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Friday, November 11, 2016

Born Today November 11: József Katona


1791-1830

Hungarian writer Katona József (western name order used above), was born on this date in the city of Kecskemét.  Primarily a poet and playwright; he is often credited with being the creator of Hungarian drama and is well known for his historical play Bánk Bán.  His work first appeared in a motion picture in 1915 with staging of that same play, Bánk Bán (1915); a very early film by Kertész Mihály, who became very famous in Hollywood as Michael Curtiz.  This was the only known film of Katona's work in the silent era.  It wouldn't be until 1968 that another film of the same work was produced.  The most recent film of that same work came in 2002, and was produced in his native Hungary.  Katona died young at the age of 38 of a massive heart attack on 16 April in his offices in his birth city. He was a relatively unknown author during his short lifetime; he is now a national figure of great reknown in his native country. 




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