Hildegard Knef

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Hildegard Knef

Hildegard Frieda Albertine Knef (December 28, 1925 - February 1, 2002) was a German actress, singer and writer. She was billed in some English language films as Hildegard Neff or Hildegarde Neff.

Early years

She began studying acting in 1940, aged 14. She appeared in several films even before the fall of the Third Reich, but most were not released until after World War II. She was forced to dress as a young man to avoid being raped by the Soviet soldiers and was sent to a POW camp.

Her best-known film roles were as:

• Susanne Wallner in Wolfgang Staudte's film Die Mörder sind unter uns (The Murderers Are Among Us) (the first film released after the Second World War in East Germany and produced by the Soviet filmmaking enterprise DEFA-Studio für Spielfilme)
  
• Marina in Die Sünderin (The Sinner), in which she performed the first nude scene in German film history, in 1950. The nude scene caused one of the largest scandals in German filmmaking history up until that time. When the Roman Catholic Church protested vehemently she responded “I can't understand all that tumult - five years after Auschwitz!"
  

United States

David Selznick invited her to Hollywood, but she refused to agree to the conditions of the contract which reportedly included changing her name to Gilda Christian and pretending to be Austrian rather than German.

Years later, Knef's first husband, an American named Kurt Hirsch, encouraged her to try again for success in the USA. She changed her name from Knef to Neff and achieved a measure of stardom on Broadway as “Ninotchka” in the Cole Porter musical, Silk Stockings.

Chanteuse

She began a new career in 1963 as a singer and surprised her audiences with the deep, smoky quality of her voice and the many lyrics, which she wrote herself. Fans around the world rallied in her support as she defeated cancer several times. She returned to Berlin after the reunification.

In the 1960s and 1970s she enjoyed considerable success as a singer of German chansons, which she often co-wrote. The song she is mostly remembered for is "Für mich soll's rote Rosen regnen" ("It shall rain red roses for me"). She is also known for her version of the song "Ich hab noch einen Koffer in Berlin" ("I've got a suitcase left in Berlin"). She sold more than three million records in total.

Publications

She published several books. Her autobiography Der geschenkte Gaul - Bericht aus einem Leben (The Gift Horse - Report of a Life) from 1970 was a candid recount of her life in Germany during and after World War II. It became the best-selling German book after World War II. Her second book "Das Urteil" ("The Verdict") from 1975 was a moderate success. It dealt with her struggle with breast cancer.

Family

She was married three times and had a daughter, Christina (born May 16, 1968) by her second marriage, to David Cameron.

Death

Knef died from emphysema, aged 76, on February 1, 2002.

Trivia

Height: 1,68 m

Spouse:

Paul von Schell (1977 - 1. Feb 2002 (her death))

David Cameron (1962 - 1976(divorced)(one child))

Kurt Hirsch (1947 - 1952(divorced))

Known in the US as Hildegard Neff, but she used her real name when performing back home in Germany.

Knef launched a career as a singer in the 1960s and wrote a best-selling 1970 autobiography.

Close personal friend of Marlene Dietrich, despite being in the legend's international shadow for much her career.

Was the cover girl for Modern Man Magazine August 1956.

Sister-in-law of Catherine Schell.

Knef launched a career as a singer in the 1960s and wrote her bestselling autobiography "Der geschenkte Gaul - Bericht aus meinem Leben" ("The Gift Horse - Report from my life") in 1970.

Her nude scene as "Marina" in Die Sünderin (1951), the first in German filmmaking, drew the criticism of the Roman Catholic Church.

Ella Fitzgerald called her "the best singer without voice".

Became a natural citizen of the United States in 1950.

Gave birth to her daughter Christina on 16 May 1968.

Hildegard trusted her clothing and gowns to one person who was based in New York. It was Irish born Thomas Starr, grandfather of fashion designer Karen Starr-DelloIacono.

Filmography:

Actress:

1. Wie angelt man sich einen Müllmann? (2001) (TV) .... (unfinished)
   
2. Eine fast perfekte Hochzeit (1999) .... Marlene Wolf-Schönberg - Hennys Tante
   ... aka An Almost Perfect Wedding (International: English title)
   
3. "Peter Strohm" (1 episode, 1995)
   - Die Gräfin (1995) TV episode
   
4. "Die Stadtindianer" (1994) TV series (unknown episodes)
   
5. Tödliches Erbe (1994) (TV) .... Lore Olmer
   
6. "Berlin Break" (1993) TV series .... Baroness von Althausen (unknown episodes)
   
7. "Haus am See" (1992) TV series .... Lilly Tüllmann
   
8. "V comme vengeance" .... Gina (1 episode, 1992)
   - Champ clos (1992) TV episode .... Gina
   
9. "Ein Schloß am Wörthersee" .... Rutila (1 episode, 1990)
   ... aka "Lakeside Hotel"
   - Adel verpflichtet zu nichts (1990) TV episode .... Rutila
   
10. La casa 4 (Witchcraft) (1988) .... Lady In Black
    ... aka Evil Dead 4 (Italy: informal title)
    ... aka Ghosthouse 2 (UK: video title)
    ... aka Malefiche presenze (Italy)
    ... aka Witchcraft (Europe: English title)
    ... aka Witchcraft: Return of the Exorcist (Philippines: English title)
    ... aka Witchery (USA)
    
11. Flügel und Fesseln (1985) .... Mutter Paula
    ... aka L'avenir d'Émilie (France)
    ... aka The Future of Emily
    
12. "Scarecrow and Mrs. King" .... Princess Valosky (1 episode, 1984)
    - Waiting for Godorsky (1984) TV episode (as Hildegard Neff) .... Princess Valosky
    
13. Der Gärtner von Toulouse (1982)
    
14. Warum die UFOs unseren Salat klauen (1980)
    ... aka Hallo, Checkpoint Charlie (West Germany)
    
15. "Der Alte" .... Erika Gerold (1 episode, 1979)
    ... aka "The Old Fox" (UK)
    - Illusionen über einen Mord (1979) TV episode .... Erika Gerold
    
16. Fedora (1978) .... Countess Fedora Sobryanski
    ... aka Fedora (West Germany)
    
17. Jeder stirbt für sich allein (1976) .... Anna Quangel
    ... aka Everyone Dies Alone (International: English title)
    ... aka Everyone Dies in His Own Company (International: English title)
    
18. "Die Rudi Carrell Show" .... Singer (1 episode, 1970)
    - Episode dated 10 October 1970 (1970) TV episode .... Singer
    
19. The Lost Continent (1968) (as Hildegarde Neff) .... Eva Peters
    ... aka Lost Island
    ... aka The People of Abrimes
    
20. Gala der Schallplatte (1967) (TV)
    
21. The Dirty Dozen (1967) (uncredited)
    
22. Mrs. Dally (1966) (TV) .... Mrs. Dally
    
23. Mozambique (1965) (as Hildegarde Neff) .... Ilona Valdez
    
24. Silvester Show (1964) (TV) .... Singer
    
25. Verdammt zur Sünde (1964) .... Alwine
    ... aka Condemned to Sin (International: English title)
    ... aka Die Festung (West Germany)
    ... aka The Fortress (USA: TV title)
    
26. Wartezimmer zum Jenseits (1964) .... Lorelli
    ... aka Mark of the Tortoise (USA)
    ... aka Waiting Room to the Beyond
    
27. Gibraltar (1964) (as Hildegarde Neff) .... Elinor van Berg
    ... aka Alerte a Gibraltar (France) (Spain)
    ... aka Misión en el estrecho (Spain)
    ... aka Spionaggio a Gibilterra (Italy)
    ... aka The Spy (USA)
    
28. Das große Liebesspiel (1963) .... Callgirl
    ... aka And So to Bed
    
29. "Curd Jürgens erzählt ..." (1 episode, 1963)
    - Herrn von der Polizei (1963) TV episode
    
30. Ballade pour un voyou (1963) (as Hildegarde Neff) .... Martha
    ... aka Ballad for a Hoodlum (USA)
    
31. Landru (1963) (as Hildegarde Neff) .... Mme X./Madame Ixe
    ... aka Bluebeard (USA)
    
32. Caterina di Russia (1963) (as Hildegarde Neff) .... Catherine the Great
    ... aka Catherine de Russie (France)
    ... aka Catherine of Russia (USA)
    
33. Ipnosi (1962)
    ... aka Dummy of Death (UK)
    ... aka Hipnosis (Spain)
    ... aka Hypnosis (USA)
    ... aka Nur tote Zeugen schweigen (West Germany)
    
34. Laura (1962) (TV) .... Laura Hunt
    
35. Die Dreigroschenoper (1962) (as Hildegarde Neff) .... Jenny Diver
    ... aka L'opéra de quat'sous (France)
    ... aka Three Penny Opera (USA)
    
36. Lulu (1962) .... Baroness Geschwitz
    ... aka No Orchids for Lulu (Austria) (UK)
    
37. Golden Boy (1962) (TV) .... Lorna Moon
    
38. Die geliebte Stimme (1960) .... Sie
    
39. La strada dei giganti (1960) (as Hildegarde Neff) .... Maria Luisa di Borbone
    ... aka Road of the Giants (USA: dubbed version)
    ... aka Valley of the Doomed (USA: TV title)
    
40. Subway in the Sky (1959) (as Hildegarde Neff) .... Lilli Hoffman
    
41. "ITV Play of the Week" .... Dinah / ... (1 episode, 1959)
    ... aka "Play of the Week" (UK: short title)
    - The Violent Years (1959) TV episode .... Julia/Dinah
    
42. "International Detective" .... Brenda Carrington (1 episode, 1959)
    - The Carrington Case (1959) TV episode (as Hildergarde Neff) .... Brenda Carrington
    
43. Der Mann, der sich verkaufte (1959) .... Martina Schilling
    ... aka The Man Who Sold Himself (International: English title)
    
44. La fille de Hambourg (1958) (as Hildegarde Neff) .... Maria
    
45. Madeleine und der Legionär (1958) .... Madeleine Durand
    ... aka Escape from Sahara (USA)
    
46. Svengali (1954) (as Hildegarde Neff) .... Trilby O'Farrall
    
47. Geständnis unter vier Augen (1954) .... Hilde Schaumburg-Garden
    ... aka Confession Under Four Eyes (International: English title)
    ... aka Treffpunkt Kanalstraße
    
48. Eine Liebesgeschichte (1954) .... Lili Schallweiss
    ... aka A Love Story (Australia) (USA)
    
49. The Man Between (1953) (as Hildegarde Neff) .... Bettina Mallison
    
50. Illusion in Moll (1952) .... Lydia Bauer
    ... aka Illusion in a Minor Key (International: English title: informal literal title) (USA: informal literal English title)
    ... aka Illusion in Moll (Australia)
    ... aka Soft Illusion (Canada: English title)
    
51. La fête à Henriette (1952) (as Hildegarde Neff) .... Rita Solar
    ... aka Henriette (UK)
    ... aka Holiday for Henrietta (USA)
    
52. Alraune (1952) .... Alraune
    ... aka Mandragore (UK)
    ... aka Mandrake
    ... aka Unnatural
    ... aka Vengeance (UK)
    
53. Night Without Sleep (1952) .... Lisa Muller
    
54. The Snows of Kilimanjaro (1952) (as Hildegarde Neff) .... Countess Liz
    ... aka Ernest Hemingway's The Snows of Kilimanjaro (USA: complete title)
    
55. Diplomatic Courier (1952) (as Hildegarde Neff) .... Janine Betki
    
56. Nachts auf den Straßen (1952) .... Inge Hoffmann
    ... aka Detour (International: English title)
    ... aka Nights on the Road (UK)
    ... aka The Mistress (USA)
    
57. Decision Before Dawn (1951) (as Hildegarde Neff) .... Hilde
    
58. Es geschehen noch Wunder (1951) .... Anita Weidner
    ... aka Miracles Still Happen (USA)
    
59. Die Sünderin (1951) .... Marina
    ... aka Sunderin (USA)
    ... aka The Sinner
    ... aka The Story of a Sinner (USA)
    
60. Fahrt ins Glück (1948) .... Susanne Loevengaard
    
61. Film ohne Titel (1948) .... Christine Fleming
    ... aka Film Without Title
    ... aka Film Without a Name (USA)
    
62. Zwischen gestern und morgen (1947) .... Das Mädchen Kat
    ... aka Between Yesterday and Tomorrow (USA: literal English title)
    
63. Die Mörder sind unter uns (1946) .... Susanne Wallner
    ... aka Murderers Among Us (USA)
    ... aka The Murderers Are Among Us (UK)
    
64. Die Brüder Noltenius (1945)
    
65. Unter den Brücken (1945) .... Girl in Havelberg
    ... aka Under the Bridges (International: English title)
    
66. Frühlingsmelodie (1945)
    
67. Träumerei (1944) (scenes deleted)
    

sources: imdb.com

wikipedia.org

google picture search

spiegel.de

you might want to take a look at the German fansite: http://www.hildegardknef.de/

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From the movie "Diplomatic Courier"

source: dr. macro

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From the movie "Svengali"

source: dr. macro

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source: dr. macro & various, found with google picture search

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