Harry Baur
Harry Baur was a French actor, famous for his titular role in Beethoven's Great Love and as Jean Valjean in the 1934 version of Les Misérables.
Life
Initially a stage actor, Baur appeared in about 80 films between 1909 and 1942. He gave an acclaimed performance as the composer Ludwig van Beethoven in the biopic Beethoven's Great Love, directed by Abel Gance, and as Jean Valjean in Raymond Bernard's version of Les Misérables. He also acted in Victorin-Hippolyte Jasset's silent film, Beethoven, and in La voyante, Sarah Bernhardt's last film.
In 1942, while in Berlin, to star in his last film Symphone eines Lebens, Baur's wife, Rika Radifé, was arrested by the Gestapo and charged with espionage. His effort to secure her release led to his own arrest and torture. He was being falsely labelled as a Jew but confirmed freemason. He was released in April 1943, but died in Paris shortly after in mysterious circumstances.
Legacy
American actor Rod Steiger cited Baur as one of his favorite actors who had exerted a major influence on his craft and career.
Filmography
Monsieur Lecoq Strass et Compagnie The Gold Chignon as Comte Hector de Nages, aka BébertFlower of Paris as Harry Podge48, avenue de l'Opéra as Tom BaxlerSous la griffe L'âme du bonze The Clairvoyant as Monsieur DetailleDavid Golder as David GolderLe cap perdu as Le Capitaine KellMoon Over Morocco as M. de MarouvelleThe Polish Jew as MathiasThe Red Head as Monsieur LepicThe Three Musketeers as TrévilleCriminal as Warden BradyThe Old Devil as Guillaume VautierA Man's Neck as Commissaire Jules MaigretRothchild as RothchildLes Misérables as Jean Valjean / ChampmathieuLe greluchon délicat as MichelA Man of Gold as CaponMoscow Nights as Piotr BrioukowGolgotha as HérodeCrime and Punishment as Le juge PorphyreDark Eyes as Ivan Ivanovitch PetroffMoscow Nights as Peter BrioukowLe Golem – L'empereur Rodolphe II as roi de BohèmeSamson as Jacques BrachartTaras Bulba as Tarass BoulbaBeethoven's Great Love as Ludwig van BeethovenNitchevo as Le commandant Robert CartierThe New Men as BourronParis as Alexandre LafortuneSarati the Terrible as César SaratiThe Secrets of the Red Sea as Saïd AliLife Dances On as Alain RegnaultMollenard as Captain MollenardRasputin as Raspoutine The Postmaster's Daughter as Virine, le maitre de posteThe Patriot as Le tsar Paul 1erThe Rebel Son as Taras BulbaThe Man from Niger as Le docteur BourdetPresident Haudecoeur as Le président HaudecoeurVolpone as VolponeWho Killed Santa Claus? as Gaspard CornusseSins of Youth as Monsieur LacaladeSymphonie eines Lebens as Stephan Melchior