Brigitte Horney

Actor

Brigitte Horney was one of the most striking actresses in German cinema from the 1930s to the 1950s and was considered a symbol of artistic independence and emotional expressiveness. After training at the acting school of the Deutsches Theater in Berlin, she began her career in theater before making her film debut in 1930 with ABSCHIED (directed by Robert Siodmak). The film, one of Germany's first sound films, made her famous overnight and established her long-standing career in German and international cinema. In the following years, Horney took on leading roles in numerous successful films. These include Der grüne Domino (1935), Savoy Hotel 217 (1936), Liebe, Tod und Teufel (Love, Death and the Devil, 1934) and Faded Melody (1938). She became particularly popular for her portrayal of Tsarina Catherine in Münchhausen (1943), one of the most elaborate German color films of the time. After World War II, she continued her work in both Germany and the US, appearing in Madeleine und der Legionär (Madeleine and the Legionnaire, 1958) and in television productions in the 1960s and 1970s, among others. Brigitte Horney received numerous awards for her artistic work, including the Filmband in Gold and the Federal Cross of Merit. Her versatile roles, her unmistakable style, and her consistent independence made her one of the defining personalities of German cinema.

Films on Sooner

Farewell

1930

77 mins

Classics

Between Berlin realism and emotional depth, Robert Siodmaks 1930 film FAREWELL paints a sensitive portrait of a society in uncertainty and change.