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Max Ophuls

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Filmmaker

The Resume

    (May 6, 1902-March 25, 1957)
    Born in Saarbrucken, Germany
    Birth name was Maximillian Oppenheimer
    Directed 'Leibelei' (1933), 'The Exile' (1947), 'Letter from an Unknown Woman' (1948), 'Caught' (1949), 'The Reckless Moment' (1949), 'La Ronde' (1950), 'The Earrings of Madame de...' (1953) and 'Lola Montes' (1955)

Why he might be annoying:

    He had an unsuccessful career as a stage actor before taking up directing.
    He changed his name so his family would not be embarrassed if he failed.
    He was a detail-obsessed perfectionist.
    Most of his films were box office disappointments.
    James Mason wrote a poem mocking his fondness for elaborate camera movements. (Sample couplet: 'A shot that does not call for tracks/Is agony for poor old Max.')

Why he might not be annoying:

    He fled Nazi Germany and became a French citizen.
    He made anti-Nazi broadcasts for French radio.
    His admirers included Francois Truffaut, Stanley Kubrick and Paul Thomas Anderson.
    His son Marcel also became a director, best known for the documentary 'The Sorrow and the Pity.'
    He said about his obsession with detail, 'The most insignificant, the most unobtrusive among them, are often the most evocative, characteristic and even decisive. Exact details make art.'
    'The Earrings of Madame de...' was named the best film of all time by Andrew Sarris and described as 'perfection' by Pauline Kael.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 8 Votes: 87.50% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 9 Votes: 88.89% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 19 Votes: 42.11% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying