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Hildegard Knef
Knef-Cameron, Hildegard (Married name), Neff, Hildegarde (alias), Palastanga, Hildegard (Help Search), Knef, Hildegarde (Married name), Knef, Hildegard Frieda Albertine (Birth name)
actress, singer, authoress, painter
* 28.12.1925
† 01.02.2002 in Berlin
UFA provided Hildegard Knef with on-the-job acting training, giving the actress her first small film roles in 1943. After the Second World War, Knef began a remarkable stage and film career with her role of Susanne Wallner in the first postwar film in Germany ‘Die Mörder sind unter uns’ (GER, 1946, directed by Wolfgang Staudte). She performed in European films, shot others in Hollywood and with “Silk Stockings” celebrated a major success on Broadway. Ultimately, as of the 1960s, Knef established herself as an internationally-acclaimed singer and topped off her fame with a career as a bestselling author as well.
About the Estate
Finding Aid (PDF)Following Knef’s death, the Deutsche Kinemathek acquired her estate with funding from the Stiftung Deutsche Klassenlotterie and other sources. In 2005 it presented the exhibition “Hildegard Knef. Eine Künstlerin aus Deutschland” (Hildegard Knef: An Artist from Germany). The Hildegard Knef Archive is predominantly comprised of photos and photo albums, scrapbooks with press clippings and other written documents, as well as Knef’s wardrobe and awards.
The photo collection traces an era covering Knef’s childhood and adolescence in the 1920s and 1930s to her last public appearance in 2001. In between are almost all of Knef’s films (sometimes in complete albums), public appearances or also pictures documenting private moments with her respective partners and her daughter Tinta. Knef's artistic career can be followed and better understood through reviews and other coverage in the scrapbooks but the legendary scandals surrounding her public image are also expressed there. Her wardrobe provides a limited glimpse into the life of Hildegard Knef – it mostly consists of dresses, coats, shoes, hats and glasses from the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. The colourful sequined ensemble that Knef wore for her comeback with the group Extrabreit in 1993 is also among these articles of clothing.
Particularly noteworthy is the correspondence – often congratulatory notes, but also several letters ? among others with politicians such as Willy Brandt, Walter Scheel und Rainer Barzel or colleagues and artists including Paul Kohner, Günter Grass and Marlene Dietrich. In addition there are manuscripts for her books, including the original typescript for “Der geschenkte Gaul”, as well as diverse records and CDs, primarily with songs where she wrote the texts. In addition to the life and work of Knef, the archive also conveys an authentic view of the Federal Republic of Germany through the late 20th century. (Text: Nils Warnecke)
- Content
- Photography, Small object, Paper documents, Textile, Sound recording
- Description
- Approximate 5.4 Shelf metres
- Inv. No.
- 200218
- Credit Line
- Hildegard-Knef-Archiv, Deutsche Kinemathek
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Inc. Paul Kohner
* 1930
Script, Photography, Paper documents
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Will Tremper
1928–1998
Script, Photography, Paper documents
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Henry Koster
1905–1988
Analog video, Script, Photography, Small object, Paper documents
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Hans Schaller
1911–1966
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Visit the Archive
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