Alexander Korda

Background

Alexander Korda was born on September 16, 1893 in Turkeve, Hungary. Son of Henry and Ernestine Korda.

Education

Born in Hungary, he attended high school in the provinces and then the Royal University in Budapest.

Career

He started a journalistic career in Budapest, taking an early interest in motion pictures. He turned a small building near the city into his first studio and began to produce films. He was in Paris in 1911 and 1912, studying filmmaking and working as a contributor to a Hungarian trade journal, and also writing film notices and theoretical articles. Korda founded and edited three Hungarian trade journals: Pest Movie (1912-1913). The Movie (1913), and Film Week (1915-1918).

He directed his first Hungarian film in 1915 and another eight in the summer of 1916, all in the framework of the company of the noted Hungarian theater director Jenoe Janovics in Kolozsvar (Cluj). He bought the company in 1918, took it to Budapest and established with this company Corvin Films, of which he became both manager and director, producing films based on works of Hungarian literature. In 1919 Korda participated in the proletarian dictatorship of Bela Kun as one of the heads of the motion picture organization, for which he was arrested when the regime fell.

Upon his release in November 1919, Korda emigrated to Vienna and, after some time in Berlin (where he made films for UFA Studios) and Paris, he went to Hollywood and finally settled in London, where he founded London Films Limited, one of the most important British film companies. Korda knew all the intricacies of the industry, had considerable talent, excellent taste, and great charm. In all, he produced 141 films but only directed eight of the movies made by Corvin Films. When, with the rise of I litter many film directors, writers, and actors fled to England, he stood by them and employed many of them.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Charmed Lives: A Family Romance 1979

Personality

He gave jobs to so many Hungarians that it has been said that there was a notice at his Piccadilly office; “It’s not enough to be Hungarian, you also need some talent.”

Connections

His first wife, Antonia Farkas, became known as the actress Maria Korda. His second wife was the American film star, Merle Oberon. His two brothers, Zoltán and Vincent, were his closest collaborators.

Father:

Henry Korda

Mother:

Ernestine Korda

Spouse:

Maria Farka

Spouse:

Merle Oberon

Brother:

Zoltán

Brother:

Vincent

References

• Alexander Korda : the man who could work miracles
  1975
• Alexander Korda: A Biography
  1959