Arnold Fanck (6 March 1889 – 28 September 1974) was a German

film director A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, p ...

and pioneer of the

mountain film A mountain film is a film genre that focuses on mountaineering and especially the battle of human against nature. In addition to mere adventure, the protagonists who return from the mountain come back changed, usually gaining wisdom and enlighten ...

genre. He is best known for the extraordinary alpine footage he captured in such films as '' The Holy Mountain'' (1926), '' The White Hell of Pitz Palu'' (1929), '' Storm over Mont Blanc'' (1930), '' The White Ecstasy'' (1931), and '' S.O.S. Eisberg'' (1933). Fanck was also instrumental in launching the careers of several filmmakers during the

Weimar Weimar is a city in the state of Thuringia, Germany. It is located in Central Germany between Erfurt in the west and Jena in the east, approximately southwest of Leipzig, north of Nuremberg and west of Dresden. Together with the neighbouri ...

years in Germany, including

Leni Riefenstahl Helene Bertha Amalie "Leni" Riefenstahl (; 22 August 1902 – 8 September 2003) was a German film director, photographer and actress known for her role in producing Nazi propaganda. A talented swimmer and an artist, Riefenstahl also became in ...

Luis Trenker Luis Trenker (born Alois Franz Trenker, 4 October 1892 – 13 April 1990) was a South Tyrolean film producer, director, writer, actor, architect, Mountaineering, alpinist, and Bobsleigh, bobsledder. Biography Early life Alois Franz Trenker was b ...

, and cinematographers Sepp Allgeier,

Richard Angst Richard Angst (23 July 1905 – 24 July 1984) was a Swiss cinematographer who worked on more than ninety films during his career, most of them in Germany. Angst emerged as a leading photographer of mountain films during the silent era. He often wo ...

, Hans Schneeberger, and

Walter Riml Walter Riml (September 23, 1905 – June 21, 1994) was an Austrian cameraman and actor. Life Born in Innsbruck, the 2.05 m tall Tyrolean at first was trained as a carpenter and an interior designer. As a passionate sportsman and skier he contac ...

.Inkster 2012, p. 19.

Biography

Arnold fanck + elisabeth kind 1933 greenland

Arnold Fanck was born on 6 March 1889 in

Frankenthal Frankenthal (Pfalz) ( pfl, Frongedahl) is a town in southwestern Germany, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. History Frankenthal was first mentioned in 772. In 1119 an Augustinian monastery was built here, the ruins of which — known, af ...

, Germany. Together with

Odo Deodatus Tauern Odo Deodatus I. Tauern (November 14, 1885 – July 11, 1926) was a German ethnologist, physicist, and inventor from a family of nobility who travelled to Southeast Asia as part of an expedition. He made the oldest known recordings of Balinese music ...

, Bernhard Villinger and Rolf Bauer, Fanck established the company "Berg- und Sportfilm GmbH Freiburg" in Freiburg im Breisgau in 1920. Fanck, who held a PhD in

geology Geology () is a branch of natural science concerned with Earth and other astronomical objects, the features or rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Ear ...

, directed mountain films,

sports film A sports film is a film genre in which any particular sport plays a prominent role in the film's plot or acts as its central theme. It is a production in which a sport, sporting event, athlete (and their sport), or follower of sport (and the s ...

s and

ski film A ski is a narrow strip of semi-rigid material worn underfoot to glide over snow. Substantially longer than wide and characteristically employed in pairs, skis are attached to ski boots with ski bindings, with either a free, lockable, or partial ...

s. He was assisted by Sepp Allgeier, a

cameraman A camera operator, or depending on the context cameraman or camerawoman, is a professional operator of a film camera or video camera as part of a film crew. The term "cameraman" does not imply that a male is performing the task. In filmmakin ...

who later worked with

, and worked mostly in the

Alps The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Sw ...

in locations such as the

Engadin The Engadin or Engadine ( rm, ;This is the name in the two Romansh idioms that are spoken in the Engadin, Vallader and Puter, as well as in Sursilvan and Rumantsch Grischun. In Surmiran, the name is ''Nagiadegna'', and in Sutsilvan, it is ...

Zermatt Zermatt () is a municipality in the district of Visp in the German-speaking section of the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It has a year-round population of about 5,800 and is classified as a town by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO) ...

and the

Arlberg Arlberg () is a massif between Vorarlberg and Tyrol in Austria. The highest peak is the Valluga at . The name ''Arlberg'' derives from the tradition of the "Arlenburg", who are said to have once established themselves on the Tyrolean side of the A ...

and on mountains such as

Mont Blanc Mont Blanc (french: Mont Blanc ; it, Monte Bianco , both meaning "white mountain") is the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe, rising above sea level. It is the second-most prominent mountain in Europe, after Mount Elbrus, and ...

and

Piz Palü Piz Palü is a mountain in the Bernina Range of the Alps, located between Switzerland and Italy. It is a large glaciated massif composed of three main summits, on a ridge running from west to east. The main (and central) summit is 3,900 metres ...

. His most popular and successful films of the period between the wars include '' The Holy Mountain'' (1926), '' The White Hell of Pitz Palu'' (1929), '' Storm over Mont Blanc'' (1930), '' The White Ecstasy'' (1931), and '' S.O.S. Eisberg'' (1933)—all starring

. During the

Nazi regime Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...

, Fanck got in trouble with propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels, since he refused to cooperate — apparently because of the necessity of joining the party. In 1934, he also began working on his film, ''

The Eternal Dream ''The Eternal Dream'' (german: Der ewige Traum) is a 1934 German historical film directed by Arnold Fanck and starring Sepp Rist and Brigitte Horney.Hinton p. 18 The film's sets were designed by the art directors Robert Herlth and Werner Schli ...

'', which not only starred a French

hero A hero (feminine: heroine) is a real person or a main fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, or strength. Like other formerly gender-specific terms (like ''actor''), ''her ...

in French mountains, but also had a

Jewish Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...

producer,

Gregor Rabinovitch Gregor Rabinovitch (2 April 1889–12 November 1953) was a Ukrainian-born film producer who worked for many years in the German film industry. He emigrated to France from the Soviet Union in the early 1920s. After working for a time in Germany, ...

. This conflict brought Fanck into economic difficulties, from which he was only able to escape by accepting a contract from the

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

ese ministry of culture in 1936. With ''

The Daughter of the Samurai ''The Daughter of the Samurai'' (german: Die Tochter des Samurai, Japanese: ) is a 1937 German-Japanese drama film directed by Arnold Fanck and Mansaku Itami, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Starring Setsuko Hara, Ruth Eweler and Sessue H ...

'' and other "culture films", Fanck decided to cooperate with the Nazi regime. Soon afterwards, he produced ''

A German Robinson Crusoe ''A German Robinson Crusoe'' (german: Ein Robinson) is a 1940 German drama film directed by Arnold Fanck and starring Herbert A.E. Böhme, Marieluise Claudius, and Claus Clausen. Written by Arnold Fanck and Rolf Meyer, the film is a modern-day ...

'' (1938/40) a

propaganda film A propaganda film is a film that involves some form of propaganda. Propaganda films spread and promote certain ideas that are usually religious, political, or cultural in nature. A propaganda film is made with the intent that the viewer will ad ...

for Bavaria Filmkunst. Arnold Fanck joined the

NSDAP The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party (german: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP), was a far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that created and supported t ...

in April 1940. In 1944 he made a documentary about the sculptor Arno Breker called ''Arno Breker – Harte Zeit, starke Kunst''.Aitken, Ian (2013
''The Concise Routledge Encyclopedia of the Documentary Film''
Routledge , pg 245 After

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, Fanck's main films made during the regime were proscribed by the Allied military governments. Fanck received no further job offers and went to work as a lumberjack. After the screening of his film ''The Eternal Dream'' at the mountain film festival in

Trento Trento ( or ; Ladin and lmo, Trent; german: Trient ; cim, Tria; , ), also anglicized as Trent, is a city on the Adige River in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol in Italy. It is the capital of the autonomous province of Trento. In the 16th centu ...

in 1957, Fanck was once again recognized for his artistic achievements. In order to survive his economic difficulties, however, he was forced to sell the rights to his films to a friend, until TV broadcasts improved his situation. Fanck died on 28 September 1974 in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, at the age of 85. He is buried in the Hauptfriedhof in Freiburg.

Filmography

* ' (1920, documentary) * ' (1921) * ''Das Wunder des Schneeschuhs, 2. Teil – Eine Fuchsjagd auf Skiern durchs Engadin'' (1922) * ''Pömperlys Kampf mit dem Schneeschuh'' (co-director:

Holger-Madsen Holger-Madsen (11 April 1878 – 30 November 1943) was a Danish film director, actor and screenwriter. He directed more than 40 films between 1912 and 1936. He also appeared in more than 20 films between 1908 and 1935. Selected filmography ...

, 1922) * ''

Mountain of Destiny ''Mountain of Destiny'' (german: Berg des Schicksals) is a 1924 German silent drama film written and directed by Arnold Fanck and starring Hannes Schneider, Frida Richard, Erna Morena, and Luis Trenker. The film is about an alpinist who falls ...

'' (1924) * ' (1924, short documentary) * ''Die weiße Kunst'' (dir. Sepp Allgeier, 1925, documentary) * '' The Holy Mountain'' (1926) * '' The Great Leap'' (1927) * ''

Struggle for the Matterhorn ''Struggle for the Matterhorn'' (german: Der Kampf ums Matterhorn) is a 1928 German-Swiss silent drama film co-directed by Mario Bonnard and Nunzio Malasomma and starring Luis Trenker, Marcella Albani, and Alexandra Schmitt. The film is part o ...

'' (dir.

Mario Bonnard Mario Bonnard (24 December 1889 – 22 March 1965) was an Italian actor and film director. Bonnard was born and died in Rome. He began his cinematic career as an actor becoming a popular romantic lead in numerous silent films made before World ...

and

Nunzio Malasomma Nunzio Malasomma (4 February 1894 – 12 January 1974) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He directed 41 films between 1923 and 1968. Selected filmography * '' Mister Radio'' (1924) * '' Orient'' (1924) * '' The Doll Queen'' ...

, 1928), co-wrote * ''

The White Stadium ''The White Stadium'' (German: ''Das weiße Stadion'') is a 1928 Swiss documentary film directed by Arnold Fanck about the 1928 Winter Olympics which were held in the Swiss resort of St. Moritz. The film received the backing of the Internationa ...

'' (1928, documentary) * '' Milak, the Greenland Hunter'' (dir.

Georg Asagaroff Georg Asagaroff (1892–1957) was a Russian-born actor and film director.Bock & Bergfelder p. 211 He left Russia following the 1917 Revolution and settled in Germany where he directed several films. Selected filmography * ''After Death'' (1915) ...

and , 1928) * '' The White Hell of Pitz Palu'' (co-director:

G. W. Pabst Georg Wilhelm Pabst (25 August 1885 – 29 May 1967) was an Austrian film director and screenwriter. He started as an actor and theater director, before becoming one of the most influential German-language filmmakers during the Weimar Republic. ...

, 1929) * '' Storm over Mont Blanc'' (1930) * '' The White Ecstasy'' (1931) * '' S.O.S. Eisberg'' (1933) * '' North Pole, Ahoy'' (dir.

Andrew Marton Andrew Marton (born Endre Marton; 26 January 1904 – 7 January 1992) was a Hungarian-American film director. In his career, he directed 39 films and television programs, and worked on 16 as a second unit director, including the chariot race in ...

, 1934) * ''Die Seehunde'' (1934, short) * ''

'' (1934) * ''

'' (1937) * ''Winterreise durch Südmandschurien'' (1938, short documentary) * ''Kaiserbauten in Fernost'' (1938, short documentary) * ''Hänschen Klein'' (1938, short) * ''

'' (1940) * ''Kampf um den Berg'' (1941, short) * ' (1943, short documentary) * ' (1944, short documentary) * ''Atlantik-Wall'' (1944, short documentary)

Retrospective films

* ''In Eis und Schnee – Der Filmregisseur Arnold Fanck'' (1997) directed by Hans-Jürgen Panitz * ''Zwischen weißem Rausch und Abgrund: Über Arnold Fanck, den Extremregisseur'' (1998) directed by Andreas Berg

References

Notes Bibliography * Fanck, Arnold; Schneider, Hannes (1925
''Wunder des Schneeschuhs; ein System des richtigen Skilaufens und seine Anwendung im alpinen Geländelauf''
Hamburg: Gebrüder Enoch. ; reprint * Baader, Ernst Wilhelm; Schneeberger, Hans; Allgeier, Sepp; Fanck, Arnold; Arató, Gyula (1926) ''Wunder des Schneeschuhs Sprunglauf, Langlauf'', Hamburg: Gebrüder Enoch * Fanck, Arnold (1929) ''Die bruchlose Deformation von Fossilien durch tektonischen Druck und ihr Einfluss auf die Bestimmung der Arten. Beobachtet und bearbeitet an den Pelecypoden der St. Galler Meeresmolasse''. Zürich: Fretz * Fanck, Arnold (1932) ''Das Bilderbuch des Skiläufers. - 284 kinematografische Bilder vom Skilauf mit Erläuterungen und einer Einführung in eine neue Bewegungs-Fotografie''. Hamburg: Gebrüder Enoch * Fanck, Arnold (1973) ''Er fuhrte Regie mit Gletschern, Sturmen und Lawinen; ein Filmpionier erzahlt'' München: Nymphenburger Verlagshandlung * Haarstark, Gunther (1990) ''Dramatische Berge. Der Filmregisseur Dr. Arnold Fanck'', Frankfurt M., Magisterarbeit * Horak, Jan-Christopher with Pichler, Gisela, eds. (1997) ''Berge, Licht und Traum. Dr. Arnold Fanck und der deutsche Bergfilm'' München: Bruckmann * Rapp, Christian (1997) ''Höhenrausch. Der deutsche Bergfilm'' Wien: Sonderzahl * Bock, Hans-Michael and Bergfelder, Tim (eds) (2009
''The Concise Cinegraph: Encyclopaedia of German Cinema''
Berghahn Books pg 116 - 117 * Fanck, Matthias (2009) ''Arnold Fanck. Weisse Hölle – weisser Rausch. Bergfilme und Bergbilder 1909 – 1939''. AS-Verlag, Zürich * Inkster, Darlene (2012
Film Pioneers: Arnold Fanck
pg 18-21 in ''Directory of World Cinema: Germany'' edited by Michelle Langford, Intellect Books * Haque, Kamaal (2012
Genre of the Mountain Film
in ''A New History of German Cinema'' edited by Jennifer M. Kapczynski, Michael David Richardson; Boydell & Brewe pp 142–147

External links

Photo Gallery
*
The case of Arnold Fanck
by

Béla Balázs Béla Balázs (; 4 August 1884 in Szeged – 17 May 1949 in Budapest), born Herbert Béla Bauer, was a Hungarian film critic, aesthetician, writer and poet of Jewish heritage. He was a proponent of formalist film theory. Career Balázs was th ...

Article by Thomas StaedeliFilm's Role in Popularizing Alpine Skiing in America
by Rick Moulton

by Donald G. Daviau * ttp://www.filmportal.de/person/arnold-fanck_7b6bac083afb40e1b6309f99a6384638 Arnold Fanckbiography, filmography and photos at

filmportal.de filmportal.de is an online database of information related to German film. It includes extensive information on films and filmmakers as well as articles on film issues. The website was released on occasion of the 54th Berlin International Film Fe ...

Arnold Fanck
at

MUBI Mubi (; stylized as MUBI; The Auteurs before 2010) is a global curated film streaming platform, production company and film distributor. Mubi produces and theatrically distributes films by emerging and established filmmakers, which are exclusivel ...

*
Der weisse Rausch. Actor Walter Riml as the tall Hamburger carpenter
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fanck, Arnold Mountaineering film directors Nazi propagandists People from the Palatinate (region) Film people from Freiburg im Breisgau 1889 births 1974 deaths