Hildegard Knef Exhibit at Berlin Film Museum

»It’s not easy for me to be here,« said widower Paul von Schell at the presentation of a small collection of items from the legacy of his wife, actress-singer-writer Hildegard Knef in the Berlin Film Museum. Shortly after the internationally celebrated artist died on 1 February 2002 ­ see memorial tribute in KINO 76 ­ her extensive legacy was pledged for preservation in Berlin. In his address von Schell underscored that no place other than Berlin had been considered for his wife’s legacy.
        Astonishing, to say the least, it contains 4500 photos, 90 volumes of news clippings, and 60 items of clothing, in addition to numerous film and theatre programs, correspondence, and award citations ­ all neatly itemized. »During my 25 years with her we must have moved at least 20 times ­ and before that Hilde had changed her address a hundred times or more.« The Film Museum is planning a large exhibit for Hildegard Knef in 2004. The present one (on view until 15 January 2003) offered just a glimpse ­ approximately 2% of the whole ­ into the film legacy that this exceptional, all around artist left behind. It did include, however, a bundle of awards and prizes.
       Eberhard Weissbarth’s quite impressive documentary, made with and about Hildegard Knef ­ zwischen gestern und heute (1990), could be seen as part of the exhibit. Born in 1925, Hildegard Knef became famous overnight in 1950 when she appeared naked for a few seconds in Willi Forst’s Die Sünderin (The Sinner) (1950). The scandal prompted an offer from Hollywood, where ­ as Hildegarde Neff ­ she was to achieve lasting fame on the screen and on the stage. In 1954, her appearance on Broadway in Cole Porter’s musical Silk Stockings was a stunning success ­ 675 performances as Ninotchka.

Dorothea Paschen