Henrik Galeen (7 January 1881 – 30 July 1949) was an Austrian-born actor, screenwriter and film director considered an influential figure in the development of German Expressionist cinema during the silent era. He wrote the screenplay for Nosferatu (1922).
Early years Galeen was born in Lviv, then part of Poland, to Adolph Galeen and Maria Adler. Galeen came from a Jewish family in Lemberg, Galicia, which was then part of the Austrian Empire. He moved from Austria to Germany before the First World War, and became assistant to the leading theatre figure Max Reinhardt. Galeen subsequently became an actor in Berlin and touring other German-speaking cities. He served as an officer in the German army in World War I.
German silent films Galeen first became involved in film in 1913 when he worked on the screenplays for several uncredited films. In 1914, he wrote, directed and acted in The Golem the first of several depictions of the mythical figure The Golem. Following the First World War, he went to work for a branch of the major German studio UFA. He worked as a screenwriter on films such as Ruth's Two Husbands (1919) and Waxworks (1924).
In 1922, he was engaged to write a version of Dracula, however producers had not obtained the rights to the novel from the copyright holder. Names of characters and the locations of the story were changed and the script was retitled Nosferatu (1922). The film has come to be regarded as a classic of German expressionist cinema. Along with two of his later films, The Student of Prague (1926) and Alraune (1928), Nosferatu serves as the basis for Galeen's reputation. He also worked on a number of less-remembered films, including a series of thrillers starring Harry Piel.The following link lists all seven titles they both are credited for: IMDB Advanced collaboration search
Later career From 1928 to 1931, he lived in Britain, where he directed a feature film After the Verdict (1928) which was the first film to be shot at Wimbledon. He also worked on a number of short films. He returned to Germany in 1931 and directed a final film there, entitled The House of Dora Green (1933). Following the Nazi Party's rise to power in 1933, Galeen went into exile in Sweden before moving on to the United Kingdom and eventually to the United States. He had a summer home in Rochester or Granville, Vermont. He died in Randolph, Vermont in 1949, at age 68.
Personal life Galeen married a Swedish woman named Benedikta or Elvira in Switzerland on June 15, 1907. They had two children, Ivar, born in Switzerland, and Elvi, born in Germany. The couple divorced in 1947. In 1948 Galeen married Baronness Isle von Schenk.
Selected filmography Title Year Credited as Notes Director ScreenwriterActor Other1915 as Trödler1919 Ruth's Two Husbands 1920 Judith Trachtenberg Roswolsky's Mistress1921 Nosferatu1922 City in View1923 as William BrentDangerous Clues1924 as Francis MargreitWaxworks Die Liebesbriefe der Baronin von S... Zigano1925 Eyes Open, Harry!1926 Alraune1928 His Greatest Bluff Screen story writerShadows of the Underworld1931 Bobby Gets Going 1932 Ombres des bas fonds 1933 Nosferatu the Vampyre1979 Film credits "Based on Nosferatu by Henrik Galeen and Dracula by Bram Stoker"Nosferatu2024 Film credits "Inspired by the Screenplay NOSFERATU by HENRIK GALEEN and the novel DRACULA by BRAM STOKER"
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