Ernő Metzner
Ernő Metzner was a film director and production designer.
Metzner was born in Subotica. He studied art at the Budapest Academy of Fine Arts, then worked as a painter and graphic artist. In 1920 he moved to Berlin and began working as an art director and production designer with some of the best-known German directors of the time: Ernst Lubitsch, Robert Wiene and Karl Grune. From the 1926 Secrets of a Soul he developed a close and continuous partnership with Georg Wilhelm Pabst. Metzner was art director for seven major Pabst films from 1926 to 1933, notably designing the production of Kameradschaft, for which Metzner constructed realistic mining tunnels in the studio.
In 1927 Metzner began to direct films himself. His first short films are documentaries commissioned by the Social Democratic Party of Germany. His most important work is probably the 1928 short film Polizeibericht Überfall. Metzner both wrote and directed this landmark of the New Objectivity movement in film, banned by authorities as "brutalizing and demoralizing."
As a Hungarian Jew, in 1933 Metzner emigrated from Germany to France and then to England, where he reunited with Austrian director Friedrich Feher. From 1936 Metzner moved with his family to the United States, but found only occasional work in Hollywood.
He died in Hollywood, California on September 25, 1953.
Filmography
Sumurun - Production DesignThe Bull of Olivera - CostumesThe Loves of Pharaoh - CostumesDon Juan - CostumesFridericus Rex - Production DesignSalome - Production DesignOld Heidelberg - Production DesignI.N.R.I. - Production Design, CostumesExplosion] - CostumesArabella - CostumesWood Love - Production Design, CostumesSecrets of a Soul - Production DesignAt the beginning was the Word - Director Naftalin - DirectorFree Ride - Director It rises - DirectorMikosch Comes In Accident - Director, ScreenplayDestiny - DirectorHotel of Secrets - Production DesignDiary of a Lost Girl - Production DesignThe White Hell of Pitz Palu - FeaturesWestfront 1918 - Production DesignRivals for the World Record - Director, Screenwriter, Production DesignKameradschaft - Production DesignThe Unknown Guest The Firm Gets Married L'Atlantide - Production DesignMonsieur, Madame and Bibi - Production DesignScandal on Park Street A Bit of Love Gypsies of the Night The Marathon Runner High and Low - Production DesignPrincess Charming - Production DesignChu Chin Chow - Production DesignOh, Daddy! - Production DesignThe Tunnel - Production DesignThe Robber Symphony - Production DesignSeven Sinners - Production DesignO.H.M.S. - Production DesignTake My Tip - Production DesignThe Great Awakening - Production DesignIt Happened Tomorrow - Production DesignThe Macomber Affair - Production Design