Frank Wisbar

Frank Wisbar was born on December 9, 1899 in Tilsit, East Prussia, Germany as Franz Wysbar.

He got the chance in 1932 to realise his first movie as a director and he shot "Im Bann des Eulenspiegels" (1932). This was the beginning of a brief film career in Germany with some remarkable movies, especially "Fährmann Maria" (1936) where he was responsible as a director and screenwriter.

Worked as writer/producer for Ufa in the early 30's. His first films as a director met with disapproval from the Nazi regime and Wisbar consequently left Germany for the U.S. in 1939. He found little meaningful work in feature films, but had some success as a freelance director/producer in early anthology television during the late 1940's. He returned to Germany in the mid-1950's.

Moved to Hollywood in 1943. He remained there until 1957, working in ultra-low budget films for studios such as Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC), easily the lowest rung on Hollywood's ladder.

He was able to continue his work as a director and screenwriter in the USA. To his directions belong "Strangler of the Swamp" (1946), "Devil Bat's Daughter" (1946), "The Prairie" (1947) and over 200 TV productions which were broadcasted under the serial title "Fireside Theatre" (50-55). But he did not reach the same importance with these works as he did in Germany in the 30s.

After his return from the USA to Germany he realised a number of very popular movies like "Haie und kleine Fische" (1957), "Nasser Asphalt" (1958), "Hunde wollt ihr ewig leben" (1959), "Nacht fiel über Gotenhafen" (1960) and "Fabrik der Offiziere" (1960).

He was a director and producer, known for Stalingrad: Dogs, Do You Want to Live Forever? (1959), Hermine und die sieben Aufrechten (1935) and Fährmann Maria (1936).

Member of the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1960