Extract from Extract from
Everyman Everyman
LONDON LONDON
1. 1931 1. 1931
Arthur Schnitzler by Hetty Landstone Arthur Schnitzler by Hetty Landstone
Dr. Arthur Schnitzler, the Viennese dramatist, died last week Dr. Arthur Schnitzler, the Viennese dramatist, died last week
HAD the HAD the
term invented by him, which is difficuit to term invented by him, which is difficuit to
privilege of privilege of
translate, meaning literally “ sweet girl translate, meaning literally “ sweet girl
Kvisiting Arthur Kvisiting Arthur
best girl.” The nearest prototype to it is best girl.” The nearest prototype to it is
Schnitzler last Schnitzler last
perhaps the midinette of Paris. It was alleged perhaps the midinette of Paris. It was alleged
summer, at his summer, at his
by the Antisemites that he had not only in by the Antisemites that he had not only in
beautiful private beautiful private
vented the term, but also created the type, as vented the term, but also created the type, as
house on the out house on the out
the girls of Vienna modelled themselves on the girls of Vienna modelled themselves on
skirts of Vienna skirts of Vienna
the heroines of their favourite author with the heroines of their favourite author with
where he lived a where he lived a
their light and easy morais. their light and easy morais.
quiet, well ordered quiet, well ordered
While writing of the smart set, the young While writing of the smart set, the young
life, alone. life, alone.
author was naturally moving among them and author was naturally moving among them and
daughter, a beauti daughter, a beauti
with them. He was looked upon as a man about with them. He was looked upon as a man about
ful girl and the ful girl and the
town and an exquisite, while few remembered his town and an exquisite, while few remembered his
apple apple
of of
race or his origin. After writing some thirty or race or his origin. After writing some thirty or
father's eye, who father's eye, who
forty novels and plays, running up and down forty novels and plays, running up and down
made a love match made a love match
the whole gamut of love and the senses, he the whole gamut of love and the senses, he
against his wishes against his wishes
Arthur Schnitzler Arthur Schnitzler
suddenly astonished and clectrified his follow¬ suddenly astonished and clectrified his follow¬
died three years died three years
ing with Weg ins Freie—“ The Road to the ing with Weg ins Freie—“ The Road to the
ago, under tragic circumstances. His son, a ago, under tragic circumstances. His son, a
Open,” a long novel, mostly autobio« aphical Open,” a long novel, mostly autobio« aphical
film actor, is working in Hollywood. film actor, is working in Hollywood.
in a setting of religious and social problems in a setting of religious and social problems
Schnitzler was a charming personality, with Schnitzler was a charming personality, with
painting with a sure pen Christian, Jew painting with a sure pen Christian, Jew
beautiful, sensitive hands, the hands of the beautiful, sensitive hands, the hands of the
Zionist and Antisemite, and their divergent Zionist and Antisemite, and their divergent
artist and the surgeon, that attracted the atten¬ artist and the surgeon, that attracted the atten¬
views. views.
tion even of strangers. The. lock of hair, tion even of strangers. The. lock of hair,
On the same lines is Professor Bernhardi On the same lines is Professor Bernhardi
hanging down the middle of his forehead, that hanging down the middle of his forehead, that
produced in 1911, which ells of the clash produced in 1911, which ells of the clash
had been famous in the “ Café Europa and had been famous in the “ Café Europa and
between the Jewish doctor at a Viennese hos¬ between the Jewish doctor at a Viennese hos¬
all over Vienna, when it was pure gold, was all over Vienna, when it was pure gold, was
pital and a Catholic priest, each doing his duty pital and a Catholic priest, each doing his duty
now turning to silver. now turning to silver.
according to his own lights. This play was according to his own lights. This play was
He was the son of a throat specialist, and his He was the son of a throat specialist, and his
censored at first in Austria, owing to its sup¬ censored at first in Austria, owing to its sup¬
brother is still a famous surgeon in Vienna. brother is still a famous surgeon in Vienna.
posed disrespectful treatment of the State posed disrespectful treatment of the State
He himself was brought up to the medical He himself was brought up to the medical
religion. It has been performed in many religion. It has been performed in many
profession, and became an Army Medica profession, and became an Army Medica
languages all over Europe and an English ver¬ languages all over Europe and an English ver¬
Officer. While occupying this position, he Officer. While occupying this position, he
sion by myself has been published and was sion by myself has been published and was
wrote Lieutenant Gustl, a biting censure of the wrote Lieutenant Gustl, a biting censure of the
recently produced by a Sunday society at the recently produced by a Sunday society at the
system of compulsory duelling. It is written system of compulsory duelling. It is written
in the form of a monologue, and is a wonderful in the form of a monologue, and is a wonderful
study of the shallow thoughts of an empty study of the shallow thoughts of an empty
mind. It aroused the indignation of the mind. It aroused the indignation of the
authorities, and the young doctor was forced to authorities, and the young doctor was forced to
resign from the Armý. After this, in the resign from the Armý. After this, in the
nineties, he took up writing as a profession nineties, he took up writing as a profession
But his medical knowledge was not wasted But his medical knowledge was not wasted
and is apparent in all his works, which are and is apparent in all his works, which are
imbued with a profound knowledge of human imbued with a profound knowledge of human
nature, and especially of the body. nature, and especially of the body.
Outside Austria, Schnitzler is known best Outside Austria, Schnitzler is known best
by his lighter comedies. The Anatol Dialogues, by his lighter comedies. The Anatol Dialogues,
translated by Granville-Barker, give us the translated by Granville-Barker, give us the
love affairs of a Viennese dandy. In Liebelei love affairs of a Viennese dandy. In Liebelei
or Flirtation we have the love theme, ending or Flirtation we have the love theme, ending
more tragically in duel and suicide. This play more tragically in duel and suicide. This play
was done at His Majesty’s Theatre, under the was done at His Majesty’s Theatre, under the
title Light of Love. The plot of the play is title Light of Love. The plot of the play is
slight, but the theme of the danger to youth of slight, but the theme of the danger to youth of
playing with love is handled deftly and the playing with love is handled deftly and the
characters are real, the play being a masterpiece characters are real, the play being a masterpiece
of technique. Other comedies produced in of technique. Other comedies produced in
English were Countess Miszi and Green English were Countess Miszi and Green
Cockatoo. In Freiwild or Fair Game, Schnitzler Cockatoo. In Freiwild or Fair Game, Schnitzler
indulged in another dramatic diatribe against indulged in another dramatic diatribe against
duelling. It must be remembered that duelling, duelling. It must be remembered that duelling,
although technically illegal, was not only although technically illegal, was not only
winked at in Austria, but practically enforced winked at in Austria, but practically enforced
by a so-called code of honour, until the Empire by a so-called code of honour, until the Empire
became a Republic. became a Republic.
In all his carly works, Schnitzler was the In all his carly works, Schnitzler was the
apostle of the flesh and its pleasures, preached apostle of the flesh and its pleasures, preached
in the frankest manner, though with an under¬ in the frankest manner, though with an under¬
lying vein of melancholy. He could write in lying vein of melancholy. He could write in
masterly manner of the “ Suesses Maedl" a masterly manner of the “ Suesses Maedl" a
Phoenix Theatre. Another startling feature o Phoenix Theatre. Another startling feature o
this play, coming from the exponent of light this play, coming from the exponent of light
love, is its almost exclusively male cast of love, is its almost exclusively male cast of
twenty-two, with only one female character, a twenty-two, with only one female character, a
nurse, who appears only in the first scene. nurse, who appears only in the first scene.
There could be no more complete contrast There could be no more complete contrast
than between this play and Reigen, in which than between this play and Reigen, in which
the author experienced difficulties with the the author experienced difficulties with the
Censor for very different reasons. In this play, Censor for very different reasons. In this play,
the physician, to whom there are no reserves, the physician, to whom there are no reserves,
treats of the physical aspects of love with the treats of the physical aspects of love with the
most brutal realism. It is in a series of ten most brutal realism. It is in a series of ten
dialogues, all in the same key. Even casy- dialogues, all in the same key. Even casy-
going Vienna was shocked when the play did going Vienna was shocked when the play did
at last manage to get on the stage in 1920. The at last manage to get on the stage in 1920. The
students rioted and police protection was students rioted and police protection was
required nightly for the theatre-going public. required nightly for the theatre-going public.
The outbreak probably had more of an anti¬ The outbreak probably had more of an anti¬
semitic than a purist source. The play is being semitic than a purist source. The play is being
produced at the Gate Theatre at present, in an produced at the Gate Theatre at present, in an
English version by N. Alexander. English version by N. Alexander.
Schnitzler's historical drama Medardus, Schnitzler's historical drama Medardus,
dealing with the Napoleonic occupation of dealing with the Napoleonic occupation of
Vienna, was given a magnificent production by Vienna, was given a magnificent production by
Reinhardt and is a regular standby at the Reinhardt and is a regular standby at the
Burgtheater in Vienna and in Berlin. Lately I Burgtheater in Vienna and in Berlin. Lately I
came across a passage in Rupert Brooke's came across a passage in Rupert Brooke's
memoirs, mentioning this play, which he saw memoirs, mentioning this play, which he saw
on his visit to Germany before the War. “ The on his visit to Germany before the War. “ The
best things in German culture,” he writes, best things in German culture,” he writes,
“seem to be written by Jews in Vienna “seem to be written by Jews in Vienna
Saw Der Junge Medardus, a Jewish journa¬ Saw Der Junge Medardus, a Jewish journa¬
list's version of the Dynasts,' but quite good. list's version of the Dynasts,' but quite good.
The play was done in full and took five The play was done in full and took five
hours. hours.
Schnitzler had a great vogue up to the time Schnitzler had a great vogue up to the time
of his death, and a very high reputation in of his death, and a very high reputation in
Austria, where the younger writers looked up Austria, where the younger writers looked up
to him as guide, philosopher and friend. to him as guide, philosopher and friend.
Although he had been writing for forty years, Although he had been writing for forty years,
his outlook was fresh and he was a modern of his outlook was fresh and he was a modern of
the moderns. the moderns.