1. Overview
Elisabeth Bergner, born Ella vel Ettel Bergner on August 22, 1897, in Drohobych, Austro-Hungarian Empire (present-day Ukraine), was an acclaimed Austrian-British actress. Primarily celebrated for her extensive stage career, her artistic endeavors flourished in major European cultural centers such as Berlin and Paris. With the ominous rise of Nazism in Germany, Bergner, a secular Jewish woman, made the significant decision to relocate to London, where she further expanded her career into film. Her enduring legacy is marked by her profound impact on both theater and cinema, including an Academy Award nomination for her role in the 1935 film Escape Me Never. Beyond her artistic achievements, Bergner's life experiences, particularly a notable incident during her stage career, served as direct inspiration for critically acclaimed works like the film All About Eve and Klaus Mann's novel Mephisto, underscoring her deep and often challenging engagement with the human condition and social dynamics of her time.
2. Early life
Elisabeth Bergner's formative years were spent in a secular Jewish household, fostering an environment where her artistic inclinations could develop, despite the religious backdrop of her ancestral heritage.
2.1. Birth and childhood
Elisabeth Bergner was born Ella vel Ettel Bergner on August 22, 1897, in Drohobych, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and is now located in Ukraine. Her parents were Sara (née Wagner) and Emil (- Schmelke Juda) Bergner, a merchant. She grew up in a secular Jewish home. The Hebrew she encountered in her childhood was primarily associated with religious holidays such as Yom Kippur and Pesach. Later in life, during visits to Israel, she often expressed apologies for her limited knowledge of the language.
2.2. Early acting career
Bergner's passion for the performing arts emerged at a young age. She made her stage debut at the remarkable age of 14. Just a year later, she appeared on stage in Innsbruck, demonstrating early promise. At 16, she embarked on a tour of Austrian and German provinces with a Shakespearean theater company, gaining valuable experience in classical drama. During this period, she also worked as an artist's model, notably posing for the sculptor Wilhelm Lehmbruck, who reportedly developed a deep affection for her. Following these early experiences, she moved to Munich and subsequently established herself in Berlin, where her career began to gain significant momentum.
3. Career and major activities
Elisabeth Bergner's career was characterized by a transition from a prominent stage presence in continental Europe to an internationally recognized film actress, a move heavily influenced by the volatile political landscape of her time. Her artistic contributions spanned decades, earning her critical acclaim and numerous accolades.
3.1. Early film debut and international expansion
In 1923, Elisabeth Bergner made her film debut in Der Evangelimann. As the political climate in Germany deteriorated with the rise of Nazism, Bergner, who was Jewish, made the crucial decision to leave Germany. In 1933, she moved to London with director Paul Czinner, whom she married the same year. The film Catherine the Great, in which she starred and Czinner directed, was notably banned in Germany due to the Nazi government's racial policies, reflecting the direct impact of the regime on her career. She was naturalized as a British subject in 1938, firmly establishing her new international base.
3.2. Notable stage and film works
In London, Bergner continued her prolific stage career. Her notable works included The Boy David (1936) by J.M. Barrie, which was his final play and was written specifically for her. She also starred in Escape Me Never by Margaret Kennedy. She first played the role of Gemma Jones in Escape Me Never on the London stage, then reprised it for its Broadway debut, and finally in the 1935 film adaptation. For her performance in the film version of Escape Me Never, she received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress.
In 1936, Bergner took on the role of Rosalind in the film As You Like It, starring opposite Laurence Olivier as Orlando. This marked the first sound film version of Shakespeare's play and the first sound film of any Shakespeare play to be made in England. Bergner had previously performed the role on the German stage. However, some critics found that her distinct German accent hindered their enjoyment of the film, contributing to its lack of commercial success. She continued to appear intermittently on stage, including a notable performance in the title role of John Webster's The Duchess of Malfi in 1946. In 1943, Bergner returned to Broadway in the play The Two Mrs. Carrolls, for which she received the Distinguished Performance Medal from the Drama League of New York.
3.3. Post-war activities and later career
After World War II, Bergner temporarily returned to Germany in 1954, where she resumed her acting career in both films and on the stage. In recognition of her contributions, the Berlin district of Steglitz-Zehlendorf named a city park in her honor. In 1973, she starred in the German film Der Fußgänger (English title: The Pedestrian), which garnered significant international acclaim. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1974.
3.4. Awards and honors
Throughout her distinguished career, Elisabeth Bergner received several prestigious awards and honors recognizing her acting prowess. Her Academy Award nomination for Escape Me Never in 1935 marked her entry into elite cinematic recognition. In 1943, she earned the Distinguished Performance Medal from the Drama League of New York for her role in The Two Mrs. Carrolls. In 1980, Austria honored her with the Cross of Merit for Science and Art, a testament to her enduring cultural impact. Two years later, in 1982, she was awarded the Eleonora Duse Prize Asolo, further solidifying her status as a revered figure in the performing arts.
4. Personal life
Elisabeth Bergner's personal life was largely kept private, though her marriage to Paul Czinner was a significant public relationship.
4.1. Marriage and family
Elisabeth Bergner was married once to the Hungarian-born British writer, film director, and producer Paul Czinner. Their marriage began in 1933 and lasted until his death in 1972.
5. Legacy and influence
Elisabeth Bergner's life and experiences extended beyond her artistic performances, profoundly influencing major works in both film and literature, notably through narratives that explored themes of ambition, identity, and the darker aspects of human nature.
5.1. Influence on film ('All About Eve')
Elisabeth Bergner was the direct inspiration for the core story that evolved into the 1950 Academy Award for Best Picture-winning film All About Eve. The narrative originated when Bergner recounted a personal experience to writer Mary Orr. This experience provided Orr with the inspiration for her short story, "The Wisdom of Eve," which was published in Cosmopolitan magazine in 1946. This story subsequently became the basis for Joseph L. Mankiewicz's screenplay for the film.
The episode that inspired the story occurred while Bergner was performing in the play The Two Mrs. Carrolls. Demonstrating compassion, Bergner took pity on a young, "waif-like" woman who had been waiting outside the theater for several days. Bergner offered her a job as her secretary. However, the young actress subsequently attempted to "take over" Bergner's life and career, an act of betrayal that deeply affected Bergner and served as the dramatic foundation for the ambitious and manipulative character of Eve Harrington in the acclaimed film.
5.2. Influence on literature ('Mephisto')
Bergner's life and career are also widely believed to have served as inspiration for the character of Dora Martin in the influential novel Mephisto by Klaus Mann. The novel explores themes of art, power, and moral compromise in the context of Nazi Germany, and the character of Dora Martin, a prominent actress, is reputedly a reflection of Bergner's real-life experiences and stature within the German theater scene during that tumultuous period.
6. Death
Elisabeth Bergner later resided in London, where she passed away at the age of 88 from cancer. Her death occurred on May 12, 1986. She was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium on May 15, 1986. A memorial tablet in her honor is located in the West Cloister of the crematorium.
7. Filmography
- The Evangelist (1924) - Magdalena
- Husbands or Lovers (1924) - Nju
- The Fiddler of Florence (1926) - Renée
- Liebe (1927) - Herzogin von Langeais
- Doña Juana (1928) - Doña Juana
- Fräulein Else (1929) - Else Thalhof
- Ariane (1931) - Ariane Kusnetzowa
- Dreaming Lips (1932) - Gaby
- The Rise of Catherine the Great (1934) - Catherine
- Escape Me Never (1935) - Gemma Jones
- As You Like It (1936) - Rosalind
- Dreaming Lips (1937) - Gaby Lawrence
- Stolen Life (1939) - Sylvina Lawrence / Martina Lawrence
- 49th Parallel (1941) - Anna (scenes deleted)
- Paris Calling (1941) - Marianne Jannetier
- The Happy Years of the Thorwalds (1962) - Frau Thorwald
- Cry of the Banshee (1970) - Oona
- Strogoff (1970) - Marfa Strogoff
- The Pedestrian (1973) - Frau Lilienthal
- Der Pfingstausflug (1978) - Margarete Johannsen
- High Society Limited (1982) - Else
8. Bibliography
- Anne Jespersen: Toedliche Wahrheit oder raffinierte Taeuschung. "Die Frauen in den Filmen Elisabeth Bergners" in Michael Omasta, Brigitte Mayr, Christian Cargnelli (eds.): Carl Mayer, Scenarist: Ein Script by him was already a film - "A script by Carl Mayer was already a film". Synema, Vienna 2003; 978-3-901644-10-8