Ludwik Starski

Who was Ludwik Starski?

Ludwik Starski was a well-known Polish Jewish lyricist, sound engineer and screenwriter of the twentieth century. He was the father of the cinematographer Allan Starski, who often worked with movie director Andrzej Wajda. Ludwik worked with Eugeniusz Bodo, Władysław Szpilman and with Tadeusz Sygietyński.

Before the Second World War he was a journalist with the newspaper Express Wieczorny Ilustrowany. He was also a lyricist of songs for cabarets, cafés and theater, including theater Qui Pro Quo, Gong, Morskie Oko, Perskie Oko, in Warsaw. Some of his songs were performed by singer Irena Santor to the music of composer Władysław Szpilman. Starski worked with singer actor Eugeniusz Bodo and wrote lyrics to some of his hit songs including Sex Appeal.

Between 1934 and 1978, he wrote a score of films for which he was also an engineer.

He married Maria Bargielska; they had one son, Allan Starski, who became an Academy Award winning production designer and set decorator. Ludwik Starski was the brother of journalist and writer Adam Ochocki.