse
  • Director
  • Producer
1920/1921
Die Liebschaften des Hektor Dalmore
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1921
Die goldene Pest
  • Producer
1920/1921
Ein Königsdrama
  • Director
  • Producer
1921
Dr. Gyllenborgs doppeltes Gesicht
  • Producer
1920
Die Geheimnisse von London. Die Tragödie eines Kindes
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1920
Das vierte Gebot
  • Director
  • Screenplay
1920
Manolescus Memoiren
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1920
Kurfürstendamm
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1920
Die Nacht auf Goldenhall
  • Producer
1919/1920
Der Reigen
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1919/1920
Nachtgestalten
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1919
Unheimliche Geschichten
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • based on
  • Producer
1919
Wahnsinn
  • Producer
1919
Kaiser Wilhelms Glück und Ende
  • Director (other)
1918/1919
Anders als die Andern
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1918/1919
Peer Gynts Jugend
  • Creative supervisor
  • Producer
1918/1919
Peer Gynts Wanderjahre und Tod
  • Creative supervisor
  • Producer
1918/1919
Die Prostitution, 1. Teil - Das gelbe Haus
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1919
Die Arche
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1919
Die letzten Menschen. Die Arche. 2. Teil
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1919
Der Tod des andern
  • Screenplay
1919
Die Prostitution, 2. Teil - Die sich verkaufen
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1918
Sündige Mütter (Strafgesetz § 218). Es werde Licht! 4. Teil
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1918
Das Tagebuch einer Verlorenen
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1918
Das Dreimäderlhaus. Schuberts Liebesroman
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1918
Henriette Jacoby
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1918
Jettchen Gebert
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1918/1919
Die Reise um die Erde in 80 Tagen
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1918
Es werde Licht! 3. Teil
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1918
Dida Ibsens Geschichte. Ein Finale zum "Tagebuch einer Verlorenen" von Margarete Böhme
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1917/1918
Das Perlenhalsband
  • Director
1917/1918
Rennfieber
  • Director
  • Producer
1918
Der lebende Leichnam
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1918
Die seltsame Geschichte des Baron Torelli
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1917/1918
Der ewige Zweifel
  • Director
1917/1918
Es werde Licht! 2. Teil
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1917
Hulda, die verloren gegangene Dame. Das unheimliche Haus 587. Teil
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1916/1917
Es werde Licht!
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1917
Königliche Bettler
  • Director
  • Producer
1917
Das Bildnis des Dorian Gray
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1917
Das Kainszeichen
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1917
Die Seeschlacht
  • Director
1917
Der Tod des Baumeisters Olsen
  • Producer
1917
Der Schloßherr von Hohenstein
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1917
Die zweite Frau
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1917
Des Goldes Fluch
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1917
Der Weg ins Freie
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1916
Das unheimliche Haus
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1916
Hoffmanns Erzählungen
  • Cast
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Unit production manager
1916
Freitag, der 13. Das unheimliche Haus. 2. Teil
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1916
Zirkusblut
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1916
Der chinesische Götze. Das unheimliche Haus. 3. Teil
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1916
Seine letzte Maske
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1916
Die Rache der Toten
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1915
Dämon und Mensch
  • Director
  • Screenplay
1915
Der Hund von Baskerville: Das unheimliche Zimmer
  • Director
  • Screenplay
1915
Die silberne Kugel
  • Director
  • Unit production manager
1915
Die verschleierte Dame
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Unit production manager
1915
Das Laster
  • Director
  • Screenplay
1915
Der Hund von Baskerville: Die Sage vom Hund von Baskerville
  • Director
  • Screenplay
1915
Der Fund im Neubau
  • Director
  • Screenplay
1915
Hampels Abenteuer
  • Director
  • Screenplay
1915
Und wandern sollst Du ruhelos
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Unit production manager
1915
Schlemihl
  • Director
  • Screenplay
1915
Die Goldfelder von Jacksonville
  • Screenplay
1915
So rächt die Sonne
  • Screenplay
1914
Die Geschichte der stillen Mühle
  • Director
  • Screenplay
1914
Detektiv Braun
  • Screenplay
1914
Ivan Koschula
  • Director
  • Screenplay
1914
Das eiserne Kreuz
  • Director
  • Screenplay
1914
Der Hund von Baskerville: Das einsame Haus
  • Screenplay
1914
Wollen Sie meine Tochter heiraten?
  • Screenplay
1914
Der Hund von Baskerville
  • Screenplay
1914
Sie kann nicht nein sagen
  • Screenplay
1914
Lache, Bajazzo!
  • Director
  • Screenplay
1914
Sein eigner Mörder
  • Screenplay
1911
Zouza
  • Cast
1911
Halbwelt
  • Cast
Source-URL: https://www.filmportal.de/en/person/richard-oswald_efc0caa3ebb603c1e03053d50b372d46