Michal Waszynski
Encyclopedia
Michał Waszyński (born Mosze Waks) was first a film director
in his native Poland
, then in Italy
, and later (as Michael Waszynski) a producer
of the major American
films, mainly in Spain
. Known for his elegance and impeccable manners he was called by people who knew him "the prince".
Waszyński was born into a Polish-Jewish family as Michał Waks in 1904 in Kowel, a small Jewish town in Volhynia
(now in Ukraine
), which at the time was part of Imperial Russia. As Germany
occupied this part of Europe during World War I
, he moved first to Warsaw
and later to Berlin
. As a young man he worked as an assistant director of the legendary German director F.W. Murnau
. Upon his return to Poland he changed his name to Michał Waszyński and converted to Catholicism
.
In the 1930s Waszyński became the most prolific film director in Poland, directing 37 of the 147 films made in Poland in that decade, nearly one out of four. Along with the popular films in Polish directed to a wide local audience, he directed an important film in Yiddish The Dybbuk, today a monument of the rich cultural life of East European Jewry before the Holocaust
.
At the beginning of World War II
, when Poland was invaded from the West by Nazi Germany
and from the East by the Soviet Union
, Waszyński escaped from Warsaw
, which was being bombed by German planes, to Białystok. That city was taken in mid-September 1939 by the Germans, but within weeks, as a result of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact
, the city was given to Soviet Union and occupied by its army. Waszyński began a new career as a theater director, first in Białystok and later in Moscow
.
In the summer of 1941, after Germany invaded the Soviet Union, Waszyński joined the newly formed Polish Army of general Władysław Anders (loyal to the Polish government in Exile
in London
) and subsequently was relocated to Persia (Iran
), and later as a soldier of the 2nd Corps of the Polish Army to Egypt
and Italy
. As a member of the army film unit, he filmed the Battle of Monte Cassino
, where the Polish Army suffered great losses, but helped to win the day.
After WWII, he stayed in Italy, where he directed a Polish language feature film about the Battle of Monte Cassino, and then three Italian films.
Later in his career, Waszyński worked as a producer for the major American studios in Italy and (primarily) Spain, credited as Michael Waszynski. His credits include The Quiet American (1958) (associate producer), El Cid
(1961), and The Fall of the Roman Empire (film)
(1964) (executive producer and associate producer).
He died of heart attack on 20 February 1965 in Madrid
, and was buried in a ceremonious Catholic funeral in Rome
.
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
in his native Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, then in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and later (as Michael Waszynski) a producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
of the major American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
films, mainly in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Known for his elegance and impeccable manners he was called by people who knew him "the prince".
Waszyński was born into a Polish-Jewish family as Michał Waks in 1904 in Kowel, a small Jewish town in Volhynia
Volhynia
Volhynia, Volynia, or Volyn is a historic region in western Ukraine located between the rivers Prypiat and Southern Bug River, to the north of Galicia and Podolia; the region is named for the former city of Volyn or Velyn, said to have been located on the Southern Bug River, whose name may come...
(now in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
), which at the time was part of Imperial Russia. As Germany
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
occupied this part of Europe during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he moved first to Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
and later to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. As a young man he worked as an assistant director of the legendary German director F.W. Murnau
Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau
Friedrich Wilhelm "F. W." Murnau was one of the most influential German film directors of the silent era, and a prominent figure in the expressionist movement in German cinema during the 1920s...
. Upon his return to Poland he changed his name to Michał Waszyński and converted to Catholicism
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
.
In the 1930s Waszyński became the most prolific film director in Poland, directing 37 of the 147 films made in Poland in that decade, nearly one out of four. Along with the popular films in Polish directed to a wide local audience, he directed an important film in Yiddish The Dybbuk, today a monument of the rich cultural life of East European Jewry before the Holocaust
The Holocaust
The Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
.
At the beginning of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when Poland was invaded from the West by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
and from the East by the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, Waszyński escaped from Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, which was being bombed by German planes, to Białystok. That city was taken in mid-September 1939 by the Germans, but within weeks, as a result of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact
Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, named after the Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov and the German foreign minister Joachim von Ribbentrop, was an agreement officially titled the Treaty of Non-Aggression between Germany and the Soviet Union and signed in Moscow in the late hours of 23 August 1939...
, the city was given to Soviet Union and occupied by its army. Waszyński began a new career as a theater director, first in Białystok and later in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
In the summer of 1941, after Germany invaded the Soviet Union, Waszyński joined the newly formed Polish Army of general Władysław Anders (loyal to the Polish government in Exile
Polish government in Exile
The Polish government-in-exile, formally known as the Government of the Republic of Poland in Exile , was the government in exile of Poland formed in the aftermath of the Invasion of Poland of September 1939, and the subsequent occupation of Poland by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, which...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) and subsequently was relocated to Persia (Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
), and later as a soldier of the 2nd Corps of the Polish Army to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. As a member of the army film unit, he filmed the Battle of Monte Cassino
Battle of Monte Cassino
The Battle of Monte Cassino was a costly series of four battles during World War II, fought by the Allies against Germans and Italians with the intention of breaking through the Winter Line and seizing Rome.In the beginning of 1944, the western half of the Winter Line was being anchored by Germans...
, where the Polish Army suffered great losses, but helped to win the day.
After WWII, he stayed in Italy, where he directed a Polish language feature film about the Battle of Monte Cassino, and then three Italian films.
Later in his career, Waszyński worked as a producer for the major American studios in Italy and (primarily) Spain, credited as Michael Waszynski. His credits include The Quiet American (1958) (associate producer), El Cid
El Cid (film)
El Cid is a historical epic film, a romanticized story of the life of the Christian Castilian knight Don Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, called "El Cid" who in the 11th century fought the North African Almoravides and ultimately contributed to the unification of Spain.Made by Samuel Bronston Productions in...
(1961), and The Fall of the Roman Empire (film)
The Fall of the Roman Empire (film)
The Fall of the Roman Empire is a 1964 English-language epic film produced by Samuel Bronston Productions and the Rank Organisation, and released by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by Anthony Mann and produced by Samuel Bronston with Jaime Prades and Michal Waszynski as associate producers. The...
(1964) (executive producer and associate producer).
He died of heart attack on 20 February 1965 in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, and was buried in a ceremonious Catholic funeral in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
Filmography
- La Grande stradaLa Grande stradaLa grande strada is a 1948 Italian drama film and the last film directed by Polish director Michał Waszyński....
(1948) Polish film produced in Italy, (1946, Italian version completed in 1948, with the collaboration of Vittorio Cottafavi); with Jadwiga AndrzejewskaJadwiga AndrzejewskaJadwiga Andrzejewska was a Polish film and theater actress, very popular between the World Wars in Poland and Germany.-Filmography:This filmography lists only most important movies:* Milioner * A jeśli będzie jesień...... - Fiamme sul mareFiamme sul mareFiamme sul mare is a 1947 Italian drama film directed by Polish director Michał Waszyński.-Cast:*Carlo Ninchi *Evi Maltagliati*Silvana Jachino*Felice Romano*Leopoldo Valentini*Piero Palermini...
(1947) - Lo Sconosciuto di San Marino (1946)
- Wielka drogaWielka drogaWielka droga is a 1946 Polish film directed by Michał Waszyński.-Cast:*Albin Ossowski ... Adam*Renata Bogdanska ... Irena*Jadwiga Andrzejewska ... Jadwiga*Wieslawa Buczerowa*Feliks Fabian*Ludwik Lawinski*Mieczyslaw Malicz*Boleslaw Orlicz...
(1946) - Monte CassinoMonte CassinoMonte Cassino is a rocky hill about southeast of Rome, Italy, c. to the west of the town of Cassino and altitude. St. Benedict of Nursia established his first monastery, the source of the Benedictine Order, here around 529. It was the site of Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944...
(1944) - Mp. Adama i Ewy (1944)
- Dzieci (1943)
- Pobyt generala Wl. Sikorskiego na Srodkowym Wschodzie (1943)
- Polska parada (1943)
- Kronika wojenna nr 1 (1942)
- Marsz do wolnosci (1942)
- Od pobudki do capstrzyku (1942)
- Trzy serca (1939)
- U kresu drogi (1939)
- Włóczegi (1939)
- Serce matki (1938)
- GehennaGehenna (film)Gehenna, also known as Through Hell or Anguish is a 1938 Polish drama film directed by Michał Waszyński.-Cast:*Lidia Wysocka... Ania Tarkowska*Witold Zacharewicz ... Prince Andrzej Olekowicz*Boguslaw Samborski ... Uncle Kosciesza...
(1938) - Profesor WilczurProfesor WilczurProfesor Wilczur is a 1938 Polish romantic drama film directed by Michał Waszyński. It is based on the novel by Tadeusz Dolega-Mostowicz.-Cast:*Kazimierz Junosza-Stepowski ... Prof. Rafal Wilczur*Jacek Woszczerowicz ... Jemiol...
(1938) - Ostatnia brygadaOstatnia brygadaOstatnia brygada is a 1938 Polish film directed by Michał Waszyński.-Cast:*Zbigniew Sawan... Dowmunt*Maria Gorczynska ... Lena*Kazimierz Junosza-Stepowski ... Kulcz*Aleksander Balcerzak ... Janek*Elzbieta Barszczewska ... Ewa...
(1938) - Druga młodość (1938)
- Kobiety nad przepaściąKobiety nad przepasciaKobiety nad przepaścią is a 1938 Polish drama film directed by Emil Chaberski and Michał Waszyński.-Cast:*Maria Bogda ... Marysia Zurkówna*Nora Ney ... Lola Ventana*Jadwiga Andrzejewska... Iza*Adam Brodzisz ... Walek*Tamara Wiszniewska ... Róza...
(1938) - RenaRena (film)Rena is a 1938 Polish drama film directed by Michał Waszyński.-Cast:*Stanislawa Angel-Engelówna ... Rena Laska*Mieczyslaw Cybulski ... Janusz Garda*Tekla Trapszo ... Mother Laska*Kazimierz Junosza-Stepowski... Prosecutor Garda...
(1938) - The DybbukThe Dybbuk (film)The Dybbuk is a 1937 Yiddish language Polish fantasy film drama directed by Michał Waszyński. It is based on the play The Dybbuk by S. Ansky....
(1937) - ZnachorZnachorThe Miracle Man or Znachor is a 1937 Polish romantic drama film directed by Michał Waszyński.-Cast:*Kazimierz Junosza-Stepowski ... Prof. Rafal Wilczur, alias Antoni Kosiba...
(1937) - Papa się żeni (1936)
- Bohaterowie SybiruBohaterowie SybiruBohaterowie Sybiru is a 1936 Polish comedy film directed by Michał Waszyński.-Cast:*Adam Brodzisz ... The Lieutenant*Eugeniusz Bodo ... Wladek*Krystyna Ankwicz ... The Grand-daughter*Kazimierz Junosza-Stepowski ... Tsarist Officer of the Guard...
(1936) - Dodek na froncieDodek na froncieDodek na froncie is a 1936 Polish comedy film directed by Michał Waszyński.-Cast:*Adolf Dymsza ... Dodek Wedzonka*Alicja Halama ... Zofia Majewska*Mieczyslaw Cybulski ... Lt. Jerzy Majewski*Helena Grossówna ... Zuzia, the maid...
(1936) - 30 karatów szczęścia30 karatów szczescia-Cast:*Adolf Dymsza as Dodek*Jadwiga Andrzejewska as Zoska*Janina Brochwiczówna*Maria Chmurkowska as The Actress*Ludwik Fritsche as Valet*Wladyslaw Grabowski as Detective Raczek*Wanda Jarszewska as Dobrowolska*Wiktor Kazimierczak as The Magician...
(1936) - Będzie lepiejBedzie lepiejBędzie lepiej is a 1936 Polish comedy film directed by Michał Waszyński.-Cast:*Kazimierz Wajda ... Szczepko *Henryk Vogelfänger ... Tonko *Loda Niemirzanka ... Wanda Ruczynska*Aleksander Zabczynski ... Julian Dalewicz...
(1936) - Bolek i LolekBolek i Lolek (film)Bolek i Lolek is a 1936 Polish comedy film directed by Michał Waszyński.-Cast:*Adolf Dymsza ... Bolek Cybuch / Lolek Charkiewicz*Janina Wilczówna... Krysia Brown*Antoni Fertner ... Mr. Brown*Andrzej Bogucki ... Lolek's friend*Jadwiga Bukojemska...
(1936) - Nie miała baba kłopotu (1935)
- Panienka z poste restantePanienka z poste restantePanienka z poste restante is a 1935 Polish romantic comedy film directed by Jan Nowina-Przybylski and Michał Waszyński.-Cast:*Alma Kar ... Marysia Kochanska*Aleksander Zabczynski ... Adam Olszewicz*Michal Znicz ... Mr. Smith...
(1935) - WacuśWacusWacuś is a 1935 Polish romantic comedy film directed by Michał Waszyński.-Cast:*Adolf Dymsza... Tadeusz Rosolek, alias Wacus Rosolek*Jadwiga Andrzejewska ... Kazia Wolska*Mieczysława Ćwiklińska ... The Widow Centkowska...
(1935) - Jaśnie pan szoferJasnie pan szoferJaśnie pan szofer is a 1935 Polish romantic comedy film directed by Michał Waszyński.-Cast:*Eugeniusz Bodo ... Count Karol Boratyński*Ina Benita ... Hania Pudlowiczówna*Antoni Fertner ... Chairman Pudlowicz...
(1935) - ABC miłości (1935)
- Antek policmajster (1935)
- Czarna perła (1934)
- Kocha, lubi, szanuje (1934)
- Pieśniarz WarszawyPiesniarz WarszawyPieśniarz Warszawy is a 1934 Polish film directed by Michał Waszyński.-Cast:*Eugeniusz Bodo ... Julian Pagórski*Maria Gorczyńska ... Peppita*Barbara Gilewska ... Zosia*Michał Znicz ... Eustachy, Julian's uncle*Władysław Walter ... Duży Antoś...
(1934) - Parada rezerwistów (1934)
- Co mój mąż robi w nocyCo mój maz robi w nocyWhat Is My Husband Doing Tonight? is a 1934 Polish musical comedy film directed by Michał Waszyński.-Cast:*Michał Znicz ... Roman Tarski*Maria Gorczyńska ... Stefa Tarska*Kazimierz Krukowski ... Baron Lolo Karolescu...
(1934) - ZabawkaZabawka (film)Zabawka is a 1933 Polish romantic drama film directed by Michał Waszyński.-Cast:*Alma Kar ... Janeczka, stage-named Lulu*Stefan Gulanicki ... Baron Latoszynski *Eugeniusz Bodo... Kuzma, the forester's son...
(1933) - Prokurator Alicja HornProkurator Alicja HornProkurator Alicja Horn is a 1933 Polish film directed by Marta Flanz and Michał Waszyński.-Cast:*Jadwiga Smosarska ... Alicja Horn*Zofia Mirska ... Julka*Franciszek Brodniewicz ... Jan Winkler*Boguslaw Samborski ... Prof. Brunicki...
(1933) - Dvanáct kreselDvanáct kreselDvanáct křesel is a 1933 Polish-Czechoslovak comedy film directed by Michał Waszyński and Martin Frič freely based on the Russian novel "Twelve Chairs" by Ilya Ilf and Evgeny Petrov.-Cast:*Vlasta Burian ... Ferdinand Šuplátko...
(1933) - Jego ekscelencja subiekt (1933)
- Sto metrów miłości (1932)
- Głos pustyni (1932)
- Bezimienni bohaterowieBezimienni bohaterowie-Cast:*Maria Bogda ... Janina Renska*Adam Brodzisz ... Andrzej Kulesza absolewnt szkoly policjnej*Eugeniusz Bodo ... Komisarz Szczerbic*Wiktor Bieganski ... Szef szajki Goppe*Zula Pogorzelska... Kolezanka Janiny*Stefan Jaracz*Pawel Owerllo...
(1932) - UwiedzionaUwiedzionaUwiedziona is a 1931 Polish film directed by Michal Waszynski.-Cast:*Maria Malicka ... Lena*Kazimierz Junosza-Stepowski ... Rawicz*Krystyna Ankwicz ... Maria Rawicza*Zbigniew Sawan ... Jerzy Rawicz*Tadeusz Olsza ... Gustav von Wollendorf...
(1931) - Niebezpieczny romansNiebezpieczny romansNiebezpieczny romans is a 1930 Polish film directed by Michal Waszynski.-Cast:*Boguslaw Samborski ... Hieronim Spiewankiewicz*Helena Stepowska ... Mrs. Spiewankiewiczowa*Józef Orski ... Hieronim's Son*Betty Amann ... Ada...
(1930) - Kult ciała (1930)
- Pod banderą miłości (1929)