--- name: "Emil Jannings" canonical: "https://film.one/person/emil-jannings" roles: ["Actor"] born: "22 July 1884" died: "2 January 1950" reviewed_on_fi1m: 1 average_as: "actor" average_over: 1 updated: "2026-09-19T21:35:09.150078+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Emil Jannings Actor. Born 22 July 1884 in Rorschach, Switzerland. Died 2 January 1950. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 22 July 1884, Rorschach, Switzerland - **Died:** 2 January 1950 - **Active:** 1926–1928 - **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won · 1 nominated) - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emil_Jannings, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q77181, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0417837/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2895 ## Fi1m on Emil Jannings > Jannings played proud men and let us watch them come apart, by age, love or humiliation, with a face that did what title cards could not. The 1920s German silents are the case for him; the one film of his we have reviewed is lost. In the surviving trailer for *The Patriot* (1928) there are a few seconds of Emil Jannings as Czar Paul I: the body slumped and heavy, the eyes quick and frightened and somewhere else, a man listening for footsteps in a room where nobody is walking. It is almost all that is left of the film. It is also a fair summary of what he did for a living. Jannings played men with authority, a czar, a general, a professor, a hotel doorman, and then he let us watch the authority go. In a cinema without spoken lines, he showed what a man was thinking by what his body did while he thought it. He came to film from Max Reinhardt's Berlin company, with a debut in 1914 and a breakthrough in 1919 as Louis XV in Ernst Lubitsch's *Madame Dubarry*. The 1920s in Germany were the great stretch. *The Last Laugh* (1924), as the doorman demoted and humiliated, made his name abroad; *Variety* (1925) gave him Boss Huller, jealous and tragic; *Faust* (1926) gave him Mephisto in a major Murnau production. He made three films with F. W. Murnau and three with Pola Negri. Paramount then took him to Hollywood from 1927 to 1929, where he worked three times with Josef von Sternberg, notably as a Russian general in *The Last Command* (1928), and where he made *The Patriot* with Lubitsch, one of their four films together. When sound arrived he went back to Germany and played Professor Immanuel Rath opposite Marlene Dietrich in *The Blue Angel* (1930). The method was collapse played beneath a grand exterior, and at its best it was done quietly. The release notices for *The Patriot* describe a mad Czar played without ranting, and in the trailer you can see it. It did not always hold. Even in *Faust* he is found lapsing into the theatrical hamminess of the period, and an actor that large on screen has nowhere to hide when he overdoes it. We watched those few seconds of Paul twice and felt something close to bereavement, which is not what publicity material usually does to us. All three of the 1928 reviews we have read single him out above everything else in the film, and the film is gone. Our 72 is for what can be seen. The pattern is clear enough without it. Give Jannings a man who has something to lose and a director, Murnau, Sternberg or Lubitsch, who will hold the shot while he loses it, and you get the performances his reputation rests on. We have reviewed one of his films and cannot watch it. The rest you can, and we would begin with the doorman. ## Biography Emil Jannings was a Swiss-born German actor. Born Theodor Friedrich Emil Janenz on 23 July 1884 in Rorschach, Switzerland, he began his career on the stage before moving into film in the 1910s. He appeared in silent films directed by F. W. Murnau, including *The Last Laugh* (1924) and *Tartuffe* (1925), and played Mephisto in *Faust* (1926). Jannings worked in Hollywood from 1926 to 1929 under contract with Paramount. He received the first Academy Award for Best Actor in 1929 for his performances in *The Way of All Flesh* (1927) and *The Last Command* (1928). He also appeared as Czar Paul I in *The Patriot* (1928). After returning to Germany, Jannings continued to act in films, including *The Blue Angel* (1930). During the Nazi period he took leading roles in state-commissioned films and was named an Artist of the State by Joseph Goebbels. His career ended after 1945 following denazification proceedings; he died on 2 January 1950 in Strobl, Austria. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, britannica.com, filmportal.de, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (1) - *The Patriot* (1928), Fi1m 72, as Czar Paul I — [page](https://film.one/film/the-patriot.md) ## Complete filmography (68) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *The Making of 'The Last Laugh'* (2003), as Hotelportier (archive footage) - *The Oscars* (1953), series, Actor - *Where Is Mr. Belling?* (1945), as Eberhard Belling - *An Old Heart Becomes Young Again* (1943), as Friedrich Hoffmann, Seniorchef - *The Dismissal* (1942), as Fürst Otto von Bismarck · Producer - *Uncle Krüger* (1941), as Ohm (Paul)Krüger · Producer, Art Direction - *Robert Koch, der Bekämpfer des Todes* (1939), as Dr. Robert Koch - *Der letzte Appell* (1939), Actor - *The Broken Jug* (1937), as Adam · Director - *The Sovereign* (1937), as Matthias Clausen - *Traumulus* (1936), as Prof. Niemeyer, gen. Traumulus - *The Old and The Young King* (1935), as König Friedrich Wilhelm I. - *The Black Whale* (1934), as Peter Petersen - *The Adventures of King Pausole* (1933), as König Pausole - *The Tempest* (1932), as Gustav Bumke - *Darling of the Gods* (1930), as Albert Winkelmann - *The Blue Angel* (1930), as Immanuel Rath - *Betrayal* (1929), as Poldi Moser - *Sins of the Fathers* (1928), as Wilhelm Spengler - *The Patriot* (1928), as Czar Paul I — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/the-patriot.md) - *The Street of Sin* (1928), as Basher Bill - *The Last Command* (1928), as Gen. Dolgorucki / Grand Duke Sergius Alexander - *The Way of All Flesh* (1927), as August Shilling - *Faust* (1926), as Mephisto - *Love Is Blind* (1926), Actor - *Tartuffe* (1926), as Tartüff - *Variety* (1925), as Boss Huller - *The Last Laugh* (1924), as Hotel Doorman - *Husbands or Lovers* (1924), as Ehemann - *Waxworks* (1924), as Harun al Raschid - *Quo Vadis?* (1924), as Nerone - *All for Money* (1923), as S. I. Rupp - *The Countess of Paris* (1923), as Ombrade - *The Tragedy of Love* (1923), as Ombrade - *Peter the Great* (1922), as Tsar Peter the Great - *The Loves of Pharaoh* (1922), as Pharao Amenes - *Othello* (1922), as Othello - *The Rats* (1921), as Bruno Mechelke - *Danton* (1921), as Danton - *Anna Boleyn* (1920), as Henry VIII, King of England - *Der Schädel der Pharaonentochter* (1920), as Osorcon, Pharao of Egypt - *Die Brüder Karamasoff* (1920), Actor - *Algol: Tragedy of Power* (1920), as Robert Herne - *The Great Light* (1920), as Lorenz Ferleitner - *Kohlhiesel's Daughters* (1920), as Peter Xaver - *Colombine - Die Braut des Apachen* (1920), Actor - *Rose Bernd* (1919), as Arthur Streckmann - *Madame DuBarry* (1919), as Ludwig XV. - *Vendetta* (1919), as Tomasso - *The Daughter of Mehemed* (1919), as Vaco Juan Riberda - *Der Mann der Tat* (1918), as Jan Miller - *The Eyes of the Mummy* (1918), as Radu - *Keimendes Leben. 2. Teil* (1918), as James Fraenkel/John Smith - *Keimendes Leben* (1918), as James Fraenkel - *Fuhrmann Henschel* (1918), Actor - *The Merry Jail* (1917), as Quabbe - der Gaoler - *Lulu* (1917), as Alfredo, a clown - *When Four Do the Same* (1917), as Segetoff - *A Night of Horror* (1917), Actor - *Die Ehe der Luise Rohrbach* (1917), Actor - *Hoheit Radieschen* (1917), Actor - *Der 10. Pavillon der Zitadelle* (1917), Actor - *Stein unter Steinen* (1917), as Göttlingk - *Passionels Tagebuch* (1916), as Karl Borke - *Der Morphinist* (1916), Actor - *Frau Eva* (1916), as ihr Mann, der Fabrikant - *Life is a Dream* (1916), as Verführer - *Dear Eva* (1914), Actor ## Gallery - ![Emil Jannings](https://film.one/media/person/1002182/gallery-8aef62d6e21b.jpg) Emil Jannings — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/Emil_Jannings_-_no_watermark.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Emil Jannings in Variété. Ross Verlag 1266/4 (1927)](https://film.one/media/person/1002182/gallery-9943ee263298.jpg) Emil Jannings in Variété. Ross Verlag 1266/4 (1927) — Alexander Binder, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/20211008170644%21Emil_Jannings_-_Alexander_Binder_-_EYE_FOT10377_retusche.jpg/1280px-20211008170644%21Emil_Jannings_-_Alexander_Binder_-_EYE_FOT10377_retusche.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Omschrijving: Acteur Emil Jannings plukt elke morgen voor zijn ontbijt enkele sinaasappels uit zijn eigen tuin achter zijn landgoed in Hollywood. Foto uit 1929.](https://film.one/media/person/1002182/gallery-72d68de135f4.jpg) Omschrijving: Acteur Emil Jannings plukt elke morgen voor zijn ontbijt enkele sinaasappels uit zijn eigen tuin achter zijn landgoed in Hollywood. Foto uit 1929. — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Acteur_Emil_Jannings_plukt_elke_morgen_voor_zijn_ontbijt_enkele_sinaasappels_uit_zijn_eigen_tuin%2C_SFA022001708.jpg/1280px-Acteur_Emil_Jannings_plukt_elke_morgen_voor_zijn_ontbijt_enkele_sinaasappels_uit_zijn_eigen_tuin%2C_SFA022001708.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Omschrijving: Acteur Emil Jannings raapt elke morgen enkele eieren van zijn kippen, die hij in zijn riante tuin achter zijn landgoed in Hollywood houdt. Foto ui (1929)](https://film.one/media/person/1002182/gallery-f06e1ae16a3d.jpg) Omschrijving: Acteur Emil Jannings raapt elke morgen enkele eieren van zijn kippen, die hij in zijn riante tuin achter zijn landgoed in Hollywood houdt. Foto ui (1929) — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Acteur_Emil_Jannings_raapt_elke_morgen_enkele_eieren_van_zijn_kippen%2C_die_hij_in_zijn_riante_tuin%2C_SFA022001712.jpg/1280px-Acteur_Emil_Jannings_raapt_elke_morgen_enkele_eieren_van_zijn_kippen%2C_die_hij_in_zijn_riante_tuin%2C_SFA022001712.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Omschrijving: Acteur Emil Jannings speelt in 1928 een magistrale rol in de film 'Vader' onder regie van Victor Fleming. Plaats vermoedelijk Hollywood.](https://film.one/media/person/1002182/gallery-5ecb98e0f9bc.jpg) Omschrijving: Acteur Emil Jannings speelt in 1928 een magistrale rol in de film 'Vader' onder regie van Victor Fleming. Plaats vermoedelijk Hollywood. — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Acteur_Emil_Jannings_speelt_in_1928_een_magistrale_rol_in_de_film_%27Vader%27_onder_regie_van_Victor%2C_SFA022001713.jpg/1280px-Acteur_Emil_Jannings_speelt_in_1928_een_magistrale_rol_in_de_film_%27Vader%27_onder_regie_van_Victor%2C_SFA022001713.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Emil Jannings, silent films Subjects (LCTGM): actors (1927)](https://film.one/media/person/1002182/gallery-fca7da02453c.jpg) Emil Jannings, silent films Subjects (LCTGM): actors (1927) — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7d/Emil_Jannings%2C_silent_films_%28SAYRE_4121%29.jpg/1280px-Emil_Jannings%2C_silent_films_%28SAYRE_4121%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 1 won, 1 nominated - 1929: Best Actor (won), for *The Way of All Flesh* - 1928: Best Actor (nominated), for *The Way of All Flesh* ### Other awards — 3 won - Goethe Medal for Art and Science 1939: Goethe Medal for Art and Science (won) - Volpi Cup for Best Actor 1937: Volpi Cup for Best Actor (won), for *Der Herrscher* - Staatsschauspieler 1936: Staatsschauspieler (won) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/emil-jannings