Romy Schneider: A Tribute to an Unforgettable Actress

After a first exhibition dedicated to the Brigitte Bardot myth, Espace Landowski -- Boulogne-Billancourt welcomes a new exhibition about one of the biggest legends of cinema: Romy Schneider.

Romy Schneider was a fascinating actress due to her fragility and determination. This exhibition, built on a chronological basis, plunges visitors deep into the life and career of the actress, who by the late 1950s no longer wanted to be Sissi, and by the 1970s was a celebrated star of French cinema.

The Austrian-born German actress bemoaned her roles in Germany and went to Paris to play women who did justice to her acting abilities and expectations. She settled in France at the beginning of the 1970s, where she advanced to be one of the biggest stars of French cinema. She won several awards and made films with nearly all the great directors and actors of that period. Romy Schneider died in Paris in May 1982.

The exhibit will present new documents, numerous photographs, press images, original posters, film stills, personal objects and costumes. Viewers will be immersed in the fate of an exceptional woman through correspondence and fan souvenirs that reflect the cult worship that Romy Schneider inspired from an early age and as well as the role she played in the Franco-German reconciliation.

Romy Schneider exhibition

An homage to the star for the 30th Anniversary of her death

Romy Schneider, 1972

© Eva Sereny / Camerapress / Gamma-Rapho

Romy Schneider, in "Les Innocents aux mains sales," a film from Claude Chabrol, 1974

© Botti / Stills / Gamma-Rapho

Romy Schneider during the movie shoot "Les choses de la vie" from Claude Sautet, Sept. 16, 1969

© Keystone-France / Gamma-Rapho

Romy Schneider with her son David, January 1968

© Jean-Pierre Bonnotte / Gamma-Rapho

Romy Schneider and actor Karl Henry Bohm during the movie shoot "Sissi," 1955

© Keystone-France / Gamma-Rapho

Alain Delon and Romy Schneider met for the first time on the movie shoot "Christine," June 24, 1958

© Keystone-France / Gamma-Rapho

Alain Delon and Romy Schneider, Nice, August 1968

© Jean-Pierre Bonnotte / Gamma-Rapho

Alain Delon and Romy Schneider during the movie shoot "La Piscine" from Jacques Deray, August 1968

© Jean-Pierre Bonnotte / Gamma-Rapho

Romy Schneider on the beach while filming "Dix heures et demi du soir?" from Jules Dassin, 1964

© Botti / Stills / Gamma-Rapho

Romy Schneider, 1968

© Jean-Pierre Bonnotte / Gamma-Rapho

Coco Chanel and Romy Schneider, 1960

© Botti / Stills / Gamma-Rapho

Romy Schneider, 1972

© Eva Sereny / Camerapress / Gamma-Rapho

Romy Schneider, 1974

© Reporters Associes / Gamma-Rapho

Romy Schneider during the movie shoot " L'important c'est d'aimer," from Andrzej Zulawski, 1974

© Botti / Stills / Gamma-Rapho

Romy Schneider exhibition is currently on view at Espace Landowski - Boulogne Billancourt, France

November 4, 2011 to February 22, 2012

Courtesy Espace Landowski -- Boulogne Billancourt, France

via Trouvaillesdujour

 

Follow Evelyne Politanoff on Twitter: www.twitter.com/evepolitanoff

Comments

[BeaBrus]

04:26 PM on 11/21/2011

Romy Schneider and Marilyn Monroe, two of the most unforgettable actresses ever. They were both luminous, beautiful, tragic and utterly fascinating. Complex, multi layered women that continue to hold us captive despite their untimely disappearances. Romy had one of the most expressive faces in the business and she became a great actress, a dream that died unfulfilled in Marilyn who never had the respect and admiration Romy elicited in abundance. Yet even her art couldn't save Romy when her beloved son died so tragically. She was a courageous, gifted actress who left us much too soon. I always think that had she lived, she would have become another Signore Signoret, a woman of substance, doing character parts till the very end not caring how she looked, faithful only to her art.

[eeodonn]

03:41 PM on 11/20/2011

I clicked on this story because I saw Romy Schneider for the first and only time when "What's New Pussycat" was released and never forgot her. Peter O'Toole was smitten with her in the movie and it wasn't hard to see why. I never saw or heard of her again and knew nothing about her work in France, but she was so naturally beautiful and sexy compared to all the Hollywood actresses we'd been accustomed to during the 50's and 60's that she left a very strong impression of what true, unmanufactured charisma was. I'm glad to know we can see more of her work.

[Francois Bergeron]

08:08 AM on 11/21/2011

One of my faves, along with Grace Kelly.

[granamica]

02:07 AM on 11/20/2011

I went to Italy for my senior year and got into cinema from Europe.
I loved her.

I decide Nastassja Kinski was okay in my book when she said Romy was her favorite actress..

I remember feeling a sudden stab when I heard of her death.

[Halsey]

07:39 PM on 11/19/2011

I remember her name and know I've seen at least a couple of her films; sadly so long ago I cannot remember. Alain..OMG...no comments can describe his sex appeal and talent. Romy's son was only 14 when she died and for the life of me (yes I can g**gle or IMBD) I cannot remember what illness took her. I don't think it was a car accident..was it?

I look at those photos and she was a natural beauty. She did not need the make up of say Gina Loloabridiga (sp?) from a decade earlier. My guess is a lot of younger people will at least recognize the name Bridget Bardot (maybe the poster) but have no clue about Romy. Maybe this exhibition will get more to rent her movies; I'm pretty sure most are on DVD.

Now, please help me those who know...what did end her life; she was still so young.

[NeverFunny]

10:52 PM on 11/19/2011

As far as i remember, her son David died trying to climb a metal fence. He was stabbed to death by it. She must have given in to her alcohol addiction after that and if i remember right pills were involved also.

[granamica]

02:02 AM on 11/20/2011

I believe she died of a broken heart.

[BlueZoo]

07:33 PM on 11/19/2011

I'd love to see this exhibition. Schneider was a gorgeous woman and a great actress. I was shocked when she died, as she was still young at 42. The love of her life, her son David, died at 14 when he was climbing a spiked fence, fell and a spike punctured his femoral artery. She never got over the death and it was reported she began drinking very heavily which led to her death. I'm just thankful we have some great films to remember her by.

[Thisbeautifulplanet]

07:32 PM on 11/19/2011

Ms Schneider's classic beauty, sense and sensiblity and productive cinematic collaboration with director Claude Sautet left a strong mark on French cinema. She was the most beautiful gift that Germany ever made to France.

[Evelyne Politanoff]

06:52 PM on 11/19/2011

Her performance in "A simple story" was outstanding. She won an oscar in 1980 for best actress in foreign movie. This movie is definitely worth watching again, very touching.

[themightyabealrd]

07:41 PM on 11/19/2011

Schneider was beautiful and talented, but she never won won an Oscar. She did win a Cesar, which is France's equivalent, in 1975. And she was awarded an Italian prize, David Di Donatello Lifetime Achievement, in 1980.There is no AAMPAS category for 'best actress in a foreign movie', never has been.

[Evelyne Politanoff]

10:06 PM on 11/19/2011

You are absolutely right, my mistake. The movie "A simple story" was nominated at the Oscars for Best Foreign Film.

[Nocturnes]

03:23 PM on 11/19/2011

What an iconic actress! That scene with Alain Delon next to the pool remains a classic..

[karen lyons kalmenson]

11:49 AM on 11/19/2011

a truly iconic, great beauty

[Z trufflesniffer]

03:21 PM on 11/19/2011

That she was. Both a great actress and a great beauty.

fanned and faved for obvious good taste.....

[karen lyons kalmenson]

03:32 PM on 11/19/2011

right back at ya:-D

[Steamboater]

10:55 AM on 11/19/2011

Germany gave us some tyerrific actors during Shcneider's time-- Maximillian Schell and his sister Maria, Hildegard Kneff (sp?).

[Steamboater]

10:53 AM on 11/19/2011

Schneider was also very good as Empress Elizabeth of Austria in Visconti's "Ludwig" with Helmut Berger as Ludwig II, the mad king of Bavaria. It's a lavish production and beautifully done.

[Evelyne Politanoff]

11:43 AM on 11/19/2011

She was magnificent in these period movies, Sissi, Christine, Ludwig....

[Steamboater]

01:27 PM on 11/19/2011

I've yet to see Sissi and I love the period of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Fascinating history. Do they take it up to her murder?

[Thisbeautifulplanet]

07:49 PM on 11/19/2011

"Ludwig" was a true masterpiece and Ms Schneider's only collaboration with Luchino Visconti. They had met in the fifties when the Italian film director was working with her then-companion Alain Delon. It is too bad they did not have the opportunity to team up again.

[Steamboater]

10:35 PM on 11/19/2011

It's a movie you have to make time for as it's a little slow going but the visuals keep you at it too.

[ndem]

03:24 AM on 11/19/2011

i love romy! thank you for this!!!

[Polar Shift]

01:08 AM on 11/19/2011

One of the worlds' most beautiful women! More mysterious than Bardot, or Deneuve, and a perfect coupling with Delon! Wish I could see it up close!

[sabelmouse]

08:35 AM on 11/19/2011

as ever beauty is the most important attribute for a woman. everything else comes after. even when women are victims of crime their beauty is important.
personally i don't think she's that beautiful and the more interesting for it.

[Susan Michals]

06:46 PM on 11/18/2011

I love it!