German writer-director of commercially successful mainstream entertainments. The son of a theologian, Weiss began his career on stage in 1927 at the Staatstheater Berlin, turning to films in 1935. He gained experience as an assistant director to Kurt Hoffmann in the early 40's and made his first mark as a director in his own right with the hugely successful remake of the classic comedy
Die Feuerzangenbowle (1944), starring Heinz Rühmann. Weiss was the first German director to be permitted to make films after the war, his most popular output ranging from romantic Heimatfilms (
Das Schweigen im Walde (1955)) to farce (
Drei Mann in einem Boot (1961)).
