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Learn How to Pronounce Emil Jannings | YouPronounce.it

How to Pronounce Emil Jannings

Quick Answer: In German, the name Emil Jannings is pronounced [ˈeːmɪl ˈjanɪŋs].
(Listen to the audio below for the stress and intonation)

Meaning and Context

Emil Jannings, born Friedrich Emil Janenz in 1884, was a monumental figure in Weimar-era cinema and a foundational pillar of German Expressionist film. His powerful, often tragic portrayals of characters consumed by pride and despair earned him the historic distinction of receiving the first-ever Academy Award for Best Actor at the inaugural Oscars ceremony in 1929, an award presented for his performances in The Last Command and The Way of All Flesh. Jannings' collaboration with visionary director F.W. Murnau on the seminal silent film 'The Last Laugh' (1924) demonstrated an unparalleled ability to convey profound emotion without dialogue, a feat of physical acting that influenced generations. His transition to sound cinema was cemented by his iconic role opposite Marlene Dietrich in 'The Blue Angel' (1930), where his portrayal of the humiliated Professor Rath became a cultural touchstone. As a pioneering German actor whose career spanned the transition from silent films to talkies, Jannings' legacy is inextricably linked to the history of cinema and continues to be studied by film historians and enthusiasts of classic film and Oscar history.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The primary spelling of the actor's name, Emil Jannings, is consistent and well-established. However, common errors and variations arise from phonetic misspellings and typographical mistakes. The most frequent typo is the omission of the second 'n', resulting in "Emil Janings". Another common error involves the first name, sometimes misspelled as "Emile Jannings", adding an unnecessary 'e' likely due to the French influence of the name Emile. Occasionally, his surname is confused with similar-sounding names, leading to erroneous spellings like "Jannings" or "Jennings". It is also worth noting that his birth name was Friedrich Emil Janenz, a spelling relevant for biographical completeness but not used for his professional career. When searching for information on his award, using the correct phrasing "first Academy Award for Best Actor" is crucial, as opposed to common but inaccurate paraphrases like "first Oscar winner for acting."

Example Sentences

Film scholars often cite Emil Jannings' performance in The Last Laugh as a masterclass in silent-screen pantomime and tragic depth.

To understand the evolution of the Oscars, one must study the career of Emil Jannings, who clinched the first Best Actor award for his work in two distinct American productions.

In The Blue Angel, Emil Jannings delivers a harrowing portrait of a man's social and psychological disintegration.

Despite his later controversial associations, Emil Jannings' technical prowess and emotional intensity secured his place as a giant of early German cinema.

A retrospective at the film archive featured several restored prints showcasing Emil Jannings' collaborations with directors like F.

W.

Murnau and Josef von Sternberg.

Related Pronunciations


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