Max Reinhardt was from an Austrian merchant family (surname officially changed from the family name Goldmann to Reinhardt in 1904), and even as a boy, after his family moved to Vienna, he haunted the "Hofburg Theater" and tried to see every play. In 1890 he studied at the Sulkowsky Theater in Matzleinsdorf and started acting in Vienna and later at...
With his direction for the movie "Eine venezianische Nacht" (14) followed his last cinematical for the time being. Afterwards he concentrated again to the theater.
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He already made his stage debut in 1890 at the small theater "Fürstlich Sulkowsky Privat-Theater" in Matzleinsdorf and there he chose his pseudonym Max Reinhardt.
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His milestones comprise the co-founding of the stage "Schall und Rauch" (01), the direction of the Neues Theaters (02-05), the direction of the Deutsches Theater from 1905, the foundation of the acting school of the Deutsches Theater in 1905, the direction of the Berliner Volksbühne (15-18), the foundation of the Grosses Schauspielhaus (19), the foundation of the Komödie am Kurfürstendamm (24) and the direction of the Theater an der Josefstadt (24-33).
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His sons, Wolfgang and Gottfried Reinhardt, were well-regarded film producers. One of his grandsons (by adoption), Stephen Reinhardt, is a labor lawyer who has served notably on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit since his appointment by Jimmy Carter in 1980. Another grandson, Michael Reinhardt is a successful fashion photographer.
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Max Reinhardt left Europe in 1937 and went to the USA for good. He founded the academy for theater and film called "Max Reinhardt Workshop" in Hollywood. Three years later he obtained the American citizenship.
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He shaped the German theater scene like no other before and many stage actors who worked for him became also famous actors in the film business.
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In face of his enormous contribution the the German theater it did not protect him from the arising National Socialism. In fact he got even offered to continue his work in Germany as a "special Aryan" but Max Reinhardt didn't want to work under the hunt against the Jews.
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Max Reinhardt found his real passion as a director of plays and manager of theaters. He founded several theaters, among them the famous Reinhard-Bühnen, which engaged the best of the best actors and actresses in Germany and Austria. His brother Bruder Edmund Reinhardt supported him as a manager. Max Reinhardt soon became a distinctive person of the German theater and he established new production styles and the use of the scenery.
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With the play "Das Mirakel" performed in London he managed the international breakthrough in the world of the theater. The movie (1912) was finished by the director Michel Carré.
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Reinhardt made two films, Die Insel der Seligen (Isle of the Blessed) and Eine venezianische Nacht (Venetian Nights), under a 4-picture contract for the German film producer Paul Davidson. Released in 1913 and 1914, respectively, both films received negative reviews from the press and public. The other two films called for in the contract were never made. Both films demanded much of cameraman Karl Freund because of Reinhardt's special shooting needs, such as filming a lagoon in moonlight. Isle of the Blessed attracted attention due to its erotic nature. Its ancient mythical setting included sea gods, nymphs, and fauns, and the actors appeared naked.
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Despite his passion for the theater Max Reinhardt did not have any resentments against the new arising film business.
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He was the most important German theater maker of the early 20th century.
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He began his professional career with a bank apprenticeship but he was already fascinated by the acting at that time that he took acting lessons despite his shyness.
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After a dog bite he suffered several strokes and died in 1943.
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Max Reinhardt founded the Salzburger festivals in 1920 with the play "Jedermann". He took over the guidance for the next 18 years. The festivals are still existing today and very popular.
$14 Million
