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Joe May

Weitere Namen
Fred Majo (Pseudonym)
Julius Otto Mandl (Geburtsname)
Date of Birth
11/07/1880 - 12:00
Geburtsort
Wien, Österreich-Ungarn (heute Österreich)
Sterbedatum
04/29/1954 - 12:00
Sterbeort
Hollywood, Los Angeles, Kalifornien, USA
Biography

The son of a wealthy industrialist family attended Leipzig's commercial college and studied at Landwirtschaftliche Hochschule Berlin. After his graduation, he lived the life of a playboy and spent his parents" fortune in several different jobs. In 1902, he married the operetta singer Hermine Pfleger and in the same year, their daughter Eva Maria was born who herself tried to start a career in the film business in 1917. From then on, Pfleger called herself Mia May and her husband took over her stage name as Joe May. In 1911, he made an introduction film for the revue "Rund um die Alster" in Hamburg, where Mia performed.

In 1912, May made his debut as a director and author with the love tragedy "In der Tiefe des Schachtes" for Continental-Filmkunst in Berlin. The film was also Mia May's movie debut. His next film, "Die geheimnisvolle Villa", was the first film of the series around the detective Stuart Webbs (played by Ernst Reicher). In 1915, May set up the production company May-Film in Berlin and finished "Das Gesetz der Mine", the start of the Joe Deebs detective series that mixed crime film elements with comedic elements. Besides, he produced a series that starred Mia May in melodramas and society pieces. Producer May partly used other directors for these films and promoted young, talented authors and directors like Thea von Harbou, Fritz Lang, and Ewald André Dupont. In 1918, the new production company Universum-Film AG (Ufa) took over May-Film GmbH but handed back their shares of May-Film to May one year later. However, Ufa still had a strong influence on May-Film that operated a film studio in Berlin-Weißensee and an outdoor area in Woltersdorf.

After the war, May started to shoot the pompous film "Veritas vincit". The success of this 3,5 hour long major production encouraged May to shoot the eight-part film "Die Herrin der Welt" ("Mistress of the World") that tried to persuade viewers with exotic locations, the appeal of artful decorations and alternating genres – from the melodrama to detective and travel movies and finally to parodic comedy. Again with Mia May in the leading role, he produced melodramas that were directed by Fritz Lang, Robert Dinesen, and Holger Madsen, among others. When American filmmakers set up Europäische Film Allianz GmbH (E.F.A.) as a reaction to Ufa in Berlin, May became one of their most important artists besides Ernst Lubitsch. For E.F.A., May finished the two-part film "Das indische Grabmal" ("The Indian Tomb") in 1921, based on a screenplay by Harbou and Lang. May's four-part society crime film "Tragödie der Liebe" ("The Tragedy of Love") also became an artistic success in 1922/23.

Because of the inflation, May restructured his company into the May-Film AG in 1923. After her daughter Eva's suicide, Mia May did not make another movie. "Der Farmer aus Texas" (1924/25), based on Georg Kaiser's play "Kolportage", was aimed at international markets but became a financial fiasco. May then directed several smaller films for other producers. Within Ufa's Erich Pommer-Produktion, May finished his last two silent films in 1928/29: "Heimkehr" ("Homecoming"), based on the Leonhard Frank's World War novella "Karl und Anna", and "Asphalt", a milestone of the Weimer cinema.

As Fred Majo, May together with Hans Székely wrote the screenplay to the first sound film by Pommer-Ufa-Produktion, "Ungarische Rhapsodie" ("Hungarian Rhapsody", 1928), directed by Hanns Schwarz, and produced Gustav Ucicky's sound film operetta "Der unsterbliche Lump" ("The Immortal Vagabond") and Kurt Bernhardt's "Die letzte Kompagnie" (Thirteen Men and a Girl), a film ballad about Prussia.

His first sound film as a director, "Ihre Majestät die Liebe" ("Her Majesty Love"), is considered to be one of the few milestones of German film comedies. The international entertainment movies "...und das ist die Hauptsache" ("That's All That Matters") und "Paris – Méditerranée" ("Companion Wanted") turned out to be the last productions by May-Film AG before it was liquidated in 1932.

After the premiere of Jan Kiepura's film "Ein Lied für Dich" ("A Song For You") in April 1933, May emigrated to Hollywood via London where he was commissioned by Pommer to direct the musical "Music in the Air". The film – the first Hollywood film with fundamental participation of emigrants from Nazi Germany – flopped at the box office, just like his court melodrama "Confession" (1937) for Warner Bros.

Since 1939, May focused on directing B movies for Universal. In 1943, he directed the anti-Nazi film "The Strange Death of Adolf Hitler" about a fictional murder conspiracy against the "Führer". The war comedy "Johnny Doesn’t Live Here Anymore" was Joe May's last film as a director.

In 1949, Joe and Mia May who had already run the restaurant "Piowati" in Berlin opened the restaurant "The Blue Danube" in Los Angeles but had to close already a few weeks later. From now on the the Mays depended on the financial support of friends and colleagues, the "European Film Fund", an aid organization for emigrants, supported them, too.

Joe May passed away on 29 April 1954 in Hollywood.

Filmography
1957/1958
Das gab's nur einmal
  • Participation
1949/1950
The Buccaneer's Girl
  • Original story
1943/1944
El Camino de los Gatos
  • Screenplay
1944
Jonny Doesn't Live here Any More
  • Director
1943/1944
Uncertain Glory
  • Original story
1943
The Strange Death of Adolf Hitler
  • Director
  • based on
1941
Hit the Road
  • Director
1940
The Invisible Woman
  • based on
1940
You're Not So Tough
  • Director
1940
House of the Seven Gables
  • Director
1939/1940
The Invisible Man Returns
  • Director
  • based on
1939
The House of Fear
  • Director
1939
Society Smugglers
  • Director
1937
Confession
  • Director
1934
Music In the Air
  • Director
1933
Tout pour l'amour
  • Director
1932/1933
Ein Lied für Dich
  • Director
1932
Voyage de noces
  • Creative supervisor
1932
Hochzeitsreise zu Dritt
  • Creative supervisor
1931/1932
Zwei in einem Auto
  • Director
  • Producer
  • Unit production manager
1931/1932
Paris-Méditerranée
  • Director
  • Producer
1931
...und das ist die Hauptsache
  • Director
  • Producer
  • Unit production manager
1929/1930
Die letzte Kompagnie
  • Producer
1929/1930
Der unsterbliche Lump
  • Creative supervisor
  • Producer
1930
Son altesse l'amour
  • Creative supervisor
  • Co-Producer
1930/1931
Ihre Majestät die Liebe
  • Director
  • Producer
  • Unit production manager
1928/1929
Asphalt
  • Director
  • Screenplay
1928
Ungarische Rhapsodie
  • Screenplay
1928
Heimkehr
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Editing
1927/1928
Die Durchgängerin
  • Producer
  • Unit production manager
1926
Dagfin
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1926
Staatsanwalt Jordan
  • Producer
1926
Derby. Ein Ausschnitt aus der Welt des Trabersports
  • Creative supervisor
  • Producer
1924/1925
Der Farmer aus Texas
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1923/1924
Der geheime Agent
  • Producer
1924
Die Liebesbriefe der Baronin von S...
  • Producer
1922/1923
Tragödie der Liebe. Teil 3
  • Director
  • Producer
1922/1923
Tragödie der Liebe. Teil 2
  • Director
  • Producer
1922/1923
Tragödie der Liebe. Teil 4
  • Director
  • Producer
1922/1923
Tragödie der Liebe. Teil 1
  • Director
  • Producer
1921/1922
Scheine des Todes
  • Creative supervisor
  • Producer
1922/1923
Tragödie der Liebe
  • Director
  • Producer
1921
Das indische Grabmal, Teil 2 - Der Tiger von Eschnapur
  • Director
  • Producer
1921
Das indische Grabmal (2 Teile)
  • Director
  • Producer
1921
Das indische Grabmal, Teil 1 - Die Sendung des Yoghi
  • Director
  • Producer
1912
Ivo der Bucklige. Vorgluten des Balkankrieges
  • Cast
  • Director
1921
Am Webstuhl der Zeit. Dramatisches Zeitbild aus schweren Tagen in 6 Teilen
  • Creative supervisor
  • Producer
1921
Tobias Buntschuh
  • Creative supervisor
  • Producer
1920/1921
Der Leidensweg der Inge Krafft
  • Creative supervisor
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1920/1921
Junge Mama. 5 lustige Akte
  • Creative supervisor
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1921
Ilona
  • Producer
1921
Die Erbin von Tordis
  • Creative supervisor
  • Producer
1920-1921
Die Frauen vom Gnadenstein
  • Creative supervisor
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1920
Das wandernde Bild
  • Creative supervisor
  • Producer
1920
Die Schuld der Lavinia Morland
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1920
Die Legende von der heiligen Simplicia
  • Director
  • Producer
1919/1920
Die Herrin der Welt, Teil 8 - Die Rache der Maud Fergusson
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1919/1920
Die Herrin der Welt, Teil 7 - Die Wohltäterin der Menschheit
  • Creative supervisor
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1919/1920
Die Herrin der Welt, Teil 6 - Die Frau mit den Milliarden
  • Creative supervisor
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1919/1920
Die Herrin der Welt, Teil 5 - Ophir, die Stadt der Vergangenheit
  • Creative supervisor
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1919
Die Herrin der Welt, Teil 4 - König Makombe
  • Creative supervisor
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1919
Die Herrin der Welt, Teil 3 - Der Rabbi von Kuan-Fu
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1919
Die Herrin der Welt, Teil 2 - Die Geschichte der Maud Gregaards
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1919
Die Herrin der Welt, Teil 1 - Die Freundin des gelben Mannes
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1919
Fräulein Zahnarzt
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1918/1919
Der blaue Drachen
  • Creative supervisor
  • Producer
1918/1919
Der Muff
  • Creative supervisor
  • Producer
1919/1920
Der Amönenhof
  • Producer
1919
Der Henker von Sankt Marien
  • Creative supervisor
  • Producer
1918/1919
Veritas Vincit
  • Director
  • Story
  • Producer
1918/1919
Die närrische Fabrik
  • Creative supervisor
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1918/1919
Das Auge des Götzen
  • Creative supervisor
  • Producer
1918/1919
Die Krone von Palma
  • Creative supervisor
  • Producer
1918
Diplomaten
  • Creative supervisor
  • Producer
1918
Die Bettelgräfin
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1918
Die Ratte
  • Creative supervisor
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1918
Ihr großes Geheimnis
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1918
Das rollende Hotel
  • Creative supervisor
  • Producer
1918
Fünf Minuten zu spät
  • Creative supervisor
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1917/1918
Die Kaukasierin
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1918
Das Opfer
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1917/1918
Der lebendige Tote
  • Creative supervisor
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1918
Wogen des Schicksals
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1917/1918
Sein bester Freund
  • Creative supervisor
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1918
Die platonische Ehe
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1918
Das Geheimnis der Cecilienhütte
  • Creative supervisor
1917
Das Klima von Vancourt
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1917
Ein Lichtstrahl im Dunkel
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1917
Krähen fliegen um den Turm
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1917
Der schwarze Chauffeur
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1917
Der Onyxknopf
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1917
Hilde Warren und der Tod
  • Director
  • Producer
1917
Ehre
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1917
Die Hochzeit im Excentric-Club
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1917
Die Liebe der Hetty Raymond
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1916/1917
Die Silhouette des Teufels
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1916/1917
Die leere Wasserflasche
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1916
Arme Eva Maria
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1916
Das rätselhafte Inserat
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1916
Wie ich Detektiv wurde
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1916
Ein einsam Grab
  • Screenplay
  • Production design
  • Producer
1916
Der Floh-Zirkus
  • Producer
1916
Ein Blatt Papier
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1916
Nebel und Sonne
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1915/1916
Die Gespensteruhr
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1916
Des Vaters letzter Wille
  • Director
  • Producer
1916
Die Stieftöchter
  • Producer
1915/1916
Die Sünde der Helga Arndt
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1915
Der Geheimsekretär
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1915
Sein schwierigster Fall
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1915
Charly, der Wunderaffe
  • Director
  • Screenplay
1915
Violette Rosen
  • Director
1915
Das Gesetz der Mine
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1915
Der ewige Friede
  • Screenplay
1915
In der Nacht...
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1914
Das Panzergewölbe
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Producer
1914
Der Spuk im Hause des Professors
  • Director
1914
Der Mann im Keller
  • Director
1914
Der geheimnisvolle Nachtschatten
  • Unit production manager
1913/1914
Das Fischermädchen von Manholm
  • Director
  • Screenplay
1913/1914
Die geheimnisvolle Villa
  • Director
1913
Die Mona Lisa von Groß-Kleindorf
  • Director
  • Unit production manager
1913
Das verschleierte Bild von Groß-Kleindorf
  • Director
  • Unit production manager
1913
Der junge Graf
  • Director
  • Screenplay
1913
Das Werk
  • Unit production manager
1913
Verhängnis
  • Unit production manager
1913
Heimat und Fremde
  • Director
  • Screenplay
1913
Geschwister
  • Unit production manager
1913
Entsagungen
  • Director
1913
Die unheilbringende Perle
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Unit production manager
1912
Vorgluten des Balkanbrandes
  • Director
  • Screenplay
1912
In der Tiefe des Schachtes
  • Director
  • Screenplay
1911
Die Fahrt nach Hamburg
  • Director
Source-URL: https://www.filmportal.de/en/person/joe-may_efc0caa3e2c803c1e03053d50b372d46