Remembering Konrad Petzold

Konrad Petzold was born the youngest of six children on April 26, 1930 in Radebeul, Germany. After World War II he organized a youth theater in Radebeul. He then passed the entrance exam and was admitted to DEFA Studios in 1949 and attended drama school until 1951. He acted in small stage roles at this time and passed his final exams. He then attended FAMU film school in Prague, Czechoslovakia. During this time Konrad became an assistant director on several DEFA films. In 1956 he directed the childrens film “Die Fahrt nach Bamsdorf”. He then earned recognition for his childrens film “Der Moorhound”. After several more childrens films he directed four Indianer films featuring actor Gojko Mitic including: “White Wolves” and “Fatal Error” both 1969, “Osceola” (1974) and “The Scout” (1982) for which he also wrote the screenplay. He also directed the Jack London Alaskan western “Kit & Co” (1974) starring Dean Reed. Petzold then drifted into directing television shows. Petzold died on November 12, 1999 in Kleinmachnow, Germany. Today we celebrate Konrad Petzold on what would have been his 80th birthday.