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Victor Varconi is a Actor and Scriptwriter Hongrois born on 30 march 1891 at Kisvárda (Hongrie)

Victor Varconi

Victor Varconi
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Birth name Mihály Várkonyi
Nationality Hongrie
Birth 30 march 1891 at Kisvárda (Hongrie)
Death 6 june 1976 (at 85 years) at Santa Barbara (USA)

Victor Varconi (31 March 1891 – 6 June 1976) was a highly successful silent film star in Hungary. Born Mihály Várkonyi in Kisvárda, Austria-Hungary, he was the first Hungarian actor to make a film in the United States. His normal speaking accent sounded almost exactly like that of Transylvanian Bela Lugosi.

He worked under contract to Cecil B. DeMille, and played Pontius Pilate in DeMille's 1927 production of The King of Kings.

Varconi's popularity waned with the advent of sound films- because of his accent he was cast in smaller parts, often playing Hispanic characters. He worked on the New York City stage and wrote for radio.

He died from a heart attack in Santa Barbara, California on 6 June 1976, at the age of 85 and was interred at the Calvary Cemetery, East Los Angeles, California, USA.

Biography

Il débute en Hongrie dans les années 1910, au théâtre à Budapest, et au cinéma en 1913. Expérience unique, il est le réalisateur d'un film hongrois en 1920. Au début des années 1920, il choisit le nom de Michael Varkonyi à l'occasion du tournage de productions autrichiennes, réalisées notamment par Michael Kertész, le futur Michael Curtiz. Son rôle dans un film de ce dernier, Sodome et Gomorrhe (1922) le fait remarquer par Cecil B. DeMille qui lui propose de venir aux États-Unis.

Il tourne son premier film américain en 1924, Poisoned Paradise, aux côtés de Clara Bow, et adopte alors le nom de Victor Varconi. Cette même année 1924, il participe à Triomphe (film, 1924) et au Tourbillon des âmes de Cecil B. DeMille, qu'il retrouvera à plusieurs reprises (ainsi que Frank Borzage, à partir de 1931). Varconi poursuivra dès lors sa carrière aux États-Unis, où il s'installe définitivement, jusqu'à un dernier film en 1959.

Toutefois, il jouera encore dans des productions européennes (en Italie, en Allemagne...) de 1925 à 1932. Et dans les années 1950, il fera quelques apparitions à la télévision (séries), ainsi qu'à la radio.

Toujours aux États-Unis, on le verra aussi au théâtre, dans des pièces de William Shakespeare (Hamlet, Roméo et Juliette, Antoine et Cléopâtre, Richard III), mais pas à Broadway, sauf une fois en 1942-1943 (dans The Russian People).

Best films

Dancing Pirate (1936)
(Actor)
The Divine Lady (1928)
(Actor)

Usually with

Michael Curtiz
Michael Curtiz
(14 films)
Anne Bauchens
Anne Bauchens
(9 films)
Julia Faye
Julia Faye
(9 films)
Hans Dreier
Hans Dreier
(8 films)
Source : Wikidata

Filmography of Victor Varconi (73 films)

Display filmography as list

Actor

The Atomic Submarine, 1h12
Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Thriller
Themes Seafaring films, Transport films, Submarine films
Actors Dick Foran, Arthur Franz, Brett Halsey, Tom Conway, Bob Steele, Victor Varconi
Roles Clifford Kent
Rating52% 2.6051052.6051052.6051052.6051052.605105
A brief opening prologue describes how in 1909 Robert Peary had trouble reaching the North Pole, while postulating that Peary would have been amazed to see how in just a few decades the very same pole had become a major thoroughfare for civilian and military shipping; a futuristic prediction of cargo-carrying atomic submarines then follows. One of those submarines is destroyed by a mysterious undersea light. The loss of this and several other cargo ships alarms the world. Governments temporarily close the polar route and convene an emergency meeting at The Pentagon.
The Man Who Turned to Stone, 1h11
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Horror
Actors Victor Jory, William Hudson, Jean Willes, Ann Doran, Paul Cavanagh, Victor Varconi
Roles Dr. Myer
Rating52% 2.6116352.6116352.6116352.6116352.611635
Two hundred years ago, a group of doctors learned to extended their lives by draining the vitality of others. Without such tranfusions, they begin to petrify. They become the staff doctors of a girls' reform school, assuring a supply of vital young bodies. However, outsiders sent to the school, Dr. Jess Rogers and social worker Carol Adams, become suspicious of the unusual number of otherwise healthy inmates dying of heart failure or suicide.
Samson and Delilah, 2h11
Directed by Cecil B. DeMille
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Fantasy, Adventure, Historical, Peplum, Romance
Themes Films about religion, Films based on the Bible, Films about Jews and Judaism
Actors Hedy Lamarr, Victor Mature, George Sanders, Angela Lansbury, Henry Wilcoxon, Fay Holden
Roles Lord of Ashdod
Rating67% 3.3962153.3962153.3962153.3962153.396215
Samson, a Danite Hebrew placed under Nazirite vows from birth by his mother Hazelelponit, is engaged to a Philistine woman named Semadar. At their wedding feast, Samson loses a bet with his wedding guests because of Semadar and attacks thirty Philistines to strip them of their cloaks to pay his betting debt. When his deeds become known, Semadar and her father Tubal are killed; Samson becomes a hunted man and in his fury he begins fighting the Philistines. The Saran of Gaza imposes heavy taxes on the Danites, with the purpose of having Samson betrayed by his own people. The Saran's plan works, and frustrated Danites hand over Samson to the Philistines, much to the joy of Delilah, Semadar's younger sister. Samson is taken by Prince Ahtur, the military governor of the land of Dan, and a regiment of Philistine troops. En route back to Gaza, Ahtur decides to taunt Samson. Samson rips apart his chains and ropes and begins to combat the Philistines, toppling Ahtur's war chariot and using the jawbone of an ass to club the Philistine soldiers to death.
Unconquered, 2h26
Directed by Cecil B. DeMille, Arthur Rosson
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Action, Adventure, Historical, Romance, Western
Actors Gary Cooper, Paulette Goddard, Howard Da Silva, Boris Karloff, Henry Wilcoxon, Cecil Kellaway
Roles Captain Simeon Ecuyer
Rating67% 3.3931853.3931853.3931853.3931853.393185
Based on Neil Swanson's Unconquered, a Novel of the Pontiac Conspiracy, the film focuses on "Abby" Hale (Paulette Goddard), who is condemned to death by a British court, then offered clemency if she will become an indentured servant in America. There is a bidding competition between Captain Christopher Holden (Gary Cooper) and Martin Garth (Howard Da Silva), which Holden wins. He then sets her free. Unfortunately, Garth is a sore loser; he kidnaps Abby and takes her to the western frontier, where he is involved in illegal arms sales to the Native Americans. Soon, Holden becomes involved in the conflict with the warring tribes and is reunited with Abby; he also has further confrontations with Garth and his henchman (Mike Mazurki).
Where There's Life, 1h15
Directed by Sidney Lanfield
Origin USA
Genres Thriller, Comedy
Actors Bob Hope, Signe Hasso, William Bendix, George Coulouris, Victor Varconi, George Zucco
Roles Finance Minister Zavitch
Rating64% 3.243023.243023.243023.243023.24302
Hope plays American radio announcer who finds out he is the new king of "Barovia", although a secret society called the Mordia, which assassinated the previous ruler, has other ideas.
Pirates of Monterey, 1h19
Directed by Alfred L. Werker
Origin USA
Genres Adventure, Romance, Western
Actors María Montez, Rod Cameron, Gilbert Roland, Mikhail Rasumny, Gale Sondergaard, Phillip Reed
Roles Capt. Cordova
Rating58% 2.908582.908582.908582.908582.90858
Wealthy aristocrat Marguerita Novarro and her maid are rescued by Phillip Kent when their carriage breaks loose. It is 1840 and Kent is transporting rifles from Mexico City to California to be used by soldiers there.
Dakota
Dakota (1945)
, 1h22
Directed by Joseph Kane
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Action, Romance, Western
Actors John Wayne, Vera Ralston, Walter Brennan, Ward Bond, Mike Mazurki, Ona Munson
Roles Un français
Rating58% 2.9465152.9465152.9465152.9465152.946515
En 1871, sur le territoire du Dakota, le joueur professionnel John Devlin rencontre 'Sandy', fille de Marko Poli, magnat du chemin de fer. Les deux jeunes gens se marient et s'enfuient, poursuivis par le père. Lors de leur périple, ils remontent une rivière vers le nord à bord du River Bird, commandé par le capitaine Bounce, et sont confrontés au gang de Jim Bender et de son second 'Bigtree' Collins...
Scotland Yard Investigator, 1h8
Directed by George Blair
Origin USA
Genres Action, Crime
Actors Edgar Barrier, Stephanie Bachelor, Erich von Stroheim, C. Aubrey Smith, Lionel Atwill, Forrester Harvey
Roles Jules
Rating60% 3.002213.002213.002213.002213.00221
When Paris is liberated during World War II, the Louvre administration plans to fetch the Mona Lisa from its safehouse in the National Art Gallery in London. The man in charge of the Mona Lisa's safety is none other than Sir James Collison, director of the National Gallery. In regards to the safety of the Mona Lisa, Collison works closely together with his granddaughter Tony.
The Hitler Gang, 1h41
Directed by John Farrow
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War, Documentary, Historical
Themes Politique, Documentary films about war, Documentary films about historical events, Documentaire sur une personnalité, Hitler, Political films, Documentary films about World War II
Actors Roman Bohnen, Martin Kosleck, Victor Varconi, Luis van Rooten, Walter Abel, Ivan Triesault
Roles Rudolph Hess
Rating66% 3.318933.318933.318933.318933.31893
In 1918 a young soldier called Adolf Hitler recovers from being gassed during World War I. At the behest of the German army, he joins German nationalistic parties, espousing theories that Germany lost the war because they were stabbed in the back. He rises to become dictator of Germany.
For Whom the Bell Tolls, 2h50
Directed by Sam Wood
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War, Thriller, Adventure, Historical, Romance
Themes Political films
Actors Gary Cooper, Ingrid Bergman, Akim Tamiroff, Joseph Calleia, Katína Paxinoú, Arturo de Córdova
Roles Primitivo
Rating67% 3.397453.397453.397453.397453.39745
During the Spanish Civil War, an American (Gary Cooper), who is allied with the republicans, gets involved in a mission to blow up an important bridge.
Reap the Wild Wind, 2h3
Directed by Cecil B. DeMille, Arthur Rosson
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Action, Adventure, Romance
Themes Seafaring films, Transport films
Actors Ray Milland, John Wayne, Paulette Goddard, Robert Preston, Susan Hayward, Charles Bickford
Roles Lubbock
Rating65% 3.2978953.2978953.2978953.2978953.297895
Au milieu du XIX siècle, seuls les grands voiliers ont la possibilité, avant l'arrivée du chemin de fer, d'assurer la liaison entre le Nord-Est des États-Unis et la vallée du Mississippi. Mais il faut tenir compte des récifs de Floride, où s'échouent les navires. Pilleurs d'épaves et sauveteurs s'affrontent...
My Favorite Blonde, 1h18
Directed by Frank Butler, Sidney Lanfield
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Spy
Themes Spy films, Transport films, Rail transport films, Road movies, Chase films
Actors Bob Hope, Madeleine Carroll, Gale Sondergaard, George Zucco, Macdonald Carey, Walter Kingsford
Roles Miller
Rating69% 3.4927753.4927753.4927753.4927753.492775
When a British secret agent is murdered in the line of duty, agent Karen Bentley inherits the mission from her partner. The mission is to deliver a flight plan for a hundred American bomber planes to a British agent in Chicago. The plans are hidden in a small medallion of a scorpion that Karen wears.
They Raid by Night, 1h13
Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War, Action
Themes Political films
Actors Lyle Talbot, June Duprez, Victor Varconi, George N. Neise, Charley Rogers, John Beck
Roles Col. Otto von Ritter
Rating44% 2.246792.246792.246792.246792.24679
The story follows the insertion of British Commandos into Norway to rescue a Norwegian general from captivity and take him to the United Kingdom to lead the Free Norwegian Forces.
Forced Landing, 1h7
Directed by Gordon Wiles
Origin USA
Genres Action, Adventure, Crime
Themes Transport films, Aviation films, Political films
Actors Richard Arlen, Nils Asther, J. Carrol Naish, Eva Gabor, Evelyn Brent, Mikhail Rasumny
Roles Hendrick Van Deuren
Rating55% 2.782542.782542.782542.782542.78254
In faraway tropical Mosaque, as soon as American pilot Dan Kendall {Richard Arlen) joins the country's Air Corps, he is in trouble. Along with his mechanic Christmas (Mikhail Rasumny), he is thrown into the military prison. His troubles start at a cantina after buying exotic beauty Johanna Van Deuren (Eva Gabor) a drink, not realizing he has antagonized her fiancé, Colonel Jan Golas (Nils Asther). A fight breaks out, leading to the pilot's arrest.
Federal Fugitives, 1h6
Directed by William Beaudine
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Crime, Romance
Themes Transport films, Aviation films
Actors Neil Hamilton, William Beaudine, Victor Varconi, Charles C. Wilson, Doris Day, Frank Shannon
Roles Otto Lieberman
Rating51% 2.582192.582192.582192.582192.58219
Government agent Captain James Madison (Neil Hamilton) spots a man in Washington D.C. that he thinks is Otto Lieberman (Victor Varconi), a fugitive that caused an aircraft crash that killed eight people. Without Lieberman's knowledge, Madison manages to identify him by his fingerprints on a water glass. He then learns his address after having his regular cab driver, Chuck (Lyle Latell), follow him. Lieberman has now assumed the identity of Dr. Frederic Haskell and is working with Bruce Lane (Charles C. Wilson), a wealthy lobbyist suspected of dealing with foreign agents.