Karl Anton | |
|---|---|
 Anton, c. 1933 | |
| Born | 25 October 1898 |
| Died | 12 April 1979 (aged 80) West Berlin, West Germany |
| Other names | Karel Anton, Charles Anton |
| Occupation(s) | Film director Screenwriter Film producer |
| Years active | 1922–1963 |
| Spouses | |
Karl Anton or Karel Anton (25 October 1898 – 12 April 1979) was a Bohemian-born German film director, screenwriter and film producer.[1]
He was born in Prague on 25 October 1898. His father Wilhelm Anton (1861–1918) was a physician.[2] Anton studied medicine, but left the school after his father's death.[2] He started as a stage actor and director in Vienna, Linz and Prague. During the World War I Anton made amateur documentaries with his friends Karel Lamač and Otto Heller.[3] He directed his first movie, a lyrical drama Gypsies, in 1921. Anton is considered an early proponent of Czech lyrical cinema tradition.[3] He founded his own production companies Antonfilm (1923–30) and Sonorfilm (1930–32).[2]
After the international success of Tonka of the Gallows he worked in Paris for Paramount Pictures from 1932 to 1935. After leaving Paramount he moved to Germany in 1935.[2] He died in Berlin, Germany in 1979. Czech actor Raoul Schránil was his cousin.[2]
