«In this first Walbrook biography, Downs perfectly captures the private
story and the public persona of a greatly underexplored performer,
combining facts, such as when Walbrook first obtained his trademark
moustache, with deeper textual analysis of his screen work. An excellent
read for any fans of Walbrook, German cinema, film stars or movies in
general.» (Gillian Kelly, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and
Television, 42.1, 2022)
«Few leading actors of classic cinema remain as enigmatic as Anton
Walbrook, the subject of this very readable, frank and thoughtful
biography. Despite Walbrook's indelible performances in films such as
the original Gaslight (1940), The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
(1943), The Red Shoes (1948) and La Ronde (1950), this is his first
full-length biography, which makes it all the more welcome. There is
much to discover in these pages about the Viennese-born star of German
and British cinema with the ability to ooze charm or villainy at will,
sometimes in the same breath.» (Pamela Hutchinson, Sight and Sound,
June 2021)
«James Downs presents a fascinating and meticulously researched
biography of a charming and darkly beguiling star who deserves our
attention. It is enriched by archival evidence and images that
illuminate Walbrook's work as well as his equally intriguing, but
carefully sequestered, private life; all refracted through his
experience of exile.» (Professor Michael Williams, University of
Southampton)
«It is often difficult to separate the elements of personal life and
dramatic performance that create the star persona, but that of the stage
and screen actor Anton Walbrook presents a unique and fascinating
challenge. In his richly researched biography, James Downs brings a
scholar's authority and a fan's enthusiasm to his subject, illuminating
not only the career of one of British cinema's most reserved stars, but
the political and production background of his stage, screen and
television performances in the UK and Germany.» (Mandy Merck, author of
Cinema's Melodramatic Celebrity: Film, Fame and Personal Worth, 2020)
Viennese-born actor Adolf Wohlbrück enjoyed huge success on both stage
and screen in Germany during the 1920s and 1930s, becoming one of the
first truly international stars. After leaving Nazi Germany for
Hollywood in 1936, he changed his name to Anton Walbrook and then
settled in Britain, where he won filmgoers' hearts with his portrayal of
Prince Albert in two lavish biopics of Queen Victoria. Further film
success followed with Dangerous Moonlight and Gaslight, several
collaborations with Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger - including
his striking performance as Lermontov in The Red Shoes - and later
work with Max Ophuls and Otto Preminger.
Despite great popularity and a prolific career of some forty films,
alongside theatre, radio and television work, Walbrook was an intensely
private individual who kept much of his personal life hidden from view.
His reticence created an aura of mystery and «otherness» about him,
which coloured both his acting performances and the way he was perceived
by the public - an image that was reinforced in Britain by his
continental background.
Remarkably, this is the first full-length biography of Walbrook, drawing
on over a decade of extensive archival research to document his life and
acting career.
