Frederick Stephani
Frederick Stephani (June 13, 1903 – October 31, 1962) was a screenwriter and film director. He is best known for co-writing and directing the 13-chapter science fiction serial Flash Gordon in 1936. The serial became Universal's second highest-grossing productions that year.
Frederick Stephani
- Name
- Frederick Stephani
- Born
- 13 June 1903
- Birthplace
- Bonn, Germany
- Died
- 31 October 1962
- Place of death
- Los Angeles, California
- Field
- Filmmaking
- Nationality
- United States
- Occupation
- screenwriter · film producer · writer · manufacturer · director
- Fields
- film production
- Known for
- Flash Gordon
- Languages
- English
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Frederick Stephani (June 13, 1903 – October 31, 1962) was a screenwriter and film director. He is best known for co-writing and directing the 13-chapter science fiction serial Flash Gordon in 1936. The serial became Universal's second highest-grossing productions that year.
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Frederick Stephani (1903–1962) was an American director, film producer and manufacturer, among other activities. Born in Bonn, the director died in Los Angeles. Frederick Stephani was active in film production.
Works include Flash Gordon. Languages used include English.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 01 October 2026
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wikidata · Q5498786 · wikipedia · Frederick Stephani
In this article
Biography
Biography
Despite its success, this was the first and only serial Stephani directed over the course of his career, possibly due to its shortcomings in special effects and overall production values, even by contemporary standards. Stephani continued to write, produce and direct feature films and television episodes into the 1960s.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Frederick Stephani • Born — 13 June 1903 • Birthplace — Bonn, Germany • Died — 31 October 1962 • Place of death — Los Angeles, California • Field — Filmmaking • Works — Flash Gordon
Selected filmography
Selected filmography
• Flash Gordon (1936) - writer and director • Fast Company (1938) - producer • Tarzan's New York Adventure (1942) - producer • Steve Randall (1952, TV series) - writer and director • Passport to Danger (1954, TV series) - writer and director • Bombs on Monte Carlo (1960) - writer • The Deputy (1961, TV series) - director
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1903
Frederick Stephani born at Bonn.
1962
Frederick Stephani died at Los Angeles.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Bonn.
Birth place
Los Angeles.
Death place
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q5498786: Frederick Stephani
General reference · Wikidata
reference work
- “Frederick Stephani”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.McFarland. The Flash Gordon Serials, 1936-1940: A Heavily Illustrated Guide. 13. 2008. 978-0786434701.
- 2.Fischer, Dennis. Science Fiction Film Directors, 1895-1998. McFarland & Company, Inc. 15. 2000. 0-7864-0740-9.
- 3.Fletcher, Anthony. Don't Dare Miss the Next Thrilling Chapter. Mill City Press, Incorporated. 97. 2009. 978-1936107186.
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authority record
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Secondary witness
Further particulars
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Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
Frederick Stephani is recorded as screenwriter, film producer, writer, manufacturer and director.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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