Bruno Balz

Bruno Balz (6 October 1902, in

From the time he wrote the music for the first German sound film until his retirement in the 1960s, Balz was responsible for the lyrics to over a thousand popular hits. Much of his output was in conjunction with the composer Michael Jary; their songs helped make the singer Zarah Leander popular.

Balz was arrested several times for

The fall of the Nazi regime did not spell an end to the persecution of Balz, as Paragraph 175, the law against homosexuality, continued in force. Thus his name is considerably less well-known than if he had been properly credited for his lyrics.

Balz's companion was painter and actor Jürgen Draeger, who was enjoined by a clause in Balz's will from talking about their relations for ten years following Balz's death.

The Bruno Balz Theatre in Berlin is named for him.

Selected filmography

• It's You I Have Loved (1929)
• Journey to Happiness (1948)
• Cuba Cabana (1952)

Songtexts

• Das kann doch einen Seemann nicht erschüttern (melody:
  Paradies der Junggesellen
  )
• Wir wollen niemals auseinandergehn" (melody:Michael Jary)
• Das machen nur die Beine von Dolores (melody:Michael Jary)
• Kann denn Liebe Sünde sein? (
  Der Blaufuchs
  )
• Roter Mohn (Michael Jary, in: Schwarzfahrt ins Glück)
• Der Wind hat mir ein Lied erzählt (Lothar Brühne, in:
  La Habanera
  )
• Davon geht die Welt nicht unter (Michael Jary, in: Die große Liebe)
• Ich weiß, es wird einmal ein Wunder gescheh'n (Michael Jary, in: Die große Liebe)
• Ich sende dir Rosen (Red Roses for a Blue Lady')
• Turandot, bezaubernde Turandot (music by
  Gunther Stapenhorst
  )

References

External links

• Bruno Balz at
  IMDb