Fertner, Antoni

(1874-1959)

   Popular actor before 1939. After appearing in 1908 in a short comedy, Antoś for the First Time in Warsaw (Antoś pierwszy raz w Warszawie, Joseph Meyer), Fertner became the first recognizable "star" of Polish cinema. On the screen he created a fun-loving, chubby character from the provinces, Antoś, an extension of his own popular theatrical and cabaret performances in Warsaw. During World War I, Fertner continued his career in Russia working for, among others, Alexander Khanzhonkov's studio. He appeared in more than thirty Russian films, earning the nickname "the Russian Max Linder." He reemerged in Polish cinema in the 1920s and became particularly popular playing mostly supporting roles in 1930s comedies, such as Michał Waszynski's Antek, the Police Chief (1935) starring Adolf Dymsza. His presence was important in several classic musical comedies, such as Ada! Don't Do That! (1936, Konrad Tom) and Forgotten Melody (1938, Konrad Tom and Jan Fethke). After 1945 Fertner played in Kraków theaters. He never appeared in postwar films.

   Historical Dictionary of Polish Cinema by Marek Haltof