The long-awaited translation into Russian of the autobiography of Alexander Granakh

ST. PETERSBURG. The autobiography of Alexander Granakh was first published in Russian.

“Nosferatu. The Symphony of Horror ”(Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens) Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau is one of the first films to open Robert Wiene’s German Expressionism era with Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari. His golden age coincided with the period of the restoration of Germany after the defeat in the First World War.

Alexander Granach (Alexander Granach, Jessaja Szajko Gronish) was one of the brightest stars in this direction, he worked a lot and successfully on the theater stage, playing the best roles of the world repertoire. A boy from a large Jewish family, born in the Ukrainian village of Verbovtsy, decided to become an actor at a fairly young age. At 16, he moved to Berlin, for the sake of his dream, he learned German. Classes at the theater school of Max Reinhardt (Max Reinhardt), the role of Hamlet. The Danish prince contributed to the fantastic take-off of his career.

The turning point in it dates back to 1933, when Adolf Hitler was at the head of the country. Departure for obvious reasons was inevitable. An invitation to work in the Land of Soviets opened up attractive prospects. However, Granah’s stay here did not last very long. The Mezhrabpomfilm studio, which fell into disrepair due to the impossibility of normal cooperation with German colleagues, engaged Granach in the propaganda Last Camp (1935) by Schneider and Goldblatt. He played in this picture the role of the charismatic leader of the gypsy community. His hero, who did not want to go for refueling, paired with incendiary Alta performed by Lyalya Chernoy, was in the frame much more convincing and charming than all the “right” heroes.

A German actor appeared in Gustav Adolf Freiherr von Wangenheim’s Wrestlers (1936). The Baron not only participated in the film process, but also reported on the unreliability of his compatriots. Soon Granach was arrested, like many of his colleagues. A letter from Lyon Feuchtwanger to the "father of the peoples" helped save him from the horrors of the Gulag. Then there was Switzerland, moving to the USA, Hollywood. The role of Kopalsky in the famous film of Lübeck “Ninochka” (Ninotschka) with Greta Garbo, shooting with Lang, Wood, Zinnemann. Financial assistance to political emigrants affected by the fascist and Stalinist regimes. A sudden death at age 54 shortly before victory.

The autobiography of Da geht ein Mensch (“Here comes the man”), an exciting narrative of how it all began, was released shortly after his death. In Russia, its translation has been published only now by Ivan Limbakh Publishing House.

Elena Tanakova © Gallerix.ru