William Markus
Finnish film director
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Karl William Marcus (formerly Söderström; 12 January 1917 – 10 October 1989) was a Finnish-British film director, actor, screenwriter, and producer who used the stage name William Markus.[1][2][3]
Actor
Screenwriter
Producer
William Markus | |
|---|---|
William Markus and Sonja Wigert in 1951 | |
| Born | Karl William Söderström 12 January 1917 |
| Died | 10 October 1989 (aged 72) Espoo, Finland |
| Occupations | Film director Actor Screenwriter Producer |
| Years active | 1944–1989 |
| Employer | Suomen Filmiteollisuus |
| Notable work | Miriam (1957) |
| Website | Finna |
Life and career
Markus was born in Liverpool, England, to an English mother and a Finnish father. He held dual citizenship in the United Kingdom and Finland.[4]
His acting career started in 1944, and he changed his surname from Söderström to Marcus.[1][5]
Traveler's Oases (1953) is a short film directed and starred by Marcus.[6] The story tells of a Finnish family, which lives in the United States of America.[6] The family visits famous Finnish cities and landmarks.[6]
Autuas Eversti (The Blessed Colonel, 1958) was censored because the Colonel came to life and rose from the coffin.[1][7] Eventually, the film was released from censorhip after removing unwanted scenes.[8]
Censorship also affected his next film, Verta käsissämme (Blood on our Hands), in 1958.[1] The film was censored four times.[9] Finland's foreign policy was heading towards Finlandization[10] Public outrage forced the censorship to be lifted.[1]
Marcus acted in the British film, The Wooden Horse in 1950.[5] The film was the third most popular film at the British box office in 1950.[11]
He acted in 14 films between 1944 and 1957.[12] He was a writer in six productions.[12]
He directed 13 films between 1953 and 1965.[12] Marcus was a film director at Suomen Filmiteollisuus.[1]
His film Miriam was entered into the 8th Berlin International Film Festival as an Official Selection.[13][1]
Anneli Sauli, Elina Pohjanpää, Tauno Palo, Olavi Virta, Pentti Siimes, Jussi Jurkka, and Åke Lindman performed in his films.[3]
Director
- Den heliga ilskan 1965
- Karl 1963
- Det förrädiska hjärtat 1963
- Ett fat amontillado 1963
- Lumisten metsien tyttö - Girl of the Snowy Forests 1960
- Verta käsissämme - Blood on our Hands 1958
- Autuas eversti - The Blessed Colonel 1958
- Miriam 1957
- Rakas varkaani - My Dear Robber 1957
- Neiti talonmies - Miss Janitor 1955
- Rakkaus kahleissa - Love in Chains 1955
- Taikayö - Magical Night 1954
- Matkailijan keitaita - Traveler's Oases 1953
Writer
- Det förrädiska hjärtat 1963
- Ett fat amontillado 1963
- Autuas eversti - The Blessed Colonel 1958
- Miriam 1957
- Neiti talonmies - Miss Janitor 1955
- Matkailijan keitaita - Traveler's Oases 1953
Actor
- Rakas varkaani - My Dear Robber 1957
- Matkailijan keitaita Traveler's Oases 1953
- Forsfararna 1953
- On lautalla pienoinen huvila - Small Villa on the Ferry 1952
- Suomalaistyttöjä Tukholmassa - Finnish Girls in Stockholm 1952
- Neljä rakkautta - Four Loves 1951
- Kenraalin morsian - General's Bride 1951
- Vain laulajapoikia - Just Singer Boys 1951
- The Wooden Horse - 1950
- Hornankoski 1949
- Hormoonit valloillaan - Hormones in Full Swing 1948
- Maaret - tunturien tyttö - Maaret - the Girl of the Fells 1947
- Tuhottu nuoruus - Destroyed Youth 1947
- Dynamiittityttö - Dynamite Girl 1944