Dobry vojak Svejk (1955)
Because of his brilliant puppet animations, Czech puppeteer and stop-motion film-maker Jiří Trnka (1912-1969) was called ‘the Walt Disney of Eastern Europe’. For Dobry vojak Svejk/The Good Soldier...
View ArticleBarbara Frey
German actress Barbara Frey (1941) was as a 16 year old chosen to play the lead opposite Horst Buchholz in the romantic teenage drama Endstation Liebe/Last Stop Love (1958). After her debut she took...
View ArticleLili Beck
Danish actress Lili Beck or Lili Bech (1883-1939) was the leading lady of many early Swedish films directed by Mauritz Stiller and Victor Sjöström. Swedish postcard by Svenska Biografteatern. Photo:...
View ArticleSerge Gainsbourg
French singer and composer Serge Gainsbourg (1928-1991) was one of the most important figures in French pop music, renowned for provocative and scandalous releases as Je t'aime... moi non plus, as well...
View ArticleSéverin-Mars
French actor Séverin-Mars (1873-1921) had a very short film career, but he played in two masterpieces by innovative film pioneer Abel Gance: the First World War drama J'accuse! (1919), and the epic and...
View ArticleJean Kent (1921-2013)
On 30 November, British film star Jean Kent (1921-2013) passed away. The strawberry-blonde actress played good time girls, mean sluts and femmes fatales in the enormously popular Gainsborough...
View ArticleChris Howland (1928-2013)
In the night of 30 November, British entertainer Chris Howland (1928-2013) died. He played the comic sidekick in Winnetou I, and other Karl May films. After the war, Howland became Germany’s first...
View ArticleSinterklaas (Saint Nicholas)
It's 5 December, Saint Nicholas' eve! Saint Nicholas or Sinterklaas is a Dutch character comparable to Santa Claus in English-speaking countries. Sinterklaas is his usual name. He is celebrated...
View ArticleLyda Borelli
Today, it's Postcard Friendship Friday on the net. A weekly event in which postcard blogs present themselves. Start at Beth's blog with the great title The Best Hearts Are Crunchy, and enjoy some rare...
View ArticleL'empereur des pauvres (1921)
The French silent film serial L'empereur des pauvres/The Emperor of the poor (René Leprince, 1921) was produced by Pathé Frères Consortium. It was an adaptation of the epic novel by Felicien Champsaur....
View ArticleGianni Morandi
Italian pop singer and entertainer Gianni Morandi (1944) reportedly sold more than 30 million recordings and appeared in 18 films. In 1970, he represented Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest with...
View ArticleHannelore Schroth
German actress Hannelore Schroth (1922-1987) made her film debut at the age of nine and a long and successful career in both theatre and cinema followed. She starred in Unter den Brücken (1945), one of...
View ArticleDjango Reinhardt
Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt (1910-1953) was one of the first prominent European jazz musicians. His fret hand was severely burned and disfigured and caused his unique style of playing. He...
View ArticleHappy birthday, Jean-Louis Trintignant!
Today is the birthday of Jean-Louis Trintignant (1930), one of the most talented and recognisable French actors of the post-war era. He showed a special talent for troubled characters like murderers or...
View ArticleKees Brusse (1925–2013)
On 9 December Dutch actor and film director Kees Brusse (1925–2013) has passed away. Brusse appeared in over 50 films and TV films since 1936. He starred in the film Dokter Pulder zaait papavers/Doctor...
View ArticleDaniel Olbrychski
Today, it's Postcard Friendship Friday on the net. A weekly event in which postcard blogs present themselves. Start at Beth's blog with the great title The Best Hearts Are Crunchy, and enjoy some rare...
View ArticleAttila (1918)
An early version of the Peplum, the Italian sword and sandal epic, was the silent Ambrosio production Attila (1918) by Febo Mari. The director himself starred as the ruthless Attila the Hun.Italian...
View ArticleEl Cordobés
In the 1960s, the legendary matador El Cordobés (1936) brought a flamboyant, daring style to the bullring. With $3 million dollar per year in his heyday, he was the most highly paid torero in history....
View ArticlePeter O'Toole (1932-2013)
British actor Peter O'Toole died on Saturday 14 December. The golden-haired, blue-eyed film actor became an international superstar with his unforgettable turn as the British expatriate T.E. Lawrence...
View ArticleWinfried Glatzeder
Tall and lean Winfried Glatzeder (1945) was one of the most popular film stars of former East Germany. He played the charming, gawky Paul in the GDR cult-film Die Legende von Paul und Paula/The Legend...
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