Karl Farkas

{{Short description|Austrian actor and cabaret performer (1893-1971)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox person |name = Karl Farkas |image = USIS - Karl Farkas mit Kontrabass.jpg |caption = Karl Farkas in 1951 |birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1893|10|28}} |birth_place = Vienna, [[Austria-Hungary]] |death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1971|5|16|1893|10|28}} |death_place = Vienna, Austria }}

'''Karl Farkas''' (28 October 1893 – 16 May 1971) was an Austrian actor and [[cabaret]] performer.<ref>[https://www.academia.edu/29891561/_Celebrating_Democracy_The_U._S._in_the_Works_of_Austrian_Refugees_from_Totalitarianism_ ''Celebrating Democracy?: The U. S. in the Writings of Austrian Refugees from Totalitarianism.''] Article by Walter Hölbling. (English)</ref>

==Biography==

In accordance with the wishes of his parents, he was to study law, but decided to follow the call of the stage. After attending the Academy of Music and Acting Arts in Vienna, he debuted in [[Olomouc|Olmütz]] as [[Tsarevich]], in a play by [[Gabryela Zapolska]].

After various stage appearances in [[Austria]] and [[Moravia]], he returned to Vienna in 1921, where he was engaged by [[Egon Dorn]], the director of the Kabarett ''{{ill|Simpl (Vienna)|lt=Simpl|de|Simpl (Wien)}}''. There he worked as a 'Blitzdichter' (nickname: the [[Tick]]), and performed together with [[Fritz Grünbaum]] in a ''{{ill|Doppelconférence|de}}'', a cabaret number created in [[Budapest]] and consisting of a dialogue between two actors, one of whom plays a clever and educated interlocutor while the other has the role of a blunderer.

He married [[Anny Hán]] in 1924.<ref>[http://www.viennatouristguide.at/Friedhoefe/Zentralfriedhof/Index_32C_Bild/32C_farkas_34.htm Biography of Karl Farkas] on the website of Vienna Tourist Guide. (German)</ref> Under the [[Nazism|Nazi]] regime in 1938, he was forced to become a [[refugee]] because of his [[Jews|Jewish]] descent,<ref>[https://www.virtualvienna.net/the-city-its-people/jewish-vienna/jewish-intellectuals-artists/ Jewish intellectuals and artists.] Article by Alfred Stalzer, Vienna Tourist Board. 2015.</ref> going first to [[Brno]], then Paris and ending up in New York. There he performed for other exiles and wrote his book of poems ''Farkas entdeckt Amerika'' (Farkas discovers America). Moreover, he wrote the libretto to [[Emmerich Kálmán|Kálmán's]] operetta [[Marinka (operetta)|''Marinka'']].<ref>[https://austria-forum.org/af/AEIOU/Larisch-Wallersee%2C_Marie_Louise_Gr%C3%A4fin/Larisch-Wallersee%2C_Marie_Louise_Gr%C3%A4fin_english ''Larisch-Wallersee, Marie Louise Gräfin.''] Article on the website Austria Forum. (English).</ref>

In 1946, he returned to Vienna, and from 1950 on, he performed at the ''Simpl'' again, now as its director, a role in which he remained until his death.

He also worked as a writer and director, contributing the program of all the [[revue]]s together with {{ill|Ernst Waldbrunn|de}} and {{ill|Hugo Wiener|de}}, who in his turn also wrote his ''Doppelconférences.''<ref>[https://www.mediathek.at/portaltreffer/atom/14789DF8-205-003BE-00000588-1477ECB5/pool/BWEB/ ''Zwei alte Wiener als Gondoliere. (Two old Viennese as gondoliers.)''] Excerpt of a Doppelconférence with Karl Farkas and Ernst Waldbrunn on the website of Österreischische Mediathek. (German).</ref>

From 1957 onward, he appeared on a regular basis in broadcasting and later on the Austrian TV channel, [[ORF (broadcaster)|ORF]]. Very popular were his ''Balances'', e.g. balance of the year, balance of the month, etc.

Farkas also is the main character in the Austrian revue [[comic book]] ''Der Blöde und der Gscheite'' (engl.: ''The Stupid and the Smart One''), released in 2014, drawn by illustrator Reinhard Trinkler and based on the classic ''Doppelconférences'' by Hugo Wiener.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amalthea.at/index.php?id=10&showBookNr=8512 |title = Amalthea - Verlag}}</ref>

==Works (selection)== ===Libretti=== *''Journal der Liebe''. Revue written in 1926 together with [[Fritz Grünbaum]] to music by [[Egon Neumann]]. *''Wien lacht wieder!''. Revue written in 1926 together with Fritz Grünbaum to music by [[Ralph Benatzky]]. *''Die Wunder-Bar''. Musical comedy written in 1929 together with {{ill|Géza Herczeg|de}} to music by {{ill|Robert Katscher|de}}. *''Der Traumexpreß''. Revue written in 1931 together with Fritz Grünbaum to music by Robert Katscher. *''Hofloge''. Musical comedy written in 1936, based on a story by J. M. Crawford, to music by [[Hans Lang (Austrian composer)|Hans Lang]]. *''Dixie. Ein Musikalischer Kriminalroman in 5 Kapiteln'': Revue written in 1938 together with [[Adolf Schütz]] to music by [[Michael Krasznay-Krausz]]. *''[[Marinka (operetta)|Marinka]]''. Operetta written in 1945 together with [[George Marion Jr.]] to music by [[Emmerich Kálmán]].

===Books=== * ''Also sprach Farkas. Heiteres von Karl Farkas''. Halm & Goldmann, Vienna 1930, with drawings by Matouschek. * ''Farkas entdeckt Amerika''. Funny book of poems, Triton Publishing Company, New York 1942, with drawings by Hans Burger * ''Zurück ins Morgen.'' Paramount Printing and Publishing Co., New York 1946, with drawings by Matouschek.

==Selected filmography== ===Film adaptations=== *''[[When the Soldiers]]'', directed by [[Luise Fleck]] and [[Jacob Fleck]] (1931, based on a play by Karl Farkas) *''[[By Candlelight]]'', directed by [[James Whale]] (1933, based on the musical comedy ''Bei Kerzenlicht'') *''[[Wonder Bar]]'', directed by [[Lloyd Bacon]] (1934, based on the musical comedy ''Die Wunder-Bar'') *''{{Ill|Le Chant du destin|fr|Le Chant du destin (film, 1936)}}'', directed by {{Ill|Jean-René Legrand|fr}} (1936, remake of the film ''[[Adventures on the Lido]]'') *''[[Land of Love]]'', directed by [[Reinhold Schünzel]] (1937, based on the musical comedy ''Hofloge''), uncredited *''Hofloge'', directed by {{Ill|John Olden|de}} (1954, TV film, based on the musical comedy ''Hofloge'') *''Wunder Bar'', directed by [[Daniele D'Anza]] (1955, TV film, based on the musical comedy ''Die Wunder-Bar'') *''Bei Kerzenlicht'', directed by {{Ill|Rolf Kutschera|de}} (1958, TV film, based on the musical comedy ''Bei Kerzenlicht'') *''Hofloge'', directed by {{Ill|John Olden|de}} (1964, TV film, based on the musical comedy ''Hofloge'') *''Bei Kerzenlicht'', directed by Ferry Olsen (1968, TV film, based on the musical comedy ''Bei Kerzenlicht'') *''Bei Kerzenlicht'', directed by Jochen Bauer (1981, TV film, based on the musical comedy ''Bei Kerzenlicht'')

===Screenwriter=== *''Lumpenkavaliere'' (dir. [[Carl Boese]], 1932) *''[[Sehnsucht 202]]'' (dir. [[Max Neufeld]], 1932, German-language version) **''{{Ill|Une jeune fille et un million|fr}}'' (dir. [[Max Neufeld]] and Fred Ellis, 1932, French-language version) *''[[Adventures on the Lido]]'' (dir. [[Richard Oswald]], 1933) *''{{Ill|Pipin der Kurze|de}}'' (dir. [[Carl Heinz Wolff]], 1934) *''[[Leap into Bliss]]'' (dir. [[Fritz Schulz (actor)|Fritz Schulz]], 1934) *''[[Roxy and the Wonderteam]]'' (dir. [[Johann von Vásáry]], 1938) *''[[Boogie-Woogie Dream]]'' (dir. [[Hanuš Burger]], 1944, short) *''[[Fregola (film)|Fregola]]'' (dir. {{Ill|Harald Röbbeling|de}}, 1948) *''{{Ill|L'Inconnu d'un soir|fr}}'' (dir. [[Max Neufeld]] and [[Hervé Bromberger]], 1949, French-language version) **''{{Ill|Liebling der Welt|de}}'' (dir. [[Max Neufeld]], 1949, German-language version) *''[[Nothing But Coincidence]]'' (dir. [[E. W. Emo]], 1949) *''[[Theodore the Goalkeeper]]'' (dir. [[E. W. Emo]], 1950) *''Gruß und Kuß aus der Wachau'' (dir. [[Fritz Schulz (actor)|Fritz Schulz]], 1950) *''Der Fünfminutenvater'' (dir. [[Johann Alexander Hübler-Kahla]], 1951) * ''[[Shame on You, Brigitte!]]'' (1952) *''{{Ill|Ich und meine Frau|de}}'' (dir. [[Eduard von Borsody]], 1953) *''{{Ill|Ein tolles Früchtchen|de}}'' (dir. [[Franz Antel]], 1953) *''{{Ill|Hab’ ich nur Deine Liebe|de}}'' (dir. [[Eduard von Borsody]], 1953) *''[[The Sweetest Fruits]]'' (dir. [[Franz Antel]], 1954) *''{{Ill|Die Wirtin zur Goldenen Krone|de}}'' (dir. [[Theo Lingen]], 1955) * ''[[And Who Is Kissing Me? (1956 film)|And Who Is Kissing Me?]]'' (dir. [[Max Nosseck]], 1956) *''{{ill|Rosmarie kommt aus Wildwest|de}}'' (dir. [[Wolfgang Becker (director, born 1910)|Wolfgang Becker]], 1956) * ''{{Ill|Where the Lark Sings (1956 film)|de|3=Wo die Lerche singt (1956)|lt=Where the Lark Sings}}'' (dir. [[Hans Wolff (director)|Hans Wolff]], 1956) *''August der Halbstarke'' (dir. [[Hans Wolff (director)|Hans Wolff]], 1957) *''{{ill|Vater macht Karriere|de}}'' (dir. [[Carl Boese]], 1957) * ''[[The Schimeck Family (1957 film)|The Schimeck Family]]'' (dir. [[Georg Jacoby]], 1957) *''{{Ill|Ober, zahlen!|de}}'' (dir. [[E. W. Emo]], 1957) *''{{Ill|Trees Are Blooming in Vienna|de|Im Prater blüh’n wieder die Bäume}}'' (dir. [[Hans Wolff (director)|Hans Wolff]], 1958) *''[[Love, Girls and Soldiers]]'' (dir. [[Franz Antel]], 1958) *''{{Ill|… und du mein Schatz bleibst hier|de}}'' (dir. [[Franz Antel]], 1961) *''{{Ill|Im schwarzen Rößl|de}}'' (dir. [[Franz Antel]], 1961) *''Romy und Julius'' (dir. {{Ill|Peter Hey|de}}, 1963, TV film)

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{Commons category-inline|Karl Farkas}} * {{IMDb name | id=0267582 | name=Karl Farkas}} * {{IBDB name}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Farkas, Karl}} [[Category:1893 births]] [[Category:1971 deaths]] [[Category:Austrian male stage actors]] [[Category:Austrian operetta librettists]] [[Category:Jewish cabaret performers]] [[Category:Kabarettists]] [[Category:Austrian Jews]] [[Category:Austrian people of Hungarian-Jewish descent]] [[Category:People from Alsergrund]] [[Category:Writers from Vienna]] [[Category:Male actors from Vienna]] [[Category:Weimar cabaret]] [[Category:Austrian male film actors]] [[Category:Austrian male television actors]] [[Category:Austrian television presenters]] [[Category:20th-century Austrian male actors]] [[Category:20th-century Austrian screenwriters]] [[Category:20th-century Austrian male writers]]