Alfred Abel

Alfred Abel (12 March 1879 – 12 December 1937) was a German film actor, director, and producer. He appeared in over 140 silent and sound films between 1913 and 1938. Abel’s most famous silent film performance was in Fritz Lang’s futuristic film, Metropolis (1927). In the film, he plays the arrogant Joh Fredersen, leader of the metropolis. Abel was renowned for his acting style characterized by his avoidance of dramatic gesturing. He learned to show the psychology and internal tensions of his characters with reserved expressions. With the advent of talkies, Abel contimued his sucessful career and starred in 38 films, working with directors such as Detlef Sierk, Anatole Litvak, and Paul Martin. Abel’s final film role was as Daffinger in Herbert Maisch’s Frau Sylvelin (1938), which was not released until after his death in 1937. —Kino International