RIEFENSTAHL LENI: (1902-2003)

RIEFENSTAHL LENI: (1902-2003)

‘It can’t be that my life’s work is destroyed by the French’

 

RIEFENSTAHL LENI: (1902-2003) German film director. A significant and interesting correspondence collection comprising two A.Ls.S. and nine T.Ls.S. (several with holograph additions), Leni Riefenstahl, sixteen pages (total), 4to, various places (Munich etc.), January 1952 - December 1958, the majority to Christian Bourcier de Carbon (and, indirectly, Henri Langlois), in German. Riefenstahl writes on a variety of subjects, including her work and the efforts she made to recover her films reels, which had been confiscated by the French government at the end of World War II and retained at the Cinematheque Française, thanking De Carbon for supporting her in the return of her films, explaining that she intends to go to Paris personally 'as soon as possible to bring about the handover there and I would be happy if I could ask for your help. In order to obtain my French entry permit, it is necessary for me to receive an official invitation….from you as soon as possible (by express) so that I can receive my entry visa from the French consulate in Munich in a few days' (26^th January 1952), further stating, in part, 'Many weeks have now passed since my stay in Paris and unfortunately the return of my material to the Austrian Embassy has still not become a fact…..If all these efforts are unsuccessful, then the last resort I see is either a civil suit against Monsieur Petitjean, a French film officer who at the time brought the material to France without permission and without a mandate from the French military government, or that I have to file a complaint with the International Court of Justice in The Hague' (19^th March 1952), 'On 4^th April I finally have my world premiere of 'Blauen Licht' in Munich….I wanted to go to Kitzbuhel over Easter and from there to Breuil to test the ski area there for my film 'Die roten Teufel'' (1^st April 1952), 'Unfortunately I haven't received any sign of life from you since we were last together in Munich and wonder whether you are in Paris and whether you are aware of the outrageous article about me in the magazine 'Samedi Soir' of 10^th May 1952. This article took over the pictures of the Munich 'Revue', made the same claims and published more fictional and forged Streicher letters. As a result, the already officially confirmed transfer of my films to the Austrian Embassy was thwarted at the very last hour…..I ask you to treat the contents of this letter as confidential. It is only intended to show you the base means by which my enemies in France are trying to prevent the return of my property. This new setback has made my current situation even more difficult, but I hope to be able to resolve the matter through a lawsuit. For this process I now need an absolutely flawless translation of the article from 'Samedi Soir' and I would be particularly grateful if you would have the same made, as I have no money to pay for the translation…..I will give you back your expenses after the case has been won…..My lawyer will ask the newspaper 'Samedi Soir' to bring a correction. If the newspaper does not do this, I will be forced to sue 'Samedi Soir' and again I would like your advice on which French lawyer I should hire?' (1^st June 1952), 'Above all, I would like to tell you that your faith and the trust you have placed in me have given me a lot of strength. On the day of your visit in Munich I was really completely devastated by the mean slanders of the 'Revue'. Your encouragement helped me a lot. The next day I flew to Berlin and had the strength to face a big public hearing in Berlin to refute all allegations against me, although the chairman of the court was a Jew, he possessed the necessary objectivity to conduct the proceedings fairly, I was acquitted on all counts and fully rehabilitated. This was a great victory and will also help me to fend off further attacks. For your information I am enclosing a newspaper report from which you can see the means by which an attempt was made to destroy me. I am also enclosing the copy of the Berlin verdict, which is of particular value because the most severe verdicts are pronounced in Berlin. As a result of this Berlin verdict, I am now in a position to sue the illustrated magazine 'Revue' for defamation and professional damage. So I will once again have to endure a lawsuit, but I am convinced that I will win it and then the way for my future work will be free….I wrote to Mr. Borst today to find out how far my 'Tiefland' affair has progressed…..I cannot understand why the handover has still not taken place. If you are still in Paris, I would be indebted to you if you would ask Mr. Borst, or even better, Mr. Langlois directly, when the handover will take place, It can't be that my life's work is destroyed by the French' (5^th June 1952), 'It has been a long time since we last spoke. In the meantime my 'Tiefland' film has begun in Germany and Austria with a very strong response from the press and so far I am very satisfied with the artistic success. If you don't have the opportunity to see it in a cinema somewhere, it will be my great pleasure to show you the film on your next visit to Munich. Only now can I fully immerse myself in the realisation of my ski film 'Die roten Teufel'…..I would now be interested, dear Mr. de Carbon, whether you are still interested in any way in co-financing the film…..I think it's going to be big business and it's worth investing capital in, It would also make the work easier because, if francs are available to me, I could finance French skiers and workers and possibly also some outdoor shots in French territory' (9^th June 1954), the later letter of 1958 regarding a proposed ballet based on Das blaue Licht (1932, 'The Blue Light') in which Riefenstahl had appeared as an actress in the role of Junta, with Rosella Hightower suggested for the same role, Riefenstahl asking 'Is this prima ballerina a household name?'. Together with a few associated carbon copies of letters, two original envelopes, a small series of handwritten notes by Riefenstahl, and several French newspaper articles relating to the director. Some light overall age wear and a few letters with small tears and creasing to the edges, G to generally VG, Sml. Qty.

Christian Bourcier de Carbon (1912-?) French civil and industrial engineer who invented the de Carbon hydraulic shock absorber in 1953, also establishing the De Carbon Company in the same year.

Henri Langlois (1914-1977) French film archivist and cinephile, a pioneer of film preservation and co-founder of the Cinematheque Française.

Towards the end of World War II the French government confiscated all of Riefenstahl's editing equipment, along with the production reels of Tiefland. After years of legal wrangling, these were returned to her, but the French government had reportedly damaged some of the film stock whilst trying to develop and edit it, with a few key scenes missing. Riefenstahl edited and dubbed the remaining material and Tiefland premiered in Stuttgart in 1954, however it was denied entry into the Cannes Film Festival. In the 1950s and 1960s the director attempted to make many other films, but was continually met with resistance, public protests and sharp criticism. Although both film professionals and investors were willing to support her work, most of the projects she attempted were stopped owing to ever-renewed and highly negative publicity about her past work in Germany, and Tiefland would subsequently remain as her last feature film.