Otto Wernicke

Otto Karl Robert Wernicke (30 September 1893, Osterode am Harz – 7 November 1965) was a German actor. He is best known for his role as police inspector Karl Lohmann in the two Fritz Lang films M and The Testament of Dr. Mabuse. Married to a Jewish woman, he was only able to continue working in Germany after the Nazi Party took power in 1933 because he received a special dispensation from the Reich Chamber of Culture. In 1943, he portrayed Captain Smith in Titanic, the first film on the subject which was simply titled Titanic, and the first to combine various fictional characters and subplots with the true events of the sinking; both conventions went on to become a staple of Titanic films. After being cast in 1944 in the propaganda epic Kolberg, he was added to the Gottbegnadeten-Liste, a list of artists considered crucial to Nazi culture which Joseph Goebbels compiled for Adolf Hitler's approval. Selected filmography Girls You Don't Marry (1923) Wo Menschen Frieden finden (1923) The Searching Soul (1925) Mrs Worrington's Perfume (1925) - Philipp Worrington The Gambling Den of Montmartre (1928) - Der Apache M (1931) - Inspector Karl Lohmann Storms of Passion (1932) - Police Commissioner Nacht der Versuchung (1932) Peter Voss, Thief of Millions (1932) - Pitt The Bartered Bride (1932) - Kezal - Heiratsvermittler The Naked Truth (1932) - Karl, Lokomotivführer The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1933) - Inspector Karl Lohmann Die blonde Christl (1933) - Franz Lechner S.A.-Mann Brand (1933) - Herr Brand The Tunnel (1933) - Bärmann The Fugitive from Chicago (1934) - Wolke, Werkmeister Achtung! Wer kennt diese Frau? (1934) - Thomas Burger The Switched Bride (1934) - Der Gefängnisdirektor Master of the World (1934) - Wolter, Oberingenieur Stupid Mama (1934) - Inspektor Beneke Between Heaven and Earth (1934) - Motz, Schieferbruchbesitzer Peer Gynt (1934) - Parker Knockout (1935) - P. F.