Harry Baur
ActingAbout Harry Baur
Harry Baur (12 April 1880 – 8 April 1943) was a French actor. Initially a stage actor, Baur appeared in about 80 films between 1909 and 1942. He gave an acclaimed performance as the composer Ludwig van Beethoven in the biopic Beethoven's Great Love (Un grand amour de Beethoven, 1936), directed by Abel Gance, and as Jean Valjean in Raymond Bernard's version of Les Misérables (1934). He also acted in Victorin-Hippolyte Jasset's silent film, Beethoven (1909), and in La voyante (1923), Sarah Bernhardt's last film. In 1942, while in Berlin, to star in his last film Symphone eines Lebens, Baur's wife was arrested by the Gestapo and charged with espionage. His effort to secure her release led to his own arrest and torture. He was being falsely labelled as a Jew but confirmed freemason. He was released in April 1943, but died in Paris shortly after in mysterious circumstances. Academy Award-winning American actor Rod Steiger cited Baur as one of his favorite actors who had exerted a major influence on his craft and career.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Harry Baur reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 47 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Harry Baur's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 23% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Harry Baur remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Dark Eyes, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Harry Baur Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Harry Baur's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Harry Baur.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | Le Roman de Carpentier | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1957 | Stars Never Die | Self (archive footage) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1943 | Symphonie eines Lebens | Stefan Melchior, Dorfkantor | Flop | Similar → |
| 1941 | Sins of Youth | Monsieur Lacalade | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | Who Killed Santa Claus? | Gaspard Cornusse | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Volpone | Volpone | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | African Diary | Docteur Bourdet | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | President Haudecoeur | President Haudecoeur | Average | Similar → |
| 1938 | Le Patriote | Tsar Paul 1st | Flop | Similar → |
| 1938 | The Postmaster's Daughter | Virine, le maitre de poste | Flop | Similar → |
| 1938 | The Rebel Son | Taras Bulba | Average | Similar → |
| 1938 | Rasputin | Rasputin | Flop | Similar → |
| 1938 | Hatred | le capitaine Mollenard | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | Life Dances On | Alain Regnault | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | The Secrets of the Red Sea | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1937 | Sarati the Terrible | Cesar Sarati | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | The Life and Loves of Beethoven | Ludwig van Beethoven | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | Paris | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1936 | Nitchevo | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1936 | Taras Bulba | Tarass Boulba | Flop | Similar → |
| 1936 | The New Men | Bourron | Average | Similar → |
| 1936 | Samson | Jacques Brachart | Flop | Similar → |
| 1936 | The Golem | L'empereur Rodolphe II, roi de Bohème | Flop | Similar → |
| 1935 | Dark Eyes | Ivan Ivanovitch Petroff | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Crime and Punishment | Porphyre | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Behold the Man | Hérode | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | Moscow Nights | Peter Brioukow | Flop | Similar → |
| 1934 | Moscow Nights | Piotr Brioukow | Flop | Similar → |
| 1934 | A Man and His Woman | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1934 | Rothchild | Rothchild | Average | Similar → |
| 1934 | Les Misérables | Jean Valjean / Champmathieu | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | A Man's Neck | Commissaire Jules Maigret | Average | Similar → |
| 1933 | Criminal | Warden Brady | Flop | Similar → |
| 1933 | The Old Devil | Guillaume Vautier | Flop | Similar → |
| 1932 | The Three Musketeers | M. de Tréville | Average | Similar → |
| 1932 | The Red Head | Mr. Lepic | Hit | Similar → |
| 1931 | Moon over Morocco | M. de Marouvelle | Average | Similar → |
| 1931 | Polish Jew | Mathias | Flop | Similar → |
| 1931 | The Lost Course | Le Capitaine Kell | Flop | Similar → |
| 1931 | David Golder | David Golder | Average | Similar → |
| 1924 | The Clairvoyant | Monsieur Detaille | Flop | Similar → |
| 1916 | The Gold Chignon | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1916 | Flower of Paris | Harry Podge | Flop | Similar → |
| 1914 | Monsieur Lecoq | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1910 | L'Évasion de Vidocq | Vidocq | Flop | Similar → |
| 1909 | La Jeunesse de Vidocq ou Comment on devient policier | Vidocq | Flop | Similar → |
| 1908 | L'Assommoir | - | Average | Similar → |
Harry Baur - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Harry Baur?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Harry Baur is "Dark Eyes" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Harry Baur acted in?
Harry Baur has been featured in at least 47 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Harry Baur?
Other notable films include "Les Misérables", "Behold the Man", and "Hatred".