Arzen von Cserépy: bio-filmography

caption: Arzen von Cserépy – Caricature from the 1920s

17 July 1881

Born in Budapest
Father: Arpád von Cserépy, painter from Hungary
Mother: Josefa Döllinger from Munich
Studies mechanical engineering in Budapest and at various universities in Switzerland and Germany

1904 - 1908

Works as engineer for automobile manufacturers in Budapest; several visits to Berlin where he works for a Budapest daily newspaper

1908

Cserépy leaves Hungary.

1908 - 1912

Works as engineer for several automobile manufacturers in Berlin

1911/12

Starts working as author in the film business. Using the pseudonym "Konrad Wieder", he writes (among others) for Continental-Kunst-AG.

1913

First directing job: Ein Ausgestoßener

1914

Das Panzergewölbe; producer

1914 - 1916

Air force pilot of the Austrian-Hungarian army during World War I

1916

Ein Blatt Papier; screenwriter
Nirwana; screenwriter, director and producer
Seltsame Köpfe; screenwriter, director and producer

1916/17

Der Klub der Neun / Die Glaswand; producer

1917

Wer weiß?; screenwriter and producer

1917/18

Rafaela; producer

1918

The fact that a foreigner conducts the film project "Faust" is called "blasphemy" by the press.
Madame d’Ora; director
E, der scharlachrote Buchstabe; screenwriter
Colomba; director
Panzerschrank Nr. 13

1919

Establishes the Studios am Donhöffplatz
Project: 10-part film on Napoleon
Asta Nielsen meets Cserépy and accepts his offer to shoot films at his studios.
Three feature films are made:
Das Ende vom Liede; producer
Graf Sylvains Rache; producer
Nach dem Gesetz; producer
And:
Das Mädchen aus der Ackerstraße; screenwriter and producer
Die Schreckensnacht im Irrenhaus von Ivoy; screenwriter, director and producer
Maria Magdalene; producer
Ballskandal; screenwriter and producer

1919/20

Rauschgold; producer

1920

Katharina die Große; producer
Ein Tag auf dem Mars; producer

1921

Aus dem Schwarzbuch eines Polizeikommissars, 1. und 2. Teil; screenwriter and producer

1920/22

Fridericus Rex, 1. und 2. Teil; screenwriter, director and producer

1922/23

Fridericus Rex, 3. und 4. Teil; screenwriter, director and producer

1922/23

Alt Heidelberg; producer

1923

Cserépy-Film-Kolonie-Gesellschaft reorganised as Cserépy-Film-Siedlungs-Gesellschaft mbH
Katjuscha Maslowa; producer

5 January 1924

Establishes Cserépy-Film-Aktiengesellschaft, Berlin

2 August 1924

Ufa′s Eugen Stauss and lawyer Zimmer acquire Cserépy′s shares of Cserepy Film Co. GmbH. Therewith, Ufa becomes the sole owner of the company, renaming it "Filmgesellschaft am Donhöffplatz mbH". On the same day, Ufa sells the shares (total value: 20,000 gold marks) to Hans Neumann for 30,000 gold marks.

1924

Windstärke 9; producer

June 1925

Departs for an extended visit to the USA

1926

During his stay, the following film projects are discussed without being realised:
"The War of the Worlds" after H.G. Wells for Paramount, 1926; "Creation – A Drama of the Life Showing the Creation of the Earth and Man’s Eternal Struggle Toward Perfection", 1927;
"Rasputin", a film about the Lindbergh flight, 1927

1927

Establishes Cserépy-Film Inc., New York, 145 West 45th Street

1928

Returns to Berlin

1928

During the course of the year, the following (sound) film projects are discussed:
"Die gelbe Gefahr" (a vision of the year 2000)
"Giftgas"
"Erotica"
"Klassenkampf (Zyklus)"
"Der Stahlkönig"
"Der Kriecher"
"S. M. – Der Prolet"
"1918 – Die Tragödie des Zusammenbruchs" (6 parts)
"Der Monarch" (1870 - 1914) / "Der letzte Zapfenstreich"
"Das Diktat"
"Im Vorzimmer des Kaisers"
"Des Kaisers letzter General"
"Es wehen die Fahnen"
"Der große Urlaub"
"Das Geheimnis der Mary Celeste"
"Attila, der Hunnenkönig"

2 July 1928

Establishes Cserépy-Filmgesellschaft mbH, Berlin, Friedrichstraße 218, Berlin SW 48

August 1928

Resigns from his position as director of the film 9. November (film on the 10th anniversary of the November Revolution) due to the lack of "political neutrality" in the original text

Januar 1929

Ufa′s board of management wants to distribute the planned film "Attila der Hunnenkönig" but demands the backing by a "first-class financial syndicate, represented by a reputable bank" from Cserépy.

1929

Der Zigeunerprimas; Produktion

Mai 1930

Ufa′s board of management rejects Cserépy′s request to direct Das Flötenkonzert von Sanssouci: It would be too much of a risk to engage him due to his long-time absence from the job as director.

8 June 1930

Becomes a member of the NSDAP

1931

Establishes Panzerfilm GmbH, first film: Doneaumont; producer

1931/32

Drei von der Stempelstelle; producer

Mid-1932

Commits himself to write the script for "Marschall Vorwärts" for Biograph-Filmgesellschaft

1932

During the course of the year, the following film projects are discussed:
"Goethe, der Titan"
"Friedemann Bach"

1932

Establishment of Studio Tonfilm-Gesellschaft mbH for the film Der schwarze Mann; Arzen von Cserépy is represented by associate Rudolf Gütter.
Marschall Vorwärts; screenwriter
Trenck; distributor

1932/33

Der Choral von Leuthen; assistant director and artistic adviser

1932

In a letter to Joseph Goebbels, a 2-part film project is suggested: "Deutschland über alles" (Part 1: "Totentanz"; Part 2: "Straße frei"). Goebbels agrees to provide support by the NSDAP.
Cserépy offers Goebbels to write an article on Eisenstein′s visit to Berlin, suggesting to write it using his mother′s name (Döllinger). He agrees to assume this name "in the party′s interest" in case of his "naturalisation".

29 September 1933

Becomes a member of the Reichsfachschaft Film

October 1933

Ufa′s board of management approves the reproduction of the negatives of "Fridericus Rex" for a cinema re-release. The attempt fails as a fire in the processing laboratory has destroyed all copies.

30 October 1933

Establishment of Normaton-Filmgesellschaft mbH with Cserépy as managing director.

1933 and 1934

The construction work for the studios of Normaton Filmgesellschaft mbH at Groß-Glienicke begins. The building is not completed as Cserépy has to cede the area to the air force that builds an airport nearby.

1934

Ein Mädchen mit Prokura; director and producer
Nur nicht weich werden, Susanne; director and producer

1935

Der Dämon des Himalaya; distributor

1935

Cserépy offers the film "Sonja" to Ufa. The contract is concluded, yet Ufa withdraws in March 1933 on the grounds that "unbeknown to Ufa′s decision makers, unfavourable actor contracts were signed" and that "Cserépy made misleading statements regarding the economic situation of Cserépy-Tonfilm-Produktions GmbH."

1937

Liquidation of Normaton-Filmgesellschaft mbH

1939

Returns to Hungary
Foldindulás (German title: "Erdrutsch"); director

1940

Hazafelé (German title: "Heimwärts"); director
Szeressük Egymást (English title: "Let’s Love Each Other"); director and producer
A Gorodi Fogoly (German title: "Der Gefangene von Gorod"); director

1942

Házasság (German title: "Ehe"); producer
Éjféve Kiderül (English title: "It Turns Out by Midnight); producer

1958

Dies in Budapest