East German poster collection film series C0208 Guide to East German poster collection film series

East German poster collection film series C0208

Guide to East German poster collection film series


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George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center

Fenwick Library, MS2FL
4400 University Dr.
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Business Number: 703-993-2220
Fax Number: 703-993-8911
speccoll@gmu.edu
URL: https://scrc.gmu.edu

Funded in part by a grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources

Jordan Patty

Repository
George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center
Identification
C0208
Title
East German poster collection film series 1947-1995
Quantity
3060 posters
source
Wongel, Gisela
source
Wittkugel, Klaus, 1910-
source
Westphal, Fred
source
Wendt, Horst
source
Wendlandt, Lars
source
Rosié, Paul, 1910-1984
source
Müller, Rudolf Felix
source
Lenk, Eberhard
Creator
Hill, Thomas
source
Lauenroth, Ernst
source
Baltzer, Hans, 1900-1972
source
Bofinger, Manfred
source
Brandt, Gernot
source
Claus, Matthias
source
Ebel, Heinz
source
Ehbets, Christoph
source
Geffers, Kurt
source
Grüttner, Erhard
source
Grüttner, Roswitha
source
Handschick, Heinz
source
Heller, Bert
source
Klemke, Werner
source
Kummert, Otto, 1936-
source
DEFA
source
Progress Film-Verleih
source
Progress Film-Vertrieb (Berlin, Germany)
source
Sovėksportfilʹm (Firm)
Location
MC 5.1 - 5.5; 6.1 - 6.5; 7.1, 7.2
Language
German .
Abstract
These posters document the cinematic heritage of the DDR and represent the films through both abstract works and interpretations of scenes from the films. The posters range in size from 21 x 57.5 cm to 84 x 59.5 cm. Although the posters date from 1947-1995, the majority fall between 1950 and 1990.

Administrative Information

Use Restrictions

There may be restrictions on reproduction - SCRC staff will evaluate on a case by case basis.

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Preferred Citation

East German poster collection film series, C0208, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Acquisition Information

Purchased from Thomas Hill in 2009.

Processing Information

Processed by Sean Tennant and Alexa Potter in 2010-2011. EAD markup completed by Jordan Patty in 2011. Finding aid updated by Amanda Menjivar in July 2022 and October 2023.

Processing supported by a grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources.


Historical Information

The cinema of East Germany is strongly identified with the studio Deutsche Film-Aktiengesellschaft (DEFA) and the distributor Progress Film Vertrieb, which later became VEB Progress Film Vertrieb, and then Progress Film Verleih. The Soviet Military Administration created DEFA following the end of World War II and the establishment of the military districts that divided Germany. In 1949 the newly formed Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR) developed DEFA into a film studio with strict guidelines for creating works that favored socialist prospectives. Even though the strict rules on content limited the number of films created by DEFA, the number of films distributed by Progress Film Vertrieb increased as more and more cinemas opened. By the 1970s, Progress Film Vertrieb distributed films from 30 countries. In addition to distributing films to cinemas, Progress Film Vertrieb also sponsored film festivals.

Scope and Content

These posters document the cinematic heritage of the DDR and represent the films through both abstract works and interpretations of scenes from the films. The posters range in size from 21 x 57.5 cm to 84 x 59.5 cm. Although the posters date from 1947-1995, the majority fall between 1950 and 1990. The collection includes a poster for the 1965 DEFA production of "The Rabbit is Me," which was banned by the DDR as anti-socialist. Another poster for "Your Unknown Brother," a film that was nominated for the Cannes Film Festival, was withdrawn by DDR officials. A poster for "Jacob the Liar," the first and only DDR film to be nominated for an Academy Award in 1975, was not released to the public until 1989. A significant portion of the posters are for films produced outside the former Eastern Bloc, but they often promote socialist concepts or have socialist undertones. For example, one of the posters advertises for "Trading Places," an American film about two wealthy capitalists manipulating the marketplace and their downfall arranged by a homeless black man and a white former employee of the capitalists. Most of the films from other countries are from the former Soviet Union and other Communist countries.

Arrangement

Arranged by subject and a numbering system.

Related Material

The East German poster collection contains other series, including the art exhibitions series, performing arts series, culture and science series, and political series.

In 2021, GMU Professor Samuel Huneke led the completion of the East German Poster Database , a project funded by a Fenwick Fellowship. The posters from each of the East German poster collection series can be searched in this database.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • Baltzer, Hans, 1900-1972
  • Bofinger, Manfred
  • Brandt, Gernot
  • Claus, Matthias
  • DEFA
  • Ebel, Heinz
  • Ehbets, Christoph
  • Film posters
  • Geffers, Kurt
  • Grüttner, Erhard
  • Grüttner, Roswitha
  • Handschick, Heinz
  • Heller, Bert
  • Klemke, Werner
  • Kummert, Otto, 1936-
  • Lauenroth, Ernst
  • Lenk, Eberhard
  • Motion Pictures, American -- Germany (East) -- Posters
  • Motion Pictures, Australian -- Germany (East) -- Posters
  • Motion Pictures, Austrian -- Germany (East) -- Posters
  • Motion Pictures, Bulgarian -- Germany (East) -- Posters
  • Motion Pictures, Chinese -- Germany (East) -- Posters
  • Motion Pictures, Cuban -- Germany (East) -- Posters
  • Motion Pictures, Czechoslovakian -- Germany (East) -- Posters
  • Motion Pictures, East German -- Germany (East) -- Posters
  • Motion Pictures, French -- Germany (East) -- Posters
  • Motion Pictures, German -- Germany (East) -- Posters
  • Motion Pictures, Hungarian -- Germany (East) -- Posters
  • Motion Pictures, Italian -- Germany (East) -- Posters
  • Motion Pictures, Japanese -- Germany (East) -- Posters
  • Motion Pictures, North Korean -- Germany (East) -- Posters
  • Motion Pictures, Polish -- Germany (East) -- Posters
  • Motion Pictures, Romanian -- Germany (East) -- Posters
  • Motion Pictures, Soviet -- Germany (East) -- Posters
  • Motion Pictures, Spanish -- Germany (East) -- Posters
  • Motion Pictures, West German -- Germany (East) -- Posters
  • Motion Pictures, Yugoslavian -- Germany (East) -- Posters
  • Motion pictures -- Germany (East) -- Posters
  • Müller, Rudolf Felix
  • Progress Film-Verleih
  • Progress Film-Vertrieb (Berlin, Germany)
  • Rosié, Paul, 1910-1984
  • Sovėksportfilʹm (Firm)
  • Wendlandt, Lars
  • Wendt, Horst
  • Westphal, Fred
  • Wittkugel, Klaus, 1910-
  • Wongel, Gisela

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

  • Baltzer, Hans, 1900-1972
  • Bofinger, Manfred
  • Brandt, Gernot
  • Claus, Matthias
  • Ebel, Heinz
  • Ehbets, Christoph
  • Geffers, Kurt
  • Grüttner, Erhard
  • Grüttner, Roswitha
  • Handschick, Heinz
  • Heller, Bert
  • Hill, Thomas
  • Klemke, Werner
  • Kummert, Otto, 1936-
  • Lauenroth, Ernst
  • Lenk, Eberhard
  • Müller, Rudolf Felix
  • Rosié, Paul, 1910-1984
  • Wendlandt, Lars
  • Wendt, Horst
  • Westphal, Fred
  • Wittkugel, Klaus, 1910-
  • Wongel, Gisela

Container List

Series 2: Film Posters
1947-1995
Scope and Content

See the External Documents note for a poster inventory with brief descriptions.