Willy Birgel
Willy Birgel, born Wilhelm Maria Birgel, was a German theatre and film actor.
Career
Birgel began his acting career before World War I on the stage in his native city of Cologne, and came to movies rather late. He was about 43 years old before he got his first major film role as the English camp commandant in Paul Wegener's A Man Wants to Get to Germany. This UFA-production that premiered on 26 July 1934, portrays a German engineer living in South America who hears in 1914 of war in Europe. Realising his obligation to his Fatherland, he sets out for Europe, joined by a German comrade. The journey to Germany involves physical hardships, treacherous terrain, and hostile seas, obstacles faced by patriots who have only one thought: to return home to Germany to help a fatherland under attack. The film spoke of the kind of German values that were emphasized in Nazi Germany.Similar films made by Birgel for the National Socialist Regime include Unternehmen Michael, Feinde and Kameraden. In 1937, Reichspropagandaminister Joseph Goebbels named Birgel State [actor (Germany)|Staatsschauspieler] or roughly Actor of the State, the highest honor Germany had for actors at the time. Besides the propaganda films, Birgel starred in a number of popular movies such as Der Fall Deruga, becoming an unlikely public favorite.
After World War II, Birgel was on the Allied black-list and did not make another film until 1947. By the 1950s, he was back to his pre-war popularity. In the 1960s, Birgel was able to make the transition to television.
Death
Birgel died in 1973 of heart failure at Dübendorf near Zürich. He was buried at the Melaten Cemetery in his birth city, Cologne.Selected filmography
A Man Wants to Get to Germany – English Camp CommandantCount Woronzeff – Petroff, Woronzeffs SekretärBarcarole – Alfredo ZubaranJoan of Arc – La TrémouilleOne Too Many on Board – Staatsanwalt Dr. BurgerBlack Roses – Prince AbarowSchlußakkord – Garvenberg, GeneralmusikdirektorThe Traitor – Agent MorrisRide to Freedom – Julek StaniewskiMen Without a Fatherland – Baron FalenTo New Shores – Sir Albert FinsburyUnternehmen Michael – Major Graf SchellenbergFanny Elssler – Hofrat Friedrich GentzFaded Melody – Thomas GrontSecret Code LB 17 – Capt. Arvan TernoThe Deruga Case – Dr. Stefan DerugaThe Blue Fox – Tabor VaryHotel Sacher – Stefan SchefczukThe Governor – General WerkonenMaria Ilona – Prince Karl Felix of SchwarzenbergCongo Express – Viktor HartmannThe Heart of a Queen – Lord BothwellEnemies – KeithRiding for Germany – Rittmeister Ernst von BrenkenComrades – Major Karl von WedellDiesel – Rudolf DieselDer dunkle Tag – Martin Pauly, OberstaatsanwaltDu gehörst zu mir – Professor Dr. Burkhardt- The Master of the Estate – Bernhard von HalleborgI Need You – Prof. Paulus AllmannMusic in Salzburg – Anton KlingerThe Noltenius Brothers – Wolfgang NolteniusLeb' wohl, Christina – Dr. PetersenBetween [Yesterday and Tomorrow (film)|Between Yesterday and Tomorrow] – Alexander CortyIn the Temple of Venus – Dr. Cornelius RiehlChased by the Devil – Dr. FingalDas ewige Spiel – Ulrich CampenhausenWhen the Evening [Bells Ring (1951 film)|When the Evening Bells Ring] – Albrecht von FinkeDon't Ask My Heart – Herr von BirkhausenHeidi – Herr Sesemann / Ludwig SesemannThe Chaplain of San Lorenzo – CataniStars Over Colombo – Maharadscha von Jailapur GowanThe Prisoner of the Maharaja – Maharadscha von Jailapur GowanConsul Strotthoff – Konsul StrotthoffCaptain Wronski – Rittmeister WronskiHeidi and Peter – Herr Sesemann / Mr. SesemannEin Mann vergißt die Liebe – Dr. KadenbergIsland of [the Dead (1955 film)|Island of the Dead] – FrankLove's Carnival – Georg von GrobitzschRosen für Bettina – Professor FörsterA Heart Returns Home – Robert LennartJohannisnacht – Christian von HergethBetween Time and Eternity – Prof. Thomas BohlenThe Saint and Her Fool – Fürst von BrauneckDoctor Bertram – Dr. BertramLiebe kann wie Gift sein – Joachim KöhlerLe bellissime gambe di Sabrina – Graf GottfriedThe [Priest and the Girl (1958 film)|The Priest and the Girl] – von GronauArena of Fear – Cameron, KunstschützeArzt aus Leidenschaft – Staatsanwalt PerschkeWhen the Bells Sound Clearly – Graf von WarthenbergThe Last of Mrs. Cheyney – Lord EltonRomance in Venice – Theodor von BruggernCoffin from Hong Kong – William JeffersonAgent 505: Death Trap in Beirut – Omar AbdullahNo [Shooting Time for Foxes] – Hunting Author – Public Prosecutor