- By the mid-30's, Rabenalt had been tagged by the National Socialists as a 'cultural Bolshevist' and was initially restricted to work in France and Italy. From 1936, he was able to work in Austria and Germany, turning out popular, light entertainments, mainly romantic comedies, adventure films and musicals. At the time, he maintained that he was as an apolitical director, which rang true until he made the propagandist "Achtung! Feind hört mit!" (1940) and "... reitet für Deutschland" (1941), the latter being praised by the regime as 'politically valuable'. After the war, Allied authorities forbade him to work for two years, but Rabenalt managed to reestablish his reputation in the 1950's with operatic films and remakes of classics (as, for instance, "Alraune", in 1952). During the 60's, he was primarily active in television.
- In addition to his film work, he also wrote several novels plus several volumes of memoirs.
- Began directing for the stage in 1923 at the age of sixteen.
- After a performing prohibition of his short movie "Ein Kind, ein Hund, ein Vagabund" (1934) he also worked in France, Italy and Austria. He soon specialized in dance and circus movies, besides he shot movies at the beginning of the 40's which is said to have the character of propaganda, an estimation which Rabenalt constantly disputed.
- His 1958 film That Won't Keep a Sailor Down was entered into the 1st Moscow International Film Festival. Two years later, his 1960 film Big Request Concert was entered into the 2nd Moscow International Film Festival.
- Already at the age of 16 he directed for the first time - an opera at the Hessisches Landestheater Darmstadt. In the next years he directed several operas and made also his first direction experience at the Theater am Kurfürstendamm.
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