How did Michael Curtiz begin his career in the Hungarian theatre and film industry?

Michael Curtiz’s entry into the arts began after he studied acting at Budapest’s Royal Academy of Theatre and Art. Following his stage debut in 1910, he acted in and potentially directed stage plays before transitioning to the screen.1

His film career launched when he starred in—and possibly directed—Ma és holnap (1912; Today and Tomorrow), which is recognized as the first feature film produced by the nascent Hungarian film industry. Following this, he gained experience internationally, including a six-month period in Denmark where he acted in the film Atlantis (1913).1

After serving in the Austro-Hungarian army during World War I, he returned to filmmaking by creating Red Cross fund-raising documentaries. By 1916, he had established himself as one of the most significant directors in Hungary before eventually leaving the country in 1919.1