Karl Valentin
Valentin Ludwig Fey (June 4, 1882 – February 9, 1948)
Anarchistic humor, grotesque body language and linguistic puns – only one person was able to combine these elements so ingeniously - Karl Valentin.
In 1902 he had his first performance in Nuremburg using his stage name. In 1912 he shot the first of a total of 40 short films (some of which unfortunately are lost) and later he played in feature films like KIRSCHEN IN NACHBAR’S GARTEN and DONNER, BLITZ UND SONNENSCHEIN.
The Movies
aKARL VALENTIN - BEIM NERVENARZT (Kalte Füsse) Kurzfilm
Deutschland 1936 - directed by: Erich Engels
A treatment by a neurologist has a terrible effect on Valentin and he becomes temporarily not responsible for his actions. First he bullies a baker with rather strange special orders which he then rejects. Then he comes up with a rather insidious idea to dodge the bill in a restaurant.
aKARL VALENTIN - BEIM RECHTSANWALT Kurzfilm
Deutschland 1936 - directed by: Erich Engels
The old farmer Huber has to get legal advice in a rather unpleasant matter. Together with his son Hansi he looks up an attorney. Awestruck both men walk into the office of Dr. Essberger to find him hidden behind a huge stack of files…
aKARL VALENTIN - DER ANTENNENDRAHT (im Senderaum) Kurzfilm
Deutschland 1937 - directed by: Joe Stöckel
Valentin goes to a radio station because he needs to get aerial wire for his friend. At the radio staion they send him somewhere else, but he manages to get into a braodcasting studio. He instists upon getting the aerial…
aKARL VALENTIN - DER FEUERWEHRTROMPETER Kurzfilm
Deutschland 1929/1930 - directed by:
Translation of an excerpt, word by word, „original Valentin-english“
Karl Valentin, trumpeter of the fire brigade:
„...the trumpeter of the fire brigade, means he’s no real fire fighter who is directly involved with fire. But he certainly has to be…
aKARL VALENTIN - DER FIRMLING Kurzfilm
1934 - directed by:
Confirmand and godfather, ie. Father and son go to a fancy restaurant after celebrating the confirmation and drinking all day. They want to order Emmentaler cheese, but can only find Affentaler (wine) in bottles on the menu. How did the…
aKARL VALENTIN - DER NEUE SCHREIBTISCH Kurzfilm
Deutschland 1913/14 - directed by:
The office clerk Valentin has a high-desk delivered to his office. However, the high-desk is too high! So Valentin takes his saw and saws off a few inches of the legs. He doesn’t cut the legs off evenly and so…
aKARL VALENTIN - DER THEATERBESUCH Kurzfilm
Deutschland 1934 - directed by: Joe Stöckel
Someone gave Karl Valentin und Liesl Karlstadt tickets to see Goethe’s „Faust“ which is playing at the theater. Both of them go through lots of trouble getting themselves ready for the occasion. However, many things go wrong and time is…
aKARL VALENTIN - DER VERHEXTE SCHEINWERFER Kurzfilm
Deutschland 1934 - directed by: Carl Lamac
Karl Valentin and his apprentice are called to a spotlight at the theater, which broke down during the performance. Before they start repairing it they have a long argument with the manager about the possible causes of breakdown…
aKARL VALENTIN - DER ZITHERVIRTUOSE Kurzfilm
Deutschland 1935 - directed by: Franz Seitz
Karl Valentin plays the song ‘Liebesperlen’ on his zither. He compulsively repeats the refrain over and over and over. The curtain closes only to re-open with Valentin, now an old man with a white beard, still playing the refrain of the song.
aKARL VALENTIN - DIE ERBSCHAFT Kurzfilm
Deutschland 1936 - directed by: Jacob Geis
Husband and wife Meier are very poor. Again they had a vistist from the bailiff. But other than a table, chairs and a bed they have nothing left .Shortly after the bailiff leaves, someone else knocks on their door. This…