Film
“Nobody brought as high a degree of photographic quality with them when turning to film as Alfred Ehrhardt,” wrote Fritz Kempe, director of the Staatliche Landesbildstelle in Hamburg in 1951. Indeed, the artistic achievement of Alfred Ehrhardt’s films is based on the aesthetic power of individual images—the reason why he received several film awards for “Best Photography.”
Alfred Ehrhardt’s film style is also influenced by his musical training. In numerous films he avoids the use of commentary because film is brought to life through its image sequences and precisely calibrated music. He saw music “not as backdrop and accompaniment, but as a way of heightening visual events.” While his first film Urkräfte am Werk (Original forces at work; lost) was described as a “symphonic filmstrip,” in his experimental films he condenses the inner movement of things into a cinematic play of movement, light, and music.
Ehrhardt sought to create what he formulated as “absolutely artistically conceived film,” based on the concept of “absolute film” of the 1920s. “What is depicted must not remain an image, but must be transformed spiritually into a symbol. In this quest, the artistic cultural film of today can become avant-garde.” His motto: “An artistic work is only truly cohesive if it comes from one hand, one brain, and above all one heart.” This is typical of his approach to all of his work, from the initial idea to the script, production, camera work, music selection, text, sound, and editing. The compelling homogeneity of expression in his films is based on the uniquely coherent nature of the “one-man film.”
Filmography
→ 1938
Urkräfte am Werk [missing]
35 mm, b/w, sound, 22 min.
Script, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
Direction: Alfred Siegert
Music: Eugen Gaedicke
Narrator: Georg Schubert
Film company: Siegert-Film company
Official rating: Of outstanding value
→ 1941
Flanderns germanisches Gesicht
35 mm, b/w, sound, 18 min.
Script, direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
Music: Gustav Kneip
Film company: Tobis-Filmkunst GmbH
Leinen aus Kortryk
35 mm, b/w, sound, 17 min.
Script, direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
Music: Bruno Aulich
Film company: Tobis-Filmkunst GmbH
Nordische Urwelt [Iceland]
35 mm, b/w, sound, 17 min.
Script, direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
Music: Prof. Georg Vollerthun
Film company: Tobis-Filmkunst GmbH
→ 1948
Ad Dei Honorem [Hans Brüggemann’s Bordesholmer altar at the Cathedral of Schleswig 1521]
35 mm, b/w, sound, 15 min.
Script, direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
No commentary. Music: Johann Sebastian Bach
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
“Diploma of Selection”, III. Internationales Filmfestival Edinburgh 1949“Certificate of Merit”, Yorkton International Film Festival Canada 1952
Official rating of the Ministry of Culture of North Rhine-Westphalia: Of outstanding value
→ 1949
Ein Marienleben [Heinrich Douvermann’s Lady altars at Kalkar 1521 and Xanten 1534]
35 mm, b/w, sound, 9 min.
Script, direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
No commentary. Music: Johann Pachelbel
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Die Gottesmutter. Wenig bekannte Marien-Plastik aus dem Mittelalter des norddeutschen Raumes
35 mm, b/w, sound, 11 min.
Script, direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
No commentary. Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Heinrich Schütz
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Official rating: Valuable
Ernst Barlach I. Der Kämpfer
35 mm, b/w, sound, 14 min.
Direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
No commentary. Music: Peter Tschaikowskij
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Bundesfilmpreis (German Film Award) 1950
1. prize at XI. Biennale Venice 1950
Official rating: Of outstanding value
Ernst Barlach II. Der Überwinder
35 mm, b/w, sound, 15 min.
Direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
No commentary. Music: Anton Bruckner
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
1. prize for best photography at the international film festival São Paulo 1951
1. prize for best art movie at the Kelowna International Film Festival Canada 1961
Official rating: Valuable
→ 1950
Inselfahrt. Im Gebiet der Ebbe und Flut zwischen Elbe- und Wesermündung
35 mm, b/w, sound, 16 min.
Direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
Music: Edvard Grieg
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
“Menzione di Merito”, XI. Biennale Venedig 1950
Official rating: Valuable
Der Angerman-Älv. Nordschwedens großer Strom
35 mm, b/w, sound, 14 min.
Direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
No commentary. Music: Helmut Wirth
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Official rating: Valuable
→ 1951
Spiel der Spiralen. Von der Architektur der Meeresschnecken
35 mm, b/w, sound, 16 min.
Direction: Alfred Ehrhardt
No commentary. Music: Johann Sebastian Bach
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Bundesfilmpreis (German Film Award) 1952
1. prize “Best Camerawork”, International Film Festival Vancouver 1958
Official rating: Of outstanding value
→ 1952
Portugal, unbekanntes Land am Meer
35 mm, b/w, sound, 91 min.
Script, direction, camera and original sound: Alfred Ehrhardt
Assistance: Volker Bergmann, Werner Olsinski
Music: Walter Girnatis
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Bundesfilmpreis (German Film Award) 1953
Official rating: Of outstanding value
Das steinerne Antlitz Portugals. Architektur einer großen Vergangenheit
35 mm, b/w, sound, 13 min.
Script, direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
Assistance: Volker Bergmann
Music: The Polyphonia choir Lisbon sings old portuguese masters
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Official rating: Of outstanding value
→ 1954
Schicksal und Vermächtnis. Soldatengräber vom Nordkap bis Nordafrika
35 mm, b/w, sound, 69 min.
Direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
Assistance: Wolfgang Treu, Werner Olsinski
Script, text: Hans-Joachim Hossfeld
Music: Walter Girnatis
Narrator: Mathias Wieman
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Bundesfilmpreis (German Film Award) 1954
Official rating: Of outstanding value
Ich hatt‘ einen Kameraden [short version of Schicksal und Vermächtnis]
35 mm, b/w, sound, 14 min.
Scanno. Felsennest in den Abruzzen. Eine Studie
35 mm, b/w, sound, 15 min.
Direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
Music: Walter Girnatis
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Official rating: Valuable
Das Bronzetor von San Zeno in Verona
35 mm, b/w, sound, 13 min.
Direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
Sound: Walter Girnatis
Narrator: Mathias Wieman
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
“Certificate of excellence award”, 3rd International Art Film Festival Metropolitan Museum of Art New York 1957
Official rating: Of outstanding value
→ 1955
Begnadete Hände. Tilman Riemenschneider. Seine Zeit. Sein Leben. Seine Werke
35 mm, b/w, sound, 87 min.
Direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
Camera assistence: Wolfgang Treu
Script: Manfred Hausmann (concept)
Narrator: Manfred Hausmann and Mathias Wieman
15th and 16th century music interpreted by the Collegium Musicum, Krefeld (musical direction: Robert Haass), Norddeutscher Singkreis (musical direction: Gottfried Wolters), Organ: Manfred Kluge
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Bundesfilmprämie (German Film Prize) 1955
Official rating: Valuable
→ 1956
Die Welt des Tabaks. Ein Dokumentarfilm von den Tabak-Kulturen des Orients und Virginias und von der Kunst der Cigarettenherstellung
35 mm, b/w, sound, 99 min.
Script, direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
Assistance: Wolfgang Treu, Werner Olsinski
Music: Kurt Fiebig. Original oriental folk music, spirituals and working songs from Virginia
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
“Honorable appreciation”, International industrial film festival Milan 1956
Tanz der Muscheln
16 mm, b/w, sound, 16 min.
Direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
No commentary.
Electronic sounds: Wilhelm Keller und Bernhard Aign
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
“Diploma of Merit”, X. International Film Festival Edinburgh 1956
“Targa d’oro”, IV. Rassegna del Film Scientifico University Rome 1959
Official rating: Valuable
[→ 1959, 35 mm, 10 min.: Of outstanding value]
→ 1957
Insel im Ozean: Madeira
35 mm, b/w, sound, 14 min.
Direction, camera, Schnitt: Alfred Ehrhardt
Assistance: Wolfgang Treu
Music: Folk music from Madeira
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Official rating: Valuable
Blume des Meeres [Madeira]
35 mm, color, sound, 14 min.
Script, direction: Alfred Ehrhardt
Assistance: Wolfgang Treu
Music: Folk music from Madeira
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Official rating: Valuable
→ 1958
Geschöpf ohnegleichen. Das Pferd in der Kunst der Völker
35 mm, color, sound, 14 min.
Direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
Assistance: Wolfgang Treu
Music: Walter Girnatis
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Official rating: Valuable
Sancta Maria. Mittelalterliche Weihnachtsszenen
35 mm, b/w, sound, 11 min.
Direction: Alfred Ehrhardt
No commentary. Music: religious hymns
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
→ 1959
Korkland Portugal
35 mm, color, sound, 18 min.
Direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
Music: Freitas Branco
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
“Bronzene Ähre” at the International agricultural film-competition Berlin 1960
Certificate of merit, VII. internationale film festival Teheran 1970
Official rating: Of outstanding value
Die Küste der Fischer. Fischfang an der portugiesischen Küste
35 mm, color, sound, 16 min.
Direction: Alfred Ehrhardt
Music: Walter Girnatis and Corridinho (port.)
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Official rating: Valuable
Tanz der Muscheln
35 mm, b/w, 10 min.
Direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
No commentary. Electronic sounds: Wilhelm Keller und Bernhard Aign
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
“Targa d’oro”, IV. Rassegna del Film Scientifico University Rome 1959
Official rating: Of outstanding value
[→ 1956, 16 mm, 16 min.: Valuable]
Kunst unserer Zeit I – Skulptur 1945-1959 [documenta II]
35 mm, color, sound, 13 min.
Script, direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
Assistance: Walter Dobert
Advice: Prof. Arnold Bode, Dr. Hanns Theodor Flemming
Music: Oskar Sala
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Official rating: Valuable
→ 1960
Kunst unserer Zeit II – Malerei 1945-1959 [documenta II]
35 mm, color, sound, 14 min.
Direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
Assistance: Walter Dobert
Script, text: Dr. Werner Schmalenbach
Advice: Prof. Arnold Bode
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Official rating: Valuable
→ 1961
Vinho do Porto
35 mm, color, sound, 18 min.
Direction: Alfred Ehrhardt
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Portwein [short version of Vinho do Porto]
35 mm, color, sound, 12 min.
Direction: Alfred Ehrhardt
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Bronze award at the International Agricultural Film Competition Berlin 1962
Official rating: Valuable
Iberische Skizzen. Fischer am Atlantik
35 mm, b/w, sound, 9 min.
Direction: Alfred Ehrhardt
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Official rating: Valuable
→ 1962
Gletscher und ihre Ströme. Impressionen aus der Urlandschaft Islands
35 mm, color, sound, 11 min.
Film-making: Alfred Ehrhardt
Assistance: Walter Dobert, Jens Ehrhardt
Music: Oskar Sala
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Fipresci price of the International Film Critique, Festival Città di Trento 1963
Award at the International Color Film Festival Barcelona 1968
Official rating: Of outstanding value
Vulkanisches Antlitz. Impressionen aus der Urlandschaft Islands
35 mm, color, sound, 11 min.
Film-making: Alfred Ehrhardt
Assistance: Walter Dobert, Jens Ehrhardt
Music: Oskar Sala
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Official rating: Of outstanding value
Dampfende Erde. Impressionen aus der Urlandschaft Islands
35 mm, color, sound, 9 min.
Film-making: Alfred Ehrhardt
Assistance: Walter Dobert, Jens Ehrhardt
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Inselflug [Iceland, aerial shots and landscape recordings]
35 mm, color, sound, 11 min.
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Eis – Grönländische Skizzen
35 mm, color, sound, 11 min.
Direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
Assistance: Rainer Stuhlmacher
No commentary. Music: Hans-Martin Majewski
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Official rating: Of outstanding value
Ein Flug nach Grönland
35 mm, color, sound, 7 min.
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
→ 1963
Boten aus der anderen Welt. Das Bild des Engels in Kirche und Kunst
35 mm, b/w, sound, 29 min.
Script, text: Rudolf Kristen
Direction: Alfred Ehrhardt
Camera: Wolfgang Treu, Rainer Stuhlmacher, Alfred Ehrhardt
Music: Alumni of the Seminary for Priests Mainz, St. Petri Choir Hamburg Groß-Borstel, organ: Hans-Martin Padel
Narrator: Robert Seibert
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt [ZDF]
→ 1964
Kochende Erde. Dampf-Quellen, Schwefel-Vulkane und Geysire auf Island
35 mm, color, sound, 11 min.
Filmgestaltung: Alfred Ehrhardt
Assistance: Rainer Stuhlmacher
No commentary. No music
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Special award at the International Festival Città di Trento 1964
Official rating: Valuable
Korallen – Skulpturen der Meere
35 mm, b/w, sound, 12 min.
Direction: Alfred Ehrhardt
Film-making: Alfred Ehrhardt
Assistance: Rainer Stuhlmacher
No commentary. Music: Oskar Sala
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Official rating: Of outstanding value
→ 1965
Im Wald der roten Bäume. Korkernte in Portugal
35 mm, color, sound, 10 min.
Direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
Assistance: Rainer Stuhlmacher
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Official rating: Valuable
Das Boot von Torreira
35 mm, color, sound, 13 min.
Direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
Assistance: Walter Dobert, Rainer Stuhlmacher
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film
Jugendfilmpreis of the Senate, International film festival Berlin 1965
“Mention de qualité” and “Prix de qualité”, Centre National de la Cinématographie 1966
“Prua d’Oro”, Italy, VIII. Rassegna Internazionale del Documentario Cinematografico Marinaro
Official rating: Of outstanding value
Tausend Jahre nach Christi Geburt. Die Bronzetür des Bernward von Hildesheim
35 mm, b/w, sound, 30 min.
Direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
Assistance: Rainer Stuhlmacher
Script: Rosemarie Tanschus
Music: Guillaume Dufay, Jacob Obrecht, Heinrich Isaac, organ: Hans Martin Padel
Narrator: Hans Paetsch
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film [ZDF]
Official rating: Of outstanding value
→1966
Die Bernwardsäule von Hildesheim
35 mm, b/w, sound, 30 min.
Script, Text, direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
Assistance: Gerd Pose, Jens Ehrhardt
Music: Josquin Desprez, Paul Hofhaimer, Guillaume Dufay, organ: Hans Martin Padel
Narrator: Hans Paetsch
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film [ZDF]
Official rating: Valuable
→ 1968
Norddeutsche Barockorgeln
35 mm, color, sound, 29 min.
Script, direction, camera: Alfred Ehrhardt
Assistance: Uwe Holtz, Rolf Spannuth
Licht: Gerd Pose
Music: Arnold Schlick, Samuel Scheidt, Georg Böhm, Dietrich Buxtehude, Johann Sebastian Bach, organ: Heinz Wunderlich
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film [ZDF]
→ 1969
Der Komponist und seine Landschaft. Edvard Grieg und Norwegen
35 mm, color, sound, 53 min.
Camera: Wolfgang Kleist
Script: Helmut Siebler
Music: Edvard Grieg
Narrator: Hans Paetsch
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film [ZDF]
→ 1970
Süddeutsche Barockorgeln
35 mm, color, sound, 28 min.
Script, text: Dr. Walter Supper, Alfred Ehrhardt
Music: at the organs Prof. Dr. Rudolf Walter, sound samples Dr. Walter Supper
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film [ZDF]
→ 1973
Masken und Figuren. Schwarzafrikas kostbares Gut
35 mm, color, sound, 72 min.
Script, camera, direction: Alfred Ehrhardt
Assistance: Niels Bolbrinker, Knut Lange
Film company: Alfred Ehrhardt Film