Wilhelm Karol

Wilhelm Karol (born December 26, 1898 in Lemberg , Austria-Hungary , † after 1948) was an Austrian film manager.

Live and act

Karol completed a commercial apprenticeship and then worked his way up in the film business to the UFA general representative of the Vienna- based branch for Eastern and Southeastern Europe. In this area he was responsible for all UFA matters in Austria and the Balkans . Until 1927 he was also responsible for the distribution of German films in Italy and was able to record some successes there. After the National Socialists came to power in Berlin, the Jew was dismissed from the UFA.

In December 1934 Karol traveled to London, later he also worked in Zurich , Budapest and Bucharest . King Carol II of Romania honored him for his services in the Romanian film industry in June 1935 with the Order of Merit Commerciel 1st class. At the end of September 1938 Karol emigrated to the USA with his wife Anne. Another station in exile can be traced back to Cuba , where the Karol couple settled in Havana . On the sugar cane island he tried his hand at being a farmer and planter of loofah during World War II . In 1944, Karol's plan to make a film of a Mohammed material was reported in the construction department . Wilhelm Karol's last sign of life came from 1948.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ according to Austrian film newspaper v. October 29, 1927, p. 10. Online at ANNO .
2. ↑ ibid. , June 14, 1935, p. 2. Online at ANNO .

literature

• Kay Less : "In life, more is taken from you than given ...". Lexicon of filmmakers who emigrated from Germany and Austria between 1933 and 1945. A general overview. ACABUS Verlag, Hamburg 2011, ISBN 978-3-86282-049-8 , p. 584.