History
- 1912 to 1932.
- 1933 to 1945.
- 1946 to 1990.
- 1990 to 2004.
- 2004 to present.
"Studio Babelsberg is capable of realizing large and outstanding films"
Ken Adam, Production Designer
History
1912 to 1932
In 1912, Studio Babelsberg will celebrate its 100th anniversary.
On February 12, 1912, the camera rolls for the first time in Babelsberg - Danish director Urban Gad is shooting Der Totentanz / The Dance of the Dead. After the end of the World War I, Deutsche Bioscop Gesellschaft merged with the German branch of French film studio Éclair “Decla” in Babelsberg to create “Decla Bioscop”.
1921, Decla Bioscop becomes part of Universum Film AG (Ufa) which was founded in 1917. In order to accommodate the production of Metropolis, Ufa builds a sound stage still in use to this day, "Marlene Dietrich Halle" in 1926.
By building the "Tonkreuz", Germany's first sound stage, the studio ushers into a new era, producing the first German language sound film in 1929, Melody of the Heart starring Willy Fritsch.
In 1930 the studio premieres The Blue Angel by Josef von Sternberg starring Marlene Dietrich and Emil Jannings.