Gottfried Reinhardt: Movies & Filmography

Gottfried Reinhardt was an Austrian-born American film director and producer whose career spanned several decades in Hollywood, leaving a notable mark on both American and European cinema. Born on 20 March 1913 in Berlin, he was the son of the renowned Austrian theater director Max Reinhardt, who managed the prestigious Deutsches Theater, and his first wife, Else Heims. Growing up in such a theatrical environment, Gottfried attended the Französisches Gymnasium Berlin and began his career as an actor and director at his father's theater, where he gained invaluable experience in the world of stagecraft and dramatic performance.

In 1932, Reinhardt embarked on a study visit to the United States, a journey that would permanently alter the course of his life. After the Nazi Machtergreifung on 30 January 1933, he chose to remain in America rather than return to Germany. In Hollywood, he became the assistant director to the legendary Ernst Lubitsch, learning the intricacies of film production from one of the masters of cinema. He later transitioned to the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios, where he worked as a production assistant and contributed significantly to films such as the 1938 production The Great Waltz. In 1941, he produced Two-Faced Woman, which famously starred Greta Garbo in her final film appearance. A naturalized American citizen, Reinhardt served in the United States Army during World War II, demonstrating his commitment to his adopted country.

Reinhardt made his directorial debut with Invitation in 1952, transitioning from producing and assistant directing to sitting in the director's chair himself. His 1956 German-language film Vor Sonnenuntergang (released as Before Sundown), an adaptation of Gerhart Hauptmann's drama, won the Golden Bear Audience Award at the 6th Berlin International Film Festival. Throughout his career, he worked on numerous productions including The Story of Three Loves (1953), Betrayed (1954), Menschen im Hotel (1959), Town Without Pity (1961), and Situation Hopeless... But Not Serious (1965), showcasing his versatility across different genres and national cinemas. Reinhardt was the stepfather of U.S. federal judge Stephen Reinhardt of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. He passed away from pancreatic cancer on 19 July 1994 in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 81, leaving behind a legacy as a bridge between European theatrical traditions and American filmmaking.