Frank Wisbar

Frank Wisbar

Birth : 1899-12-09, Tilsit, Germany

Death : 1967-03-17

History

Frank Wisbar, born Franz Wysbar, was a German film director and screenwriter. He directed more than 30 feature films and tv-productions between 1932 and 1967 in Germany and the United States. Frank Wisbar is probably best known for "Anna und Elisabeth" (1933) and "Die Unbekannte" (1936). Two great examples of densified and high-strung relationships in unusual contexts. He also produced the cult classic "Mädchen in Uniform" (1931).

Profile

Frank Wisbar

Movies

Flucht über die Ostsee
Director
S.O.S. - Morro Castle
Director
Onkel Phils Nachlaß
Director
Willkommen in Altamont
Director
Das Feuerzeichen
Director
Durchbruch Lok 234
Director
Commando
Writer
A French Foreign Legion commander is told to assemble a unit and capture an Algerian rebel leader. He gathers in his old unit, most of whom are no longer in top form. One is having nightmares of past indiscretions, another is now drinking, another has lost his nerve. He takes them in captures the leader, but then is unable to make it to the pick up. He encounters a rebel patrol and is trapped unless they can escape before their water runs out.
Commando
Director
A French Foreign Legion commander is told to assemble a unit and capture an Algerian rebel leader. He gathers in his old unit, most of whom are no longer in top form. One is having nightmares of past indiscretions, another is now drinking, another has lost his nerve. He takes them in captures the leader, but then is unable to make it to the pick up. He encounters a rebel patrol and is trapped unless they can escape before their water runs out.
Barbara - Wild wie das Meer
Director
A drama set on Faroe Islands by Frank Wisbar based on the novel by Jørgen-Frantz Jacobsen.
Fabrik der Offiziere
Director
Darkness Fell on Gotenhafen
Writer
The film depicts the first month of 1945 when the Russian Red Army broke into the eastern part of Germany and forced millions of civilians to flee in the coldest of winter. While the Russians invaded Ostpreussen hundred of thousands of civilians were evacuated by ships. Gotenhafen was the last open port and ships left the town almost by the minute, overloaded by refugees. One of the last ships to leave Gotenhafen was the 'Wilhelm Gustloff', a former 'Kraft durch Freude' pleasure cruiser designed for 1000 passengers. Until today it is unknown how many people were on board but it is said to be around 10.000. The ship sunk without a trace and only a handful of people survived this hellish nightmare.
Darkness Fell on Gotenhafen
Director
The film depicts the first month of 1945 when the Russian Red Army broke into the eastern part of Germany and forced millions of civilians to flee in the coldest of winter. While the Russians invaded Ostpreussen hundred of thousands of civilians were evacuated by ships. Gotenhafen was the last open port and ships left the town almost by the minute, overloaded by refugees. One of the last ships to leave Gotenhafen was the 'Wilhelm Gustloff', a former 'Kraft durch Freude' pleasure cruiser designed for 1000 passengers. Until today it is unknown how many people were on board but it is said to be around 10.000. The ship sunk without a trace and only a handful of people survived this hellish nightmare.
Stalingrad: Dogs, Do You Want to Live Forever?
Writer
In the winter of 1943, against the background of battle scenes, a young German Lieutenant who increasingly distrusts the inhuman Nazi ideology struggles with the concept of war.
Stalingrad: Dogs, Do You Want to Live Forever?
Director
In the winter of 1943, against the background of battle scenes, a young German Lieutenant who increasingly distrusts the inhuman Nazi ideology struggles with the concept of war.
Wet Asphalt
Director
In Berlin, when the journalist Greg Bachmann is released from prison six months before the end of his sentence, there is a driver named Jupp waiting for him. Soon he learns that the famous journalist Cesar Boyd was the responsible for the shorter sentence. Cesar offers a position of his assistant to Greg; in return, Boyd would write his story about his interviews to war criminals and Greg would help him in other matters. Meanwhile Boyd welcomes the daughter of a deceased friend, Bettina, and he becomes her guardian.
Sharks and Little Fish
Director
Four young German naval cadets begin their military service in 1940; only one of them will survive.
Rimfire
Screenplay
An undercover Army captain links missing gold and murder to a gambler's ghost.
The Mozart Story
Director
Madonna of the Desert
Story
A jeweled Madonna, property of rancher Joe Salinas, attracts two crooks to his ranch, Monica Dell, a smooth operator, and ruthless Nick Julian. Joe believe that the statue has a miraculous power to ward off evil, and Monica, after a narrow escape from injury while trying to steal the statue, is converted to Joe's faith and refuses to go through with the robbery. Nick has no such intentions.
The Prairie
Director
The Prairie is set at the time of the Louisiana Purchase. Hoping to find their destiny in the new territory, the Bush Family heads southward in a covered wagon. Sharing the family's numerous dangers and hardships are Ellen Wade (Lenore Aubert), sole survivor of an Indian attack, and army mapmaker Paul Hover (Alan Baxter). Cousins Abiram (Russ Vincent) and Asa (Jack Mitchum) duke it out over Ellen's affections
Lighthouse
Director
Two men (Don Castle, John Litel) and a woman (June Lang) form a triangle confined by a lighthouse.
Devil Bat's Daughter
Producer
Wishing to dispose of his wife, psychiatrist Dr. Elliott makes his patient Nina think that she suffers from a compulsion to kill. He drugs Nina, murders his wife and leaves evidence that points to Nina. The latter, pre-conditioned by Elliott, also thinks she is guilty.
Devil Bat's Daughter
Director
Wishing to dispose of his wife, psychiatrist Dr. Elliott makes his patient Nina think that she suffers from a compulsion to kill. He drugs Nina, murders his wife and leaves evidence that points to Nina. The latter, pre-conditioned by Elliott, also thinks she is guilty.
Strangler of the Swamp
Screenplay
A number of swamp land men have died by strangulation and the inhabitants believe that an innocent man they hanged is seeking revenge on all of the male descendants of those responsible for his death. Maria, granddaughter of the innocent ferryman, decides to operate the ferry service. Chris Sanders, a son of one of the men who did the hanging, and Maria fall in love. The "strangler" seizes Chris and Maria offers her life if Chris is spared.
Strangler of the Swamp
Story
A number of swamp land men have died by strangulation and the inhabitants believe that an innocent man they hanged is seeking revenge on all of the male descendants of those responsible for his death. Maria, granddaughter of the innocent ferryman, decides to operate the ferry service. Chris Sanders, a son of one of the men who did the hanging, and Maria fall in love. The "strangler" seizes Chris and Maria offers her life if Chris is spared.
Strangler of the Swamp
Director
A number of swamp land men have died by strangulation and the inhabitants believe that an innocent man they hanged is seeking revenge on all of the male descendants of those responsible for his death. Maria, granddaughter of the innocent ferryman, decides to operate the ferry service. Chris Sanders, a son of one of the men who did the hanging, and Maria fall in love. The "strangler" seizes Chris and Maria offers her life if Chris is spared.
Secrets of a Sorority Girl
Director
In this crime drama, a sorority girl is photographed hanging around with known criminals in illicit gambling dens. The resulting pictures are then used to blackmail her father, a district attorney.
Women in Bondage
Story
Women in Bondage is a 1943 World War II film about conditions for women under Hitler's regime. The plot involves two women imprisoned for speaking out against the government. It was directed by Steve Sekely and starred Gail Patrick and Nancy Kelly.
The Tell-Tale Heart
Director
Petermann ist dagegen
Book
Experiences during a voyage with a KDF-steamer (Kraft Durch Freude = Power Through Joy, a nazi campaign that allowed working class people to make affordable holidays often on steamers).Grumpy old Petermann is a moaner, but during a KDF-tour on the "Der Deutsche" there's so much Freude that he is transformed into a playful nice old chap. It has some beautiful moments despite the obvious promotion of the KDFconcept.
Petermann ist dagegen
Director
Experiences during a voyage with a KDF-steamer (Kraft Durch Freude = Power Through Joy, a nazi campaign that allowed working class people to make affordable holidays often on steamers).Grumpy old Petermann is a moaner, but during a KDF-tour on the "Der Deutsche" there's so much Freude that he is transformed into a playful nice old chap. It has some beautiful moments despite the obvious promotion of the KDFconcept.
Ball im Metropol
Screenplay
At a ball at the Metropol, the married Margit gives a harmless kiss to a one-time friend from her childhood and cousin, Eberhard. The two notice, however, that Margit's ill and jealous husband observed them from a distance, because he recognized the coat she recently purchased. Quickly, Margit asks the salesgirl Trude to put on her coat and meet Eberhard in the lobby. Things take a decidedly different turn, however, when Trude and Eberhard fall madly in love with each other.
Ball im Metropol
Director
At a ball at the Metropol, the married Margit gives a harmless kiss to a one-time friend from her childhood and cousin, Eberhard. The two notice, however, that Margit's ill and jealous husband observed them from a distance, because he recognized the coat she recently purchased. Quickly, Margit asks the salesgirl Trude to put on her coat and meet Eberhard in the lobby. Things take a decidedly different turn, however, when Trude and Eberhard fall madly in love with each other.
The Unknown
Screenplay
The body of an unknown beautiful woman is fished out of the river and leaves the policemen wondering what drove the girl to such a grisly fate. The film then flashes back to months before, showing the torrid love affair between a young cabaret singer and a rich playboy that ultimately results in tragedy for the girl.
The Unknown
Director
The body of an unknown beautiful woman is fished out of the river and leaves the policemen wondering what drove the girl to such a grisly fate. The film then flashes back to months before, showing the torrid love affair between a young cabaret singer and a rich playboy that ultimately results in tragedy for the girl.
Ferryman Maria
Screenplay
A beautiful young drifter comes to a small village and battles Death itself to save the man she loves.
Ferryman Maria
Director
A beautiful young drifter comes to a small village and battles Death itself to save the man she loves.
Die Werft zum Grauen Hecht
Director
Hermine und die sieben Aufrechten
Director
Rivalen der Luft
Director
Anna and Elizabeth
Writer
The two main people in the story are Anna, a young girl, who is thought of having the ability to heal people mysteriously. Elisabeth is a young - middle aged aristocratic woman, that is disabled and puts all her hopes in meeting Anna and having her disability heal by her. A strange ambivalent relationship develops between the two women.
Anna and Elizabeth
Director
The two main people in the story are Anna, a young girl, who is thought of having the ability to heal people mysteriously. Elisabeth is a young - middle aged aristocratic woman, that is disabled and puts all her hopes in meeting Anna and having her disability heal by her. A strange ambivalent relationship develops between the two women.
Im Bann des Eulenspiegels
Director
Mädchen in Uniform
Production Supervisor
A sensitive girl is sent to an all-girls boarding school and develops a romantic attachment to one of her teachers. One of the earliest narrative films to explicitly portray homosexuality. Based on "Gestern und Heute" by German playwright Christa Winsloe.