Johan Marius Nicolaas Heesters, known professionally as JohannesHeesters, was a Dutch actor of stage, television and film, as well as a vocalist of numerous recordings and performer on the concert stage with a career dating back to the 1920s. He worked as an actor until his death and is one of the oldest performing entertainers in history, performing shortly before his death at the age of 108. Heesters was almost exclusively active in the German-speaking world from the mid-1930s and became a film star in Nazi Germany, which later led to controversy in his native country. He was able to maintain his popularity in Germany in the decades until his death.
Der Opernball is an operetta in three acts with music by Richard Heuberger, and libretto by Viktor Léon and Heinrich von Waldberg, based on the 1876 comedy Les Dominos roses by Alfred Delacour and Alfred Hennequin. The 1877 farce The Pink Dominos and the 1914 musical To-Night's the Night are other adaptations of the original play.
The White Horse Inn is a 1952 West German musical film directed by Willi Forst and starring Johanna Matz, Johannes Heesters and Walter Müller. It is based on the operetta The White Horse Inn and is part of the operetta film genre.
Schrammeln is a 1944 German film directed by Géza von Bolváry.
Gasparone is a 1937 German musical comedy film directed by Georg Jacoby and starring Marika Rökk, Johannes Heesters and Heinz Schorlemmer. It is based on the operetta Gasparone by Carl Millöcker with a libretto by F Zell and Richard Genée. It was shot at the Babelsberg Studios and on location in Croatia. The film's sets were designed by the art director Erich Kettelhut. It premiered at the Ufa-Palast am Zoo in Berlin.
Hello Janine! is a 1939 German musical film directed by Carl Boese and starring Marika Rökk, Johannes Heesters and Rudi Godden. It was shot at the Babelsberg Studios in Potsdam. The film's sets were designed by the art directors Ernst H. Albrecht and Erich Kettelhut. Along with Der Bettelstudent (1936) and Gasparone (1937) it helped establish Rökk as a major star, an effective replacement for La Jana. After the Second World War it was rereleased by Gloria Film.
Vienna Tales is a 1940 musical comedy film directed by Géza von Bolváry and starring Marte Harell, Olly Holzmann, and Hans Moser. The film is set in Imperial Vienna at the beginning of the twentieth century. The film's sets were designed by Hans Ledersteger and Ernst Richter.
The Congress Dances is a 1955 Austrian historical musical film directed by Franz Antel and starring Johanna Matz, Rudolf Prack and Hannelore Bollmann. It is a remake of the 1930 film The Congress Dances, about a romance that takes place during the Congress of Vienna in 1814.
Die Fledermaus is a 1946 German operetta film directed by Géza von Bolváry and starring Marte Harell, Johannes Heesters, and Will Dohm. It is based on Johann Strauss II's 1874 work of the same name.
Rose of the Mountain is a 1952 West German musical comedy film directed by Hubert Marischka and starring Marte Harell, Grethe Weiser and Waltraut Haas. It takes its German title from a popular 1947 song of the same name, which is used in the film as a melody. It was shot at the Spandau Studios in West Berlin and on location in Carinthia at the Hotel Karawankenblick in Pörtschach and around the lake of Wörthersee. The film's sets were designed by the art directors Willi Herrmann and Heinrich Weidemann.
My Aunt, Your Aunt is a 1939 German comedy film directed by Carl Boese and starring Ralph Arthur Roberts, Johannes Heesters, and Olly Holzmann. It was shot at the Babelsberg Studios in Berlin. The film's sets were designed by the art director Ernst H. Albrecht. Boese later directed a 1956 film of the same title.
My Husband's Getting Married Today is a 1956 West German comedy film directed by Kurt Hoffmann and starring Liselotte Pulver, Johannes Heesters and Paul Hubschmid.
Roses in Tyrol is a 1940 German musical comedy film directed by Géza von Bolváry and starring Hans Moser, Marte Harell, and Johannes Heesters. It is based on the 1891 operetta The Bird Seller by Carl Zeller, which has been turned into several films.
Insolent and in Love is a 1948 German romantic comedy film directed by Hans Schweikart and starring Johannes Heesters, Gabriele Reismüller and Charlott Daudert. It was shot at the Bavaria Studios in Munich. The film's sets were designed by the art director Hans Sohnle. The film was made in 1944 but it did not receive a national release until 1948. In 1950 it was distributed in Austria by Sascha Film.
Vienna Waltzes is a 1951 Austrian historical musical drama film directed by Emil E. Reinert and starring Marte Harell, Anton Walbrook and Lilly Stepanek. It is also known by the alternative title of Vienna Dances.
Opera Ball is a 1956 Austrian musical comedy film directed by Ernst Marischka and starring Johannes Heesters, Hertha Feiler and Josef Meinrad. Based on the 1898 operetta Der Opernball, it is part of the operetta film tradition. A previous film version had been made in 1939.
Opera Ball is a 1939 German musical comedy film directed by Géza von Bolváry and starring Heli Finkenzeller, Fita Benkhoff, and Marte Harell. An operetta film, it is based on the 1898 work of the same name composed by Richard Heuberger. In 1956 it was remade as Opera Ball in Austria with some of the same personnel.
Archduke Johann's Great Love is a 1950 Austrian historical romantic drama film directed by Hans Schott-Schöbinger and starring Marte Harell, O.W. Fischer and Christl Mardayn.
When a Woman Loves is a 1950 West German comedy film directed by Wolfgang Liebeneiner and starring Hilde Krahl, Johannes Heesters and Mathias Wieman. It is based on the play Don't Promise Me Anything by Charlotte Rissmann, which Liebeneiner had previously made into a 1937 film of the same title.
Espionage is a 1955 Austrian historical spy drama film directed by Franz Antel and starring Ewald Balser, Barbara Rütting and Gerhard Riedmann. It was shot at the Sievering Studios and on location in Vienna. The film's sets were designed by the art director Felix Smetana. It was based on the real story of Alfred Redl, an officer serving with Austrian Military Intelligence who was also secretly spying for the hostile Russian Empire before the First World War.
