Wilhelm Prager

The son of an exchange broker, Wihelm Prager (born in Augsburg 1n 1876) studies business before turning to theater, notably with Max Reinhardt. In 1919, Prager debuts in the UFA Shorts Department for which, until 1943, he will make over 150 films. He is mainly remembered for being the co-director of Ways to Strength and Beauty (1925), whose alleged subject is "modern physical culture", but which mainly exalts naturism. Besides this exception, most of Prager's short movies are educational (Kulturfilme), about horses (his hobby-horse!), customs, traditions and landscapes of Germany. Declared "Half-Jewish" in 1939 by the Gestapo, Wilhelm Prager was nevertheless allowed to remain a member of the Reichskammer, enabling him to work for four more years until his retirement in 1943. He died twelve years later on 20-4-1955.