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Ellen Schwanneke

Picture Ellen Schwanneke
Foto: Alexander Binder (1888-1929)

1906 - 1972

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The actress Ellen Schwanneke worked for the theater in the first place, she only appeared sporadically in movies.
She made her film debut in 1931 and took part in well-known productions like "Mädchen in Uniform" (31), "Unmögliche Liebe - Vera Holgh und ihre Töchter" (32), "Fräulein Hoffmanns Erzählungen" (33) and "Königswalzer" (35).

When the politic of Adolf Hitler  was more and more directed against the Jews and the art in general, Ellen Schwanneke left Germany and went to America. There she met William Castle who offered her the leading role in the theater play "Not for Children - Das ist nicht für Kinder". 
William Castle advertised for the play in the run-up to and wasn't afraid of using some strange expedients. 
First he drafted a letter to Hitler and Goebbels in the name of Ellen Schwanneke, in which he announced, that Ellen Schwanneke won't return to Germany as long as Hitler was in power. The content of the letter was passed to newspapers and the story was printed the next day with the title "The Girl Who Said No to Hitler".
Than William Castle put up some Nazi graffiti at the theater in secret and applied for military protection for the performance.
The play was a big success and attracted the audience in bevy.

Ellen Schwanneke returned to Germany after the war where she appeared in one more movie with the title "Morgen ist alles besser" (48).

Her father was the well-known actor Viktor Schwanneke.
 

Other movies with Ellen Schwanneke:
Kinder vor Gericht (31) Kadetten (31) Ein toller Einfall (32) Arme kleine Inge (36) Poslicek lasky - Kein Wort von Liebe (37)

 
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