Władysław Józef Neubelt (1 February 1879[a] – 9 July 1865) was a stage actor and director, associated with theatres in Warsaw and Kraków. He also has had several minor film roles. He is presumed to play in two 1902 silent short films titled Cabman's Adventure, and The Return of a Merry Fellow, made by Kazimierz Prószyński, which were the first two films to be made in Poland.

Władysław Neubelt
Born
Władysław Józef Neubelt

(1879-02-01)1 February 1879
Died9 June 1965(1965-06-09) (aged 86)
Occupation(s)Actor
Director
Years active1900–1939; 1945–1963

Biography

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A scene from 1902 silent short film Cabman's Adventure, which presumably features Neubelt in the role of a cabman.

Władysław Józef Neubelt was most likely born on 1 February 1879 in Elżbietów, Poland.[1] Some sources alternatively list his day and place of birth as 5 February 1879 in Warsaw, Poland.[2] He was a son of Józef Neubelt and Katarzyna Neubelt (née Czeszajko). He graduated gymnasium (middle school) in Siedlce, Poland, and in 1900, the drama school in the Warsaw. On 22 April 1900, he debuted in the Summer Theatre in Warsaw. Throughout his career he played in various theaters, mostly in Warsaw, but also in Łódź, Lublin, and Kraków.[1]

Neubelt also played in film. While his participation remains uncertain, it is assumed that he probably played the role of a cabman in two 1902 silent short films titled Cabman's Adventure, and The Return of a Merry Fellow. Both were filmed and created by Kazimierz Prószyński, and were the first two films to be filmed in Poland. This would make Neubelt, together with Kazimierz Junosza-Stępowski, the first actors to play in a Polish-made film.[2][3][4]

He also acted in two silent short films made by Paweł Puszkin. They were Uczta, realised in 1904, and W Wilanowie, realised in 1905.[5] Later in the 1930s he had several minor rolles in the feature films. He played in The Ten from Pawiak (1931), Duchess of Łowicz (1932), The Girl Looks for Love (1938), and Genius of the Stage (1939).[2]

He stopped acting following the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939. During the war he worked as a waiter in a cofeehouse in Warsaw. After the end of the Warsaw Uprising, he moved to Kraków, were in 1945, he began playing in the Juliusz Słowacki Theatre, and moved again to Poznań in the same year. There he played in the Polish Theatre. In 1948, he moved to Kraków, where he began playing in the City Drama Theatres. He played there until 1952, and since then, in he played in the Helena Modrzejewska National Old Theater.[1]

In 1951, he had an uncredited role in the feature film Youth of Chopin.[2] In the 1950s he also worked as a radio actor.[1]

Neubelt was a member of the Union of Polish Stage Artists, since its foundingin 1918. In 1959, he was awarded with the title of a distinguished member. He retired from acting in 1962.[1]

Neubelt died on 9 July 1965 in Kraków.[1]

Private life

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He was married twice. His first wife was Antonina Neubelt, and second Klara Pachman, whom he married in 1934.[1]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1902 Cabman's Adventure Cabman Silent short film; participation uncertain [5][2]
The Return of a Merry Fellow
1904 Uczta Silent short film
1905 W Wilanowie
1931 The Ten from Pawiak President of the court Uncredited
1932 Duchess of Łowicz
1938 The Girl Looks for Love Party attendant
1939 Genius of the Stage Lecture attendant
1951 Youth of Chopin Mayor Uncredited

Notes

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  1. ^ Some sources alternatively list his date of birth as 5 February 1879.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Władysław Neubelt". encyklopediateatru.pl (in Polish).
  2. ^ a b c d e "Władysław Neubelt". filmpolski.pl (in Polish).
  3. ^ Stanisław Janicki: Polskie filmy fabularne 1902–1988. Warsaw: Wydawnictwa Artystyczne i Filmowe, 1990, p. 9, ISBN 978-83-221-0503-0, OCLC 24209334. (in Polish)
  4. ^ Zuzanna Ducka-Lubas (21 October 2011). "'Antoś w Warszawie' – niezwykłe początki polskiego filmu". dziennik.com (in Polish).
  5. ^ a b "Wladyslaw Neubelt". imdb.com.