Casting Against Type

Once upon a time, a young Hungarian actor began his career in his native land, playing roles in stage plays and, in 1909, a passion play. He came from a devout Catholic family, and so naturally was quite proud to portray Christ. To commemorate the occasion, a series of photos were taken, then assembled icon-like into a collage.

Years later, after the political climates of Hungary and later Germany made him unwelcome, the young actor immigrated to the United States of America. After arriving at Ellis Island in 1921, he worked as a manual laborer. Later he began again to ply his trade as a stage actor, finally landing one big role in 1927 that earned him recognition. Four years later, cinema audiences saw the Hungarian reprise that same role again on the screen. The Hungarian was now a household name in his new country, with a face instantly recognized by millions. However, he was now stuck in the role that made him famous: for the rest of his life, he was stranded in that genre of film as his career deteriorated, culminating in a role in what is widely regarded as the worst film ever made. No-one remembered that the Hungarian who later played the Prince of Darkness had once also played the Prince of Peace.