Henry Koster

Regie, Autor, Produzent

1. Mai 1905 — 21. September 1988 (83 Jahre)
Henry Koster (May 1, 1905 – September 21, 1988), born Hermann Kosterlitz, was a German-born film director, who worked in Europe as well as in Hollywood. Although he never won an Oscar, Koster directed six different actors in Oscar-nominated performances.

In 1932, Koster directed his first film in Berlin, the comedy Thea Roland. In the midst of directing his second film Das häßliche Mädchen, Jewish Koster had been the subject of antisemitism, and knew he had to leave the country. He left Germany for France, where he was rehired by director Curtis Bernhardt, who had also fled. Eventually Koster went to Budapest, where he met and married Kató Király in 1934. There he also met Joe Pasternak, who represented Universal in Europe, and directed three films for him. Through his friend Gabriel Levy he ended up directing Dutch sound film De Kribbebijter, released internationally as The Cross-Patch, which proved a success both in the Netherlands - where it played in cinemas for no less than seven years - and in the UK. Soon after, Koster signed a deal with Universal Pictures in Hollywood and moved to the United States.

Although Koster did not speak English, he convinced the studio to let him make Three Smart Girls, for which he personally coached to-be star Deanna Durbin. This picture, a big success, pulled Universal out of bankruptcy. Koster's second Universal film, One Hundred Men and a Girl, also was successful. After this, Koster discovered Abbott and Costello at a nightclub in New York. He returned to Hollywood and convinced Universal to hire them. Their first picture was One Night in the Tropics; the female lead, Peggy Moran, became Koster's second wife in 1942.

Ironically, despite Koster's escape from Nazi Germany, when the United States entered World War II Koster was considered an enemy alien and had to stay in his house in the evening. Actor Charles Laughton would visit Koster and play chess with him. Nonetheless, Koster's postwar career proved equally successful. He was nominated for an Academy Award for The Bishop's Wife (1947). In 1950, he directed his biggest success: the James Stewart comedy Harvey. He directed Richard Burton's first U.S. film, My Cousin Rachel, and then in 1953, he was given The Robe, the first CinemaScope film. His last picture was The Singing Nun in 1965. Koster retired to Leisure Village in Camarillo, California, where he painted a series of portraits of the movie stars with whom he worked.

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  • Jede Frau braucht einen Engel
    Jede Frau braucht einen Engel1947
  • Mandelaugen und Lotosblüten
    Mandelaugen und Lotosblüten1961
  • Die sündige Stadt
    Die sündige Stadt1949

Bekannt aus

  • Mein Freund Harvey
    Mein Freund Harvey1950
  • Jede Frau braucht einen Engel
    Jede Frau braucht einen Engel1947
  • Das Gewand
    Das Gewand1953
  • Mr. Hobbs macht Ferien
    Mr. Hobbs macht Ferien1962
  • Die Reise ins Ungewisse
    Die Reise ins Ungewisse1951
  • Mandelaugen und Lotosblüten
    Mandelaugen und Lotosblüten1961
  • Desirée
    Desirée1954
  • Die sündige Stadt
    Die sündige Stadt1949
  • Meine Cousine Rachel
    Meine Cousine Rachel1952
  • Die jungfräuliche Königin
    Die jungfräuliche Königin1955
  • Die ewige Eva
    Die ewige Eva1941
  • Geliebte Brigitte
    Geliebte Brigitte1965
  • Drei süße Mädels
    Drei süße Mädels1936
  • Zwischen Himmel und Hölle
    Zwischen Himmel und Hölle1956
  • …und der Himmel lacht dazu
    …und der Himmel lacht dazu1949
  • Die Waise von Lowood
    Die Waise von Lowood1943
  • Dominique – Die singende Nonne
    Dominique – Die singende Nonne1966
  • Das Buch Ruth
    Das Buch Ruth1960
  • In Liebe eine 1
    In Liebe eine 11963
  • Guten Morgen, Miss Fink
    Guten Morgen, Miss Fink1955

Filmografie