Biography
Harry Baur (12 April 1880 – 8 April 1943) was a French actor.
Initially a stage actor, Baur appeared in about 80 films between 1909 and 1942. He gave an acclaimed performance as the composer Ludwig van Beethoven in the biopic Beethoven's Great Love (Un grand amour de Beethoven, 1936), directed by Abel Gance, and as Jean Valjean in Raymond Bernard's version of Les Misérables (1934). He also acted in Victorin-Hippolyte Jasset's silent film, Beethoven (1909), and in La voyante (1923), Sarah Bernhardt's last film.
In 1942, while in Berlin, to star in his last film Symphone eines Lebens, Baur's wife was arrested by the Gestapo and charged with espionage. His effort to secure her release led to his own arrest and torture. He was being falsely labelled as a Jew but confirmed freemason. He was released in April 1943, but died in Paris shortly after in mysterious circumstances.
Academy Award-winning American actor Rod Steiger cited Baur as one of his favorite actors who had exerted a major influence on his craft and career.
Filmography
Cast Credits
Encyclopédie audiovisuelle du cinéma
Character: Self (archive footage)
TV • 1978
Stars Never Die
Character: Self (archive footage)
MOVIE • 1957
Symphonie eines Lebens
Character: Stefan Melchior, Dorfkantor
MOVIE • 1943
Sins of Youth
Character: Monsieur Lacalade
MOVIE • 1941
Who Killed Santa Claus?
Character: Gaspard Cornusse
MOVIE • 1941
Volpone
Character: Volpone
MOVIE • 1941
African Diary
Character: Docteur Bourdet
MOVIE • 1940
President Haudecoeur
Character: President Haudecoeur
MOVIE • 1940
Le Patriote
Character: Tsar Paul 1st
MOVIE • 1938
The Postmaster's Daughter
Character: Virine, le maitre de poste
MOVIE • 1938
The Rebel Son
Character: Taras Bulba
MOVIE • 1938
Rasputin
Character: Rasputin
MOVIE • 1938
Hatred
Character: le capitaine Mollenard
MOVIE • 1938
Life Dances On
Character: Alain Regnault
MOVIE • 1937
The Secrets of the Red Sea
Character:
MOVIE • 1937
Sarati the Terrible
Character: Cesar Sarati
MOVIE • 1937
Paris
Character:
MOVIE • 1937
The Life and Loves of Beethoven
Character: Ludwig van Beethoven
MOVIE • 1937
Nitchevo
Character:
MOVIE • 1936
Taras Bulba
Character: Tarass Boulba
MOVIE • 1936