Lothar Mendes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Lothar Mendes (19 May 1894 – 25 February 1974) was a German-born screenwriter and film director. who began his career as an actor in Vienna and Berlin in Max Reinhardt's famous troupe. He went to America in the early 1920s and there he remained until 1933, directing more than a dozen features, mostly frothy comedies, while under contract to Paramount. His films included the last silent film made in America, The Four Feathers (1929) and the murder mystery Payment Deferred (1933) starring British expatriate Charles Laughton. After Hitler ascended to power, Mendes travelled to Britain in 1934 to work at Gaumont-British Pictures, directing films with Sir Michael Balcon producing. Under that banner, he directed Jew Süss (1934) starring one of Germany's most famous emigre actors, Conrad Veidt. Mendes' Jew Suss is not to be confused with the later Nazi film of the same title (1940) which is a Reich-made, virulently anti-Semitic film that deliberately contorted the exiled German-Jewish writer, Lion Feuchtwanger's original novel of the same name, on which Mendes' film was based. Mendes' 1934 film version of Feuchtwanger's novel received strong notices at the time, and was considered an important and early film in exposing the origins of the violent anti-semitism of the then-newly empowered Nazi Party; in particular, it was praised by Albert Einstein and the Jewish American leader, Rabbi Stephen Wise, who encouraged its distribution in ...
If I Had a Million (1932)
An elderly business tycoon, believed to be dying, decides to give a million dollars each to eight strangers chosen at random from the phone directory. (more)
An elderly business tycoon, believed to be dying, decides to give a million dollars each to eight strangers chosen at random from the phone directory. (more)
The Walls Came Tumbling Down (1946)
A PI investigates a priest's murder. (more)
A PI investigates a priest's murder. (more)
Interference (1928)
Paramount's first all-talking picture, Interference was dismally directed by Roy Pomeroy, whose lofty status as the studio's "technical wizard" did not necessarily qualify him to be a director. Evelyn Brent heads the cast as scheming Deborah Kane, who sets out to ... (more)
Paramount's first all-talking picture, Interference was dismally directed by Roy Pomeroy, whose lofty status as the studio's "technical wizard" did not necessarily qualify him to be a director. Evelyn Brent heads the cast as scheming Deborah Kane, who sets out to ... (more)
Ladies' Man (1931)
A society gigolo goes after a rich mother and her daughter, but tries to find true happiness with his girlfriend, who is neither rich nor in "society." (more)
A society gigolo goes after a rich mother and her daughter, but tries to find true happiness with his girlfriend, who is neither rich nor in "society." (more)
The Marriage Playground (1929)
A delightful pre-code cocktail recipe. Take three couples (add gin and tonic), their several divorces and the seven children/stepchildren of their intermarriages and blend thoroughly, and you have a mixture a too-young-to-believe Frederic March will try to ... (more)
A delightful pre-code cocktail recipe. Take three couples (add gin and tonic), their several divorces and the seven children/stepchildren of their intermarriages and blend thoroughly, and you have a mixture a too-young-to-believe Frederic March will try to ... (more)
Tampico (1944)
A story of of the captain of an oil tanker during World War II, Captain Bart Manson, who rescues Katherine Hall when her ship is sunk by a German U-boat. (more)
A story of of the captain of an oil tanker during World War II, Captain Bart Manson, who rescues Katherine Hall when her ship is sunk by a German U-boat. (more)
Jew Süss (1934)
A historical satire critical of the rising tide of Anti-Semitism in Germany. Based on the novel by Lionel Feuchtwanger, Jew Süss is the story of life in the 18th century Jewish ghetto of Württemberg. Süss (Veidt) works himself out of the ghetto and into a position ... (more)
A historical satire critical of the rising tide of Anti-Semitism in Germany. Based on the novel by Lionel Feuchtwanger, Jew Süss is the story of life in the 18th century Jewish ghetto of Württemberg. Süss (Veidt) works himself out of the ghetto and into a position ... (more)
Paramount on Parade (1930)
This 1930 film, a collection of songs and sketches showcasing Paramount Studios' contract stars, credits 11 directors (more)
This 1930 film, a collection of songs and sketches showcasing Paramount Studios' contract stars, credits 11 directors (more)
Flight for Freedom (1943)
A fictionalized biopic about aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. A female pilot breaks the Los Angeles to New York record and attracts the interest of the U.S. Navy, who want to send her on a spy mission. (more)
A fictionalized biopic about aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. A female pilot breaks the Los Angeles to New York record and attracts the interest of the U.S. Navy, who want to send her on a spy mission. (more)
Dangerous Curves (1929)
A young bareback rider in a circus is in love with a trapeze artist, but he has two problems: he drinks too much and he's fallen under the spell of a "vamp" who's nothing but trouble for him. (more)
A young bareback rider in a circus is in love with a trapeze artist, but he has two problems: he drinks too much and he's fallen under the spell of a "vamp" who's nothing but trouble for him. (more)
Moonlight Sonata (1937)
In this romantic tale Paderewski, the famed pianist, and two other plane crash survivors are guests of a Swedish baroness. Interwoven throughout this gentle and charming story are exquisite piano solos performed superbly by the elderly pianist, Paderewski. (more)
In this romantic tale Paderewski, the famed pianist, and two other plane crash survivors are guests of a Swedish baroness. Interwoven throughout this gentle and charming story are exquisite piano solos performed superbly by the elderly pianist, Paderewski. (more)
Payment Deferred (1932)
Bank clerk William Marble is desperate for money to pay his family's bills. When his wealthy nephew visits, Marble asks him for a loan, but the young man refuses. Marble decides to kill his nephew. It is a twisted path to justice after Marble is transformed by the ... (more)
Bank clerk William Marble is desperate for money to pay his family's bills. When his wealthy nephew visits, Marble asks him for a loan, but the young man refuses. Marble decides to kill his nephew. It is a twisted path to justice after Marble is transformed by the ... (more)
The Four Feathers (1929)
An Englishman (Richard Arlen) fights in the Sudan after receiving white feathers of cowardice from his fiancee (Fay Wray) and friends. (more)
An Englishman (Richard Arlen) fights in the Sudan after receiving white feathers of cowardice from his fiancee (Fay Wray) and friends. (more)
The Man Who Could Work Miracles
(1936)
An ordinary man, while vigorously asserting the impossibility of miracles, suddenly discovers that he can perform them. (more)
An ordinary man, while vigorously asserting the impossibility of miracles, suddenly discovers that he can perform them. (more)
Luxury Liner (1933)
This drama offers a few slices from the lives of those who live, work, and travel upon a luxurious trans-atlantic ocean liner. (more)
This drama offers a few slices from the lives of those who live, work, and travel upon a luxurious trans-atlantic ocean liner. (more)
Die drei Kuckucksuhren (1926)
Lord Ernest Clifton lives with his beautiful wife, Gladys, at Easton Lodge. He has lost immense wealth in the lap of his uncle's death. One day Lord Clifton receives a mysterious package with an even more mysterious letter from his uncle. Three cuckoo clocks that ... (more)
Lord Ernest Clifton lives with his beautiful wife, Gladys, at Easton Lodge. He has lost immense wealth in the lap of his uncle's death. One day Lord Clifton receives a mysterious package with an even more mysterious letter from his uncle. Three cuckoo clocks that ... (more)
International Squadron (1941)
The true story of the exploits of the RAF's (Royal Air Force) foreign legion battling the German Luftwaffe (Nazi Germany's Air Force) during the early months of 1941 during WWII before America officially entered the war at the end of the year when Pearl Harbor was ... (more)
The true story of the exploits of the RAF's (Royal Air Force) foreign legion battling the German Luftwaffe (Nazi Germany's Air Force) during the early months of 1941 during WWII before America officially entered the war at the end of the year when Pearl Harbor was ... (more)
Strangers in Love (1932)
Fredric March essays a dual role in this story of a ne'er-do-well who impersonates his brother when the latter dies. (more)
Fredric March essays a dual role in this story of a ne'er-do-well who impersonates his brother when the latter dies. (more)
A Night of Mystery (1928)
Bound for Africa the next day, Captain Ferréol visits Gilberte Boismartel, his former sweetheart who is now married to Rochemore, a French magistrate, to return her love letters. Leaving he witness the murder of Rochemore. (more)
Bound for Africa the next day, Captain Ferréol visits Gilberte Boismartel, his former sweetheart who is now married to Rochemore, a French magistrate, to return her love letters. Leaving he witness the murder of Rochemore. (more)
Illusion (1929)
A vaudeville magician team is broken up when Carlee, an ex--circus performer, becomes infatuated with socialite Hilda Schmittlap. Meanwhile his vaudeville partner, Claire, has chosen a new partner, but her "heart isn't in it" because she is disconsolate over Carlee ... (more)
A vaudeville magician team is broken up when Carlee, an ex--circus performer, becomes infatuated with socialite Hilda Schmittlap. Meanwhile his vaudeville partner, Claire, has chosen a new partner, but her "heart isn't in it" because she is disconsolate over Carlee ... (more)