Biography

Hanns Schwarz was born on February 11, 1888 in Vienna, Austria-Hungary [now Austria]. He was a director and writer, known for Petronella - Das Geheimnis der Berge (1927), Melody of the Heart (1929) and Murder for Sale (1930). He was married to Lissy Arna. He died on October 27, 1945 in Hollywood, California, USA.

When he went to Berlin in 1923 he was able to gain a foothold in the film business and was mostly engaged by the Ufa.

Hanns Schwarz already went to the USA in 1934 where he worked as a screen writer using the pen name Howard Shelton. Among others he wrote the movie "The Lottery Lover" (1935) with Lew Ayres, Pat Paterson and Sterling Holloway. This movie was directed by the likewise emigrated Wilhelm Thiele.

He was able to continue his film career in the 30s for a brief time and he directed the productions "Liebling der Götter" (1930) with the young Renate Müller.

After studies for Interior Design and painting which led him to Germany and France he ventured an educational journey through different countries like England and Egypt.

As a Jew it was not possible to go on with his film career from 1933 and he emigrated from Germany. He first went to France where he realised the movie "Coeurs joyeux" (1932) with Jean Gabin and Josseline Gaël and one year later he shot in England the movie "Prince of Arcadia" (1933) with Ida Lupino and Carl Brisson.