Hans Walter Conrad Veidt (January 22, 1893, Berlin – April 3, 1943, Los Angeles), German actor best known for his roles in the films The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, The Thief of Bagdad, and Casablanca. He had a very successful career in German cinema, but after the Nazis came to power in 1933, he and his new, third wife, who was Jewish, emigrated to England and, later, to the United States.
Like the afore-blogged Peter Lorre, I find Veidt peculiarly beautiful. And even more so in movement than in repose. Of course, he's best remembered as the Nazi Major Strasser in Casablanca, but of the performances of his that I've seen, his Torsten Barring in A Woman's Face - a very uneven Joan Crawford picture - is probably my favorite; as he described his character, "I'm Lucifer in a tuxedo!" He's the best thing about the film.
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In her memoirs, Muriel Spark referred to Conrad Veidt as one of her girlhood heart-throbs---a remark which made me think twice about Conrad Veidt-- and Muriel Spark, as well. His sinister roles get in the way of appreciating whatever beauty he had, for me at any rate. Which isn't to say that villainous characters cannot be sexy, the young George Sanders being a prime example.
ReplyDeletegood for her -I fell in Caligari - who was that wraith, that ended as a Nazi villain? He was amazingly handsome, especially in his 30s. what eyes - what profile - a challenge to Barrymore. Wish he'd lived longer, but
ReplyDeletechain smoking did him in.
From the top down, photo 6 so exotic and erotic, Conrad looks like a cross between Nijinsky and Nureyev.
ReplyDeleteThe costume and his countenance bring it to the fore.
-Rj/IE
I agree
DeleteHe is an amazing person in every way!
ReplyDeleteThere is only one conrad veidt and these pictures prove how special he really is.
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