Henry Koster
| Henry Koster | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born |
Hermann Kosterlitz May 1, 1905 Berlin, German Empire |
| Died | September 21, 1988 (aged 83) Camarillo, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | director, screenwriter, producer |
| Years active | 1925 - 1967 |
| Spouse(s) | Kató Király (1935-1941; divorced; 1 child) Peggy Moran (1942-1988; his death; 2 children) |
Henry Koster (May 1, 1905 – September 21, 1988) was born Hermann Kosterlitz to Jewish parents in Berlin, Germany. He became a film director and later moved to Hollywood. He was the husband of actress Peggy Moran.
Koster was introduced to cinema about 1910 when his uncle opened a very early movie theater in Berlin. Koster's mother played the piano to accompany the films, leaving the young boy to occupy himself by watching the films. After working initially as a short story writer, Kosterlitz was subsequently hired by a Berlin movie company as scenarist, became assistant to director Curtis Bernhardt. Bernhardt became sick one day and asked Kosterlitz to take over as director.
In 1932, Koster directed his first film in Berlin, the comedy Thea Roland. Koster, who was in the midst of directing his second film Das häßliche Mädchen, had already been the subject of antisemitism, and knew he had to leave. He lost his temper at an SA officer at his bank during lunch hour, and knocked the officer out. When the film, written by Koster with Felix Joachimson, had its premiere in autumn 1933 their names were deleted and both went into exile. Koster left Germany for France, where he was rehired by Bernhardt (who had left earlier). Eventually Koster went to Budapest and met and married Kató Király in 1934. In Budapest he met Joe Pasternak again, who represented Universal in Europe, and directed three films for him. One of those films was Catherine the Last after a script by Joachimson and Károly Nóti that was remade in 1938 by Norman Taurog as The Girl Downstairs both versions starring Franciska Gaal.
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