Beethoven (Das Leben des Beethoven)

With the great character actor Fritz Kortner (1892-1970) in the title role, the film traces the most important stages in the life of Ludwig van Beethoven and links his life with his great works such as the 2nd Symphony, Eroica, 5th and 9th Symphonies, Fidelio and Missa Solemnis. The film was produced on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the composer's death (March 23, 1927) and is a fine example of early media exploitation of popular artist biographies. It was made in the summer of 1926 in the Listo Film Studios in Vienna-Schönbrunn and had its cinema premiere on 18 February 1927. The contemporary Austrian press noted as a special quality that the film was made on original locations, which can only mean Schönbrunn Palace.

The restored version comes from the Filmarchiv Austria and is the French export version. This French version, shortened by 10 minutes, is the only surviving version of the film. The lost original version with the subtitle 'In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the death of the singer of eternity' had a length of 80 minutes and went into more detail about the works of the major creative phase (5th and 9th symphonies).