Max Ophüls

Director, Writer, Producer

May 6, 1902 — March 26, 1957 (54 years)
Maximillian Oppenheimer (6 May 1902 – 26 March 1957) — known as Max Ophüls — was an influential German film director who worked in Germany (1931–33), France (1933–40), the United States (1947–50), and France again (1950–57). He is best known for his smooth camera movements and complex tracking shots. Many of his films are narrated from the point of view of the female protagonist. In addition to the American romantic melodrama Letter from an Unknown Woman (1948), the French productions La Ronde (1950), Le Plaisir (1952), The Earrings of Madame de... (1953) and Lola Montès (1955) are among his best-known works. Andrew Sarris in his influential book of film criticism The American Cinema: Directors and Directions 1929–1968 included him in the "pantheon" of the 14 greatest film directors who had worked in the United States.

Known For

  • Letter from an Unknown Woman
    Letter from an Unknown Woman1948
  • The Earrings of Madame de...
    The Earrings of Madame de...1953
  • La Ronde
    La Ronde1950
  • Le Plaisir
    Le Plaisir1952
  • Lola Montès
    Lola Montès1955
  • The Reckless Moment
    The Reckless Moment1949
  • Caught
    Caught1949
  • Everybody's Woman
    Everybody's Woman1934
  • Playing at Love
    Playing at Love1933
  • The Lovers of Montparnasse
    The Lovers of Montparnasse1958
  • There's No Tomorrow
    There's No Tomorrow1940
  • The Tender Enemy
    The Tender Enemy1936
  • From Mayerling to Sarajevo
    From Mayerling to Sarajevo1940
  • The Novel of Werther
    The Novel of Werther1938
  • Yoshiwara
    Yoshiwara1937
  • No More Love
    No More Love1931
  • A Man Has Been Stolen
    A Man Has Been Stolen1934

Filmography

1958
1955
1953
1948
1939
There's No Tomorrow · as Screenplay
1937
Yoshiwara · as Screenplay
1936
1936
The Tender Enemy · as Screenplay
1934
Everybody's Woman · as Screenplay
1933
1932
The Bartered Bride · as Screenplay

1952
Le Plaisir · as Adaptation
1950
La Ronde · as Adaptation
1938
The Novel of Werther · as Adaptation
1935
Divine · as Scenario Writer
1933
Laughing Heirs · as Adaptation
1931
Nie wieder Liebe! · as Assistant Director