Joe May

Joe May

Birth : 1880-11-07, Vienna, Austria-Hungary [now Austria]

Death : 1954-04-29

History

Joe May, born Julius Otto Mandl, was a film director, screenwriter and producer. He was one of the pioneers of German cinema. In 1902 he married the actress Mia May, born Hermine Pfleger, and adapted her stage name as his. The same year their daughter Eva (1902-24) was born. In 1933 the family emigrated to USA.

Profile

Joe May

Movies

Insanitarium
Second Second Assistant Director
After he's institutionalized in order to cover for his sister, a young man encounters a doctor who is turning his patients into flesh-eating psychopaths
Buccaneer's Girl
Story
A New Orleans performer loves a pirate who robs only from the shipowner who ruined his father.
El camino de los gatos
Story
Love story and family-melodrama set during the Mexican War Of Independence, 1860s.
Johnny Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Director
A young girl rents an apartment from a man who has recently enlisted in the Marines. The trouble is that he's given out keys to a half-dozen of his friends, and they all keep dropping in.
Uncertain Glory
Story
In occupied France, a convicted thief and murderer escapes the guillotine when a bombing raid strikes the prison, but is quickly re-captured by the inspector of the Surete responsible for his original arrest. Fearing the guillotine more than his actual death, the convict inveigles the inspector to help him with a plan to rescue 100 Frenchmen taken by the Gestapo following an act of sabotage: he will confess to being the saboteur and allow himself to be executed by firing squad, the Gestapo's method of execution, thus freeing the 100 men.
The Strange Death of Adolf Hitler
Story
A man who is a dead ringer for Adolf Hitler plans to murder him and take over his identity.
Hit the Road
Director
Kids look to get revenge when their fathers are all killed in a mob war.
The Invisible Woman
Original Story
Kitty Carroll, an attractive store model, volunteers to become a test subject for a machine that will make her invisible so that she can use her invisibility to exact revenge on her ex-boss.
You're Not So Tough
Director
The Dead End Kids are out of the slums of New York's East Side and running around the sunny valleys of California looking for a way to make a quick buck. The idea of working never enters their minds until Halop is egged on by Grey to show his capabilities. Before long, he and Hall are working on the ranch of Galli, an elderly Italian woman who treats her workers like human beings instead of animals. Galli's son disappeared as an infant, and Halop tries to convince her that he is that long lost son, thus possibly sharing in her wealth. Galli is such a good person that Halop is soon motivated by respect instead of greed, so he devises a plan to help her when truckers and a labor organization band together to keep her crops from making it to market.
The House of the Seven Gables
Director
In 1828, the bankrupt Pyncheon family fight over Seven Gables, the ancestral mansion. To obtain the house, Jaffrey Pyncheon obtains his brother Clifford's false conviction for murder. Hepzibah, Clifford's sweet fiancée, patiently waits twenty years for his release, whereupon Clifford and his former cellmate, abolitionist Matthew, have a certain scheme in mind.
The Invisible Man Returns
Story
The owner of a coal mining operation, falsely imprisoned for fratricide, takes a drug to make him invisible, despite its side effect: gradual madness.
The Invisible Man Returns
Director
The owner of a coal mining operation, falsely imprisoned for fratricide, takes a drug to make him invisible, despite its side effect: gradual madness.
The House of Fear
Director
A detective goes undercover as a producer to investigate an actor's murder, which occurred during the performance of a play...
Society Smugglers
Director
The Treasury Department plants a female agent in the office of a luggage company that is suspected of smuggling diamonds.
Confession
Director
Vera Kowalska is put on trial for murdering concert pianist Michael Michailow. In court it is revealed that some years earlier Michael ruined Vera's life.
Play! Girls
Band Leader Joe May
Amusing 1937 musical short film produced by the weirdly-named "Educational Films Corporation of America".
Music in the Air
Director
A songwriter's young daughter (June Lang) begins to dream of stardom when she's offered the lead role in a new operetta.
La dactylo se marie
Director
A former typist at a bank ,having married her elegant young boss and gone on a honeymoon, needs to return to work when the bank runs into trouble, and is separated for a while from her new husband.
All for Love
Director
A famous tenor manages to charm away a lovely young lady who was just about to be married to the opera director.
A Song for You
Director
During a concert tour, famous tenor Riccardo Gatti meets Lixie at an Aida rehearsal and takes her for a ballet dancer. She is in fact trying to get a position for her boyfriend, so she accepts Gatti's date for supper. When she runs away he publishes a newspaper ad offering to give a concert anywhere she chooses if she shows up. She chooses a swimming pool hoping to discourage him, but he accepts.
Her Majesty Love
Producer
Fred von Wellingen is a wealthy industrialist, part of a large family-owned corporation. Fred has fallen for Lia, a comely bartender in the Berlin Cabaret. He proposes to her, much to the horror of his family, which considers Lia and her unsophisticated father far below their caste. The family convinces Fred to give up the girl in exchange for increased position and income in the company. But Fred's lapse is momentary, and he again pursues Lia. But she, by this time, has learned of his erstwhile agreement and has agreed to marry someone else.
Her Majesty Love
Director
Fred von Wellingen is a wealthy industrialist, part of a large family-owned corporation. Fred has fallen for Lia, a comely bartender in the Berlin Cabaret. He proposes to her, much to the horror of his family, which considers Lia and her unsophisticated father far below their caste. The family convinces Fred to give up the girl in exchange for increased position and income in the company. But Fred's lapse is momentary, and he again pursues Lia. But she, by this time, has learned of his erstwhile agreement and has agreed to marry someone else.
Hochzeitsreise zu dritt
Director
Honeymoon Trip
Director
The new bride of a young Viennese is so demanding about her career that she lets him go on the honeymoon solo so she can do an engagement.Left on his own,he finds an unpretentious young lady who suits him better.
Companion Wanted
Director
Young love blossoms between a salesgirl and a handsome man on the French Riviera.
His Highness Love
Director
Fred Leroy is a wealthy industrialist, part of a large family-owned corporation. Fred has fallen for Annette, a comely cabaret bartender. He proposes to her, much to the horror of his family, which considers Annette and her unsophisticated father far below their caste. The family convinces Fred to give up the girl in exchange for increased position and income in the company. But Fred's lapse is momentary, and he again pursues Annette. But she, by this time, has learned of his erstwhile agreement and has agreed to marry someone else.
...und das ist die Hauptsache
Director
A woman accompanies her husband to a party. Both leave with other partners.
The Last Company
Producer
13 German soldiers have to fight off a French regiment.
Mother Hummingbird
Writer
A neglected Baroness falls in love with her oldest son's military officer friend, their adulterous romance leading the two to flee to Algeria.
Sensation im Wintergarten
Director
Asphalt
Writer
One of the last great German Expressionist films of the silent era, Joe May’s Asphalt is a love story set in the traffic-strewn Berlin of the late 1920s. Starring the delectable Betty Amann in her most famous leading role, Asphalt is a luxuriously produced UFA classic where tragic liaisons and fatal encounters are shaped alongside the constant roar of traffic.
Asphalt
Director
One of the last great German Expressionist films of the silent era, Joe May’s Asphalt is a love story set in the traffic-strewn Berlin of the late 1920s. Starring the delectable Betty Amann in her most famous leading role, Asphalt is a luxuriously produced UFA classic where tragic liaisons and fatal encounters are shaped alongside the constant roar of traffic.
Homecoming
Writer
Following World War I, after a long imprisonment, two German prisoner-of-war soldiers escape from a Siberian lead-mine. Karl manages to reach Germany before Richard, and is sheltered by Anna, wife of Richard. While Richard is still on his homeward trek, Karl and Anna fall in love. And then Richard comes home.
Homecoming
Editor
Following World War I, after a long imprisonment, two German prisoner-of-war soldiers escape from a Siberian lead-mine. Karl manages to reach Germany before Richard, and is sheltered by Anna, wife of Richard. While Richard is still on his homeward trek, Karl and Anna fall in love. And then Richard comes home.
Homecoming
Scenario Writer
Following World War I, after a long imprisonment, two German prisoner-of-war soldiers escape from a Siberian lead-mine. Karl manages to reach Germany before Richard, and is sheltered by Anna, wife of Richard. While Richard is still on his homeward trek, Karl and Anna fall in love. And then Richard comes home.
Homecoming
Director
Following World War I, after a long imprisonment, two German prisoner-of-war soldiers escape from a Siberian lead-mine. Karl manages to reach Germany before Richard, and is sheltered by Anna, wife of Richard. While Richard is still on his homeward trek, Karl and Anna fall in love. And then Richard comes home.
Hungarian Rhapsody
Writer
Directed by Hanns Schwarz.
Dagfin
Writer
Dagfin
Director
Staatsanwalt Jordan
Producer
Derby
Director
Der Farmer aus Texas
Writer
Der Farmer aus Texas
Director
Love Letters of Baroness S
Producer
A married society woman strikes up a romance with a young musician. She introduces the man to high society. The society woman eventually decides to break off the relationship and the musician attempts to blackmail her.
The Countess of Paris
Director
Tragedy of Love
Director
The Indian Tomb, Part II: The Tiger of Bengal
Producer
Rowland falls sick with leprosy while Mac Allan is captured by the Maharajah, who offers Irene a deal: one night with him in exchange for letting Rowland to be cured. She accepts, but tries to commit suicide.
The Indian Tomb, Part II: The Tiger of Bengal
Director
Rowland falls sick with leprosy while Mac Allan is captured by the Maharajah, who offers Irene a deal: one night with him in exchange for letting Rowland to be cured. She accepts, but tries to commit suicide.
The Indian Tomb, Part I: The Mission of the Yogi
Producer
Ayan, Maharajah of Eschnapur, believes that his wife, Princess Savitri, has been unfaithful to him with officer Mac Allan. He decides to bury her alive, so he sends the Yogi Ramigani to England to look for Herbert Rowland, an architect; but when he orders him to build a tomb, Rowland refuses.
The Indian Tomb, Part I: The Mission of the Yogi
Director
Ayan, Maharajah of Eschnapur, believes that his wife, Princess Savitri, has been unfaithful to him with officer Mac Allan. He decides to bury her alive, so he sends the Yogi Ramigani to England to look for Herbert Rowland, an architect; but when he orders him to build a tomb, Rowland refuses.
Der Leidensweg der Inge Krafft
Screenplay
Die Schuld der Lavinia Morland
Writer
Die Schuld der Lavinia Morland
Director
Die Frauen vom Gnadenstein
Screenplay
Tobias Buntschuh
Creative Director
The Wandering Image
Producer
A woman (Mia May) takes a train to escape from her lover, who is also the father of her daughter, but he has sent her a telegram ensuring that she will never get rid of him. Thus begins a chase that leads into the mountains. There she meets a monk who willgive her all the support she needs. Drama about repentance, guilt and the possibility to achieve redemption through sacrifice.
Die Legende von der heiligen Simplicia
Director
Simplicia has a reputation for healing through prayer and laying on of hands. Knight Rochus sets out "to see how long it takes to turn a saint into a sinner!" He sneaks into the monastery and forces Simplicia under his will.
Der Amönenhof
Producer
A lady-in-waiting is to become the companion of a young lady at the splendid estate Amönenhof.
Der Amönenhof
Screenplay
A lady-in-waiting is to become the companion of a young lady at the splendid estate Amönenhof.
The Mistress of the World, Part VIII: The Revenge of Maud Fergusson
Writer
After the death of Alan Stanley, Maud Fergusson seeks revenge. On her behalf, the detective Hunt begins to investigate and proves that Murphy is responsible for the murder. Maud's revenge plan involves launching a newspaper campaign against Murphy, defaming and embarrassing him.
The Mistress of the World, Part VIII: The Revenge of Maud Fergusson
Director
After the death of Alan Stanley, Maud Fergusson seeks revenge. On her behalf, the detective Hunt begins to investigate and proves that Murphy is responsible for the murder. Maud's revenge plan involves launching a newspaper campaign against Murphy, defaming and embarrassing him.
The Mistress of the World, Part VII: The Benefactress of Mankind
Screenplay
Billionaire Maud Fergusson lives happily with engineer Allan Stanley. Nothing stands in the way of their love wedding - except Maud's dark past. She has told Allan everything about herself, but he insists on knowing the name of her former seducer - otherwise he won't be able to marry her.
The mistress of the world, Part VI: The woman with the millionaires
Writer
Thanks to the treasure of the Queen of Sheba, Maud, who now calls herself Fergusson, has become an immensely wealthy woman. The plane that rescued her and Allan Stanley from Ophir belongs to newspaper king Fletcher, who reports on the rescue operation on the front pages of his newspapers.
The Mistres of the World, part V: Ophir, the city of the past
Writer
As Madsen and Maud explore the city of Ophir, they witness an ancient ritual performed by the residents. The two are discovered, and with strangers desecrating the city's sacred ground, Maud is to be sacrificed to the goddess Ophirs, while Madsen is taken to the Sabytes, an enslaved native tribe.
The Mistress of the World, Part IV: King Makombe
Writer
Through the plan hidden in Astarte's jewelry, Maud Gregaards, Kien-Lung and Consul Madsen get on the trail of the Queen of Sheba's treasure. Their search takes them to Africa, where they want to know from King Makombe the location of the Fire Mountain, near which the legendary city of Ophir, the center of the Astarte cult, is said to be.
The Mistress of the World, Part III: The City of Gold
Writer
Together with Kien-Lung and the Consul Madsen, Maud travels to Kuan-Fu to learn from the old rabbi where the treasures of the Queen of Sheba are hidden. The dying rabbi entrusts Madsen with the jewelery of Astarte, who carries the plan for the treasure's hiding place.
The Mistress of the World, Part III: The City of Gold
Director
Together with Kien-Lung and the Consul Madsen, Maud travels to Kuan-Fu to learn from the old rabbi where the treasures of the Queen of Sheba are hidden. The dying rabbi entrusts Madsen with the jewelery of Astarte, who carries the plan for the treasure's hiding place.
The Mistress of the World, Part II: The Race for Life
Writer
Maud Gregaards tells her rescuer, the Chinese Dr. Kien-Lung, her life: Her father was an archivist in the Foreign Office who was run by the unscrupulous Dr. Frohner was blackmailed into giving him a secret Chinese treaty.
The Mistress of the World, Part II: The Race for Life
Director
Maud Gregaards tells her rescuer, the Chinese Dr. Kien-Lung, her life: Her father was an archivist in the Foreign Office who was run by the unscrupulous Dr. Frohner was blackmailed into giving him a secret Chinese treaty.
The Mistress of the World, Part I: The Girlfriend of the Yellow Man
Producer
Maud Gregaards travels to China in search of a fabled treasure said to have belonged to the Queen of Sheba. Once there, she is taken captive by an evil man and nearly killed in the belief she is a witch.
The Mistress of the World, Part I: The Girlfriend of the Yellow Man
Writer
Maud Gregaards travels to China in search of a fabled treasure said to have belonged to the Queen of Sheba. Once there, she is taken captive by an evil man and nearly killed in the belief she is a witch.
The Mistress of the World, Part I: The Girlfriend of the Yellow Man
Director
Maud Gregaards travels to China in search of a fabled treasure said to have belonged to the Queen of Sheba. Once there, she is taken captive by an evil man and nearly killed in the belief she is a witch.
Fräulein Zahnarzt
Writer
Fräulein Zahnarzt
Director
Die närrische Fabrik
Writer
Die platonische Ehe
Writer
Die platonische Ehe
Producer
Veritas vincit
Director
"Truth Wins" - A history film that is particularly elaborate in terms of its features and that attempts to illustrate the perpetual victory of the truth about the lie in three epic episodes.
The Beggar Countess
Writer
The Beggar Countess
Director
Die Ratte
Director
Ihr großes Geheimnis
Writer
Ihr großes Geheimnis
Director
Das rollende Hotel
Producer
The first in the Joe Deebs series
Fünf Minuten zu spät
Writer
Das Opfer
Producer
Maria, an accountant at a factory, falls for Rudolph, who has his eyes set on the factory owner's daughter.
Das Opfer
Director
Maria, an accountant at a factory, falls for Rudolph, who has his eyes set on the factory owner's daughter.
Das Opfer
Writer
Maria, an accountant at a factory, falls for Rudolph, who has his eyes set on the factory owner's daughter.
Hilde Warren and Death
Producer
Hilde Warren, a famous actress, is impregnated by a convicted murderer and becomes plagued by visions of Death. Upon discovering her child is the image of its criminal father, Hilde must decide whether to allow it to live, or to kill it and risk the embrace of Death himself.
Hilde Warren and Death
Director
Hilde Warren, a famous actress, is impregnated by a convicted murderer and becomes plagued by visions of Death. Upon discovering her child is the image of its criminal father, Hilde must decide whether to allow it to live, or to kill it and risk the embrace of Death himself.
Die Kaukasierin
Director
Die Kaukasierin
Writer
Ehre
Writer
Ehre
Director
Die Hochzeit im Excentricclub
Screenplay
Die Hochzeit im Excentricclub
Director
Die Silhouette des Teufels
Producer
A young married woman's attraction to a violinist sours as his behaviour grows more and more aggressive.
Die Silhouette des Teufels
Writer
A young married woman's attraction to a violinist sours as his behaviour grows more and more aggressive.
Die Silhouette des Teufels
Director
A young married woman's attraction to a violinist sours as his behaviour grows more and more aggressive.
Die Gespensteruhr
Writer
Die Gespensteruhr
Director
Der Geheimsekretär
Writer
Der Geheimsekretär
Director
Sein schwierigster Fall
Writer
Sein schwierigster Fall
Director
Das Gesetz der Mine
Writer
A black African avenges his father by murdering the inspector of a diamond mine.
Das Gesetz der Mine
Director
A black African avenges his father by murdering the inspector of a diamond mine.
Ein Ausgestoßener, 2. Teil: Der ewige Friede
Writer
Guy Walser killed the unscrupulous seducer of his sister Marguerite and had to spend several years as a Bagnos convict for this bloody deed . His past is like a brand on his social existence that he can never shake off. He married Lucienne and they had a lovely daughter, Lilly. Despite all the wealth that Guy has worked for, he remains an outcast who, as the title suggests, seeks nothing more than eternal peace for himself.
Stuart Webbs: Die geheimnisvolle Villa
Director
Stuart Webbs: The Man in the Cellar
Director
Installment in the popular Stuart Webbs detective series. Directed by Joe May.
Ein Ausgestoßener: 1. Teil
Screenplay
Robert Lambard, son of a respected Parisian banker, seduces Marguerite Walser, the sister of Guy Walser, a diligent general manager employed by his father. At these times, especially in the upper social class, such an act is of course not without social consequences, and so Guy, after learning about this relationship, demands Lambard junior to marry his sister in order to restore her "soiled" honor . But he just laughs about it and brusquely rejects this request. Since Monsieur Walser puts the family honor and that of his sister above everything else, a heated argument ensues, in which Guy summarily kills the "despoiler of Marguerite's honor". Now Guy's life is destroyed too, because he is put on trial for this bloody act. There will be a convictionmanslaughter for ten years behind bars. This punishment is connected with a deportation. For seven years, Walser spent the life of a Bagno convict in nowhere, he was an outcast.
Ein Ausgestoßener: 1. Teil
Director
Robert Lambard, son of a respected Parisian banker, seduces Marguerite Walser, the sister of Guy Walser, a diligent general manager employed by his father. At these times, especially in the upper social class, such an act is of course not without social consequences, and so Guy, after learning about this relationship, demands Lambard junior to marry his sister in order to restore her "soiled" honor . But he just laughs about it and brusquely rejects this request. Since Monsieur Walser puts the family honor and that of his sister above everything else, a heated argument ensues, in which Guy summarily kills the "despoiler of Marguerite's honor". Now Guy's life is destroyed too, because he is put on trial for this bloody act. There will be a convictionmanslaughter for ten years behind bars. This punishment is connected with a deportation. For seven years, Walser spent the life of a Bagno convict in nowhere, he was an outcast.
St. Sebastian
First Assistant Director
Survivors in post apocalyptic Russia after nuclear war.