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Elisabeth Bergner
Ettel, Elisabeth (Birth name), Czinner, Elisabeth (Married name), Bergner, Lisl (Nickname)
actress
* 22.08.1897
† 12.05.1986 in London
Before Elisabeth Bergner turned to film in 1922, she had become a much sought-after and admired stage actress making appearances in Vienna, Munich and Berlin. She played Lulu in Wedekind’s “Erdgeist” (Earth Spirit), the title figure in Strindberg’s “Fräulein Julie” (Miss Julie) and the leading role in Shaw’s “Die heilige Johanna” (Saint Joan). Bergner became an international star through films such as ‘Nju’ (1924), ‘Der Geiger von Florenz’ (1926), ‘Fräulein Else’ and ‘Der träumende Mund’ (1932), all made under Paul Czinner’s direction.
About the Estate
Finding Aid (PDF)Christel Laatsch gave the collection to the Kinemathek in 1996 (b. 1911). She accompanied Bergner in 1971?72 on a stage tour of Eugene O’Neill’s play “Alle Reichtümer dieser Welt” (More Stately Mansions) and, as of 1976, became Bergner’s housekeeper and caretaker. The holdings comprise nearly 60 Leitz binders containing pasted and retyped press clippings, interviews, manuscripts with Bergner’s annotations, articles, numerous production photos and stills, copies of correspondence, as well as personal documents connected to Bergner’s theatre and film career.
In view of the National Socialists’ rise to power, as early as 1932, Elisabeth Bergner and her partner Paul Czinner, who was also Jewish, emigrated to Great Britain. The couple married in 1933. Christel Laatsch remained one of Bergner’s contacts in Germany. She informed the actress about Berlin’s film and theatre scene and assured her that not all Germans would reject her. In a letter dated 15 March 1933, one of Bergner’s relatives wrote about the foreclosure proceedings and household liquidation of the villa in Berlin-Dahlem, then described the exclusions and persecutions Jewish artists had to endure only a few weeks after Hitler assumed power (“Mein süßes Lisele” [My dear, sweet Lisele], 15 March 1933). In one of Bergner’s many letters (19 June 1934) addressed to the writer Albert Ehrenstein, a man still in love with her, it becomes apparent how much she looked after her colleagues in exile. Although she referred to herself as an “island for émigrés”, Bergner nevertheless stressed how much this role often took a toll on her.
Bergner wrote a set of letters to Paul Czinner in 1937 during a longer stay in Cortina d’Ampezzo that she later gave to Christel Laatsch for safekeeping. They provide some insights into her private life. Bergner’s husband also wrote little cards to his wife with loving sentiments, always signing “Dein Bimbo” [Your Bimbo].
Another small set of holdings from the actress’ collection, which Elisabeth Bergner personally gave to the Kinemathek in 1980, is also part of her archive. It is comprised primarily of English newspaper articles about Paul Czinner’s music film ‘The Royal Ballet’ (1960) with Margot Fonteyn in the lead and international press articles about his documentary ‘The Bolshoi Ballett’ (1957). (Text: Gerlinde Waz)
- Content
- Photography, Paper documents
- Inv. No.
- 199608
- Credit Line
- Sammlung Elisabeth Bergner, Deutsche Kinemathek
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In Other Institutions
Verwandte Personenarchive
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Elisabeth Bergner
1897–1986
Script, Paper documents
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More informationYou can use our collections for scholarly work, curatorial and publication research, or personal interest at no cost. Please get in touch with us in advance to schedule your visit. We look forward to welcoming you to our reading room.
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Get in touch
- for research
- for image use
- to schedule a visit to our reading room
- for all other questions, suggestions, and requests
Christiane Grün
+49 30 300903-45
cgruen@deutsche-kinemathek.deGunnar Gutschmidt
+49 30 300903-45
ggutschmidt@deutsche-kinemathek.de