Helmut Käutner’s Passport 1938
I randomly found his passport offered at an antique shop. Unfortunately, the condition is bad and the seller’s price was quite high. However, Helmut Käutner is one of the most important directors of the post-WWII area, and I am sure you know his movies mentioned below. Here is his passport. Helmut Käutner’s Passport
Helmut Käutner
Born March 25, 1908, in Düsseldorf; Died April 20, 1980, in Castellina in Chianti, Italy. He was a German director, actor, and cabaret artist. One of the most influential film directors of post-war German cinema and became known for his ambitious literary adaptations. He also had great success with radio plays at Radio Hamburg (later NWDR). He also appeared as a songwriter for several of his films. Helmut Käutner’s Passport
Käutner was not a member of the resistance, but he was able to maintain a certain independence in his work during the Nazi period. He made Kitty und die Weltkonferenz, a film that was banned by the censors for being pro-British.
Films
With Große Freiheit Nr. 7 and Unter den Brücken, he created two films that, in their emphasis on the individual, strongly contradicted the worldview of the National Socialists and that German audiences did not get to see until after the end of National Socialism. The films Kleider machen Leute and Romanze in Moll also deviated from patterns of National Socialist film ideals.
Post War Helmut Käutner’s Passport
In 1947, he made his first film after the World War with In jenen Tagen, a rubble film describing post-war reality. In the next few years, he did not succeed with films like Der Apfel ist ab (1948) or Königskinder (1950). By 1954, he succeeded with the anti-war film The Last Bridge at the 1954 Cannes Film Festival and received the Prix International for it.
In the following years, he had great success with films such as Ludwig II: Glanz und Ende eines Königs. As well as the Zuckmayer adaptations Des Teufels General with Curd Jürgens in 1955, 1956, and 1958. Der Hauptmann von Köpenick with Heinz Rühmann and Der Schinderhannes, again with Curd Jürgens.
In 1959, he filmed Ein Fremder in meinen Armen (A Stranger in My Arms) in the USA, with Charles Coburn and Sandra Dee, among others. Helmut Käutner’s Passport
The Passport of German Director and Actor W. Lukschy
FAQ Passport History pasaporte passeport паспорт 护照 パスポート جواز سفر पासपोर्ट
1. What are the earliest known examples of passports, and how have they evolved?
The word "passport" came up only in the mid 15th Century. Before that, such documents were safe conducts, recommendations or protection letters. On a practical aspect, the earliest passport I have seen was from the mid 16th Century. Read more...
2. Are there any notable historical figures or personalities whose passports are highly sought after by collectors?
Every collector is doing well to define his collection focus, and yes, there are collectors looking for Celebrity passports and travel documents of historical figures like Winston Churchill, Brothers Grimm, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Read more...
3. How did passport designs and security features change throughout different periods in history, and what impact did these changes have on forgery prevention?
"Passports" before the 18th Century had a pure functional character. Security features were, in the best case, a watermark and a wax seal. Forgery, back then, was not an issue like it is nowadays. Only from the 1980s on, security features became a thing. A state-of-the-art passport nowadays has dozens of security features - visible and invisible. Some are known only by the security document printer itself. Read more...
4. What are some of the rarest and most valuable historical passports that have ever been sold or auctioned?
Lou Gehrig, Victor Tsoi, Marilyn Monroe, James Joyce, and Albert Einstein when it comes to the most expensive ones. Read more...
5. How do diplomatic passports differ from regular passports, and what makes them significant to collectors?
Such documents were often held by officials in high ranks, like ambassadors, consuls or special envoys. Furthermore, these travel documents are often frequently traveled. Hence, they hold a tapestry of stamps or visas. Partly from unusual places.
6. Can you provide insights into the stories behind specific historical passports that offer unique insights into past travel and migration trends?
A passport tells the story of its bearer and these stories can be everything - surprising, sad, vivid. Isabella Bird and her travels (1831-1904) or Mary Kingsley, a fearless Lady explorer.
7. What role did passports play during significant historical events, such as wartime travel restrictions or international treaties?
During war, a passport could have been a matter of life or death. Especially, when we are looking into WWII and the Holocaust. And yes, during that time, passports and similar documents were often forged to escape and save lives. Example...
8. How has the emergence of digital passports and biometric identification impacted the world of passport collecting?
Current modern passports having now often a sparkling, flashy design. This has mainly two reasons. 1. Improved security and 2. Displaying a countries' heritage, icons, and important figures or achievements. I can fully understand that those modern documents are wanted, especially by younger collectors.
9. Are there any specialized collections of passports, such as those from a specific country, era, or distinguished individuals?
Yes, the University of Western Sidney Library has e.g. a passport collection of the former prime minister Hon Edward Gough Whitlam and his wife Margaret. They are all diplomatic passports and I had the pleasure to apprise them. I hold e.g. a collection of almost all types of the German Empire passports (only 2 types are still missing). Also, my East German passport collection is quite extensive with pretty rare passport types.
10. Where can passport collectors find reliable resources and reputable sellers to expand their collection and learn more about passport history?
A good start is eBay, Delcampe, flea markets, garage or estate sales. The more significant travel documents you probably find at the classic auction houses. Sometimes I also offer documents from my archive/collection. See offers... As you are already here, you surely found a great source on the topic 😉
Other great sources are: Scottish Passports, The Nansen passport, The secret lives of diplomatic couriers
11. Is vintage passport collecting legal? What are the regulations and considerations collectors should know when acquiring historical passports?
First, it's important to stress that each country has its own laws when it comes to passports. Collecting old vintage passports for historical or educational reasons is safe and legal, or at least tolerated. More details on the legal aspects are here...
Does this article spark your curiosity about passport collecting and the history of passports? With this valuable information, you have a good basis to start your own passport collection.
Question? Contact me...
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