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Werner Herzog Biography (1942-)

Original name, Werner H. Stipetic; born September 5, 1942, in Munich (some sources say Sachrang), Germany; son of Elizabeth Herzog; married Martje Grohmann (a journalist and actress), 1967 (divorced, 1987); married Lena; children:Rudolph Amos Herzog, Hanna Mattes. Addresses: Agent: International Creative Management, 8942 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211.

Nationality

German

Gender

Male

Occupation

Director, producer, writer, actor

Birth Details

September 5, 1942

Munich, Germany

Famous Works

• CREDITS
• Film Producer and Director
• (And sound and editor) Herakles (short film), 1962
• Spiel im Sand (also known as Playing in the Sand and Game in the Sand; uncompleted), 1964
• Die beispiellose Verteidigung der Festung Deutschkreuz (also knownas The Unparalleled Defense of the Fortress of Deutschkreuz), WernerHerzog Filmproduktion, 1966
• Letzte Worte (short film; also known as Last Words), WernerHerzog Filmproduktion, 1968
• Lebenszeichen, Werner Herzog Filmproduktion, 1968, released in theUnited States as Signs of Life, New Yorker, 1981
• Massnahmen gegen Fanatiker (also known as Measures against Fanatics and Precautions against Fanatics), Werner Herzog Filmproduktion, 1969
• Auch Zwerge haben klein angefangen (also known as Even Dwarfs Started Small), New Line Cinema, 1970
• (And sound) Behinderte Zukunft (documentary; also known as Frustrated Future, Handicapped Future, and Impeded Future), Werner Herzog Filmproduktion, 1970
• (And sound) Fata Morgana, Werner Herzog Filmproduktion, 1970
• (And sound) Land des Schweigens und der Dunkelheit (documentary; also known as Land of Silence and Darkness), New Yorker, 1971
• (And sound) Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes, 1973, released in the UnitedStates as Aguirre, the Wrath of God, 1977
• Die grosse Ekstase des Bildschnitzers Steiner (documentary short film; also known as The Great Ecstasy of the Sculptor Steiner and The Strange Ecstasy of Woodcarver Steiner), New Yorker, 1974
• Jeder fuer sich und Gott gegen alle (also known as Every Man for Himself and God against All, The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser, and The Mystery of Kaspar Hauser), Cine International/Cinema V, 1974
• (And sound) How Much Wood Would a Woodchuck Chuck? (documentary short film), Werner Herzog Filmproduktion, 1976
• Mit mir will keiner spielen (short film; also known as No One Will Play with Me and Nobody Wants to Play With Me), Werner HerzogFilmproduktion, 1976
• Herz aus Glas (also known as Heart of Glass), Cine International Filmvertrieb, 1976
• Stroszek, Werner Herzog Filmproduktion, 1977
• (And sound) La soufriere (documentary short film), New Yorker, 1977
• Nosferatu--Phantom der Nacht (also known as Nosferatu, the Vampire, Nosferatu--fantome de la nuit, Nosferatu the Vampyre,and Nosferatu, Phantom of the Night), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1979
• Werner Herzog's Woyzeck (also known as Woyzeck), Werner Herzog Filmproduktion, 1979
• Huie's Predigt (documentary short film; also known as Huie's Sermon), New Yorker, 1980
• Fitzcarraldo, New World, 1982
• Ballade vom kleinen Soldaten (also known as Ballad of the Little Soldier), New Yorker, 1984
• Gasherbrum--Der leuchtende Berg (documentary; also known as TheDark Glow of the Mountains), New Yorker, 1984
• Echos aus einem Duesteren Reich (also known as Echo d'un sombreempire and Echoes from a Somber Empire), 1990
• Lektionen in Finsternis (also known as Lessons in Darkness), 1992
• Bells from the Deep: Faith and Superstition in Russia (also knownas Glocken aus der Tiefe), 1993
• Little Dieter Needs to Fly, 1997
• Invincible (also known as Unbesiegbar), Fine Line, 2001
• Pilgrimage, 2001
• "Ten Thousand Years Older," Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet, 2002
• Wheel of Time, 2002
• Film Director
• Glaube und Wahrung (also known as God's Angry Man), New Yorker, 1980
• Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe (short film), Les Blank, 1980
• Wo die gruenen Ameisen traeumen (also known as Where the GreenAnts Dream), Orion, 1985
• Cobra Verde (also known as Slave Coast), De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, 1988
• Les gauloises, 1988
• Herdsmen of the Sun (documentary; also known as Wodaabe--Die Hirten der Sonne. Nomaden am Sudrand der Shara, Wodaabe, les bergers dusoleil, and Wodaabe: Herdsman of the Sun), Interama, 1989
• Schrei aus Stein (also known as Cerro Torre: Schrei aus Stein, Cerro Torre--Scream of Stone, Cerro Torre, le cri de la roche, and Scream of Stone), 1991
• Mexico, 1999
• Mein liebster Feind--Klaus Kinski (also known as 25.tunti: Klaus Kinski and My Best Friend), New Yorker Films, 1999
• Film Appearances
• Himself, NDF-Report, 1966
• Geschichten vom Kuebelkind, 1970
• (Uncredited) Glass carrier, Herz aus Glas (also known as Heartof Glass), Cine International Filmvertrieb, 1976
• Narrator, La soufriere (documentary short film), New Yorker, 1977
• Himself, Was Ich Bin, Sind Meine Filme (documentary; also known asI Am My Films: A Portrait of Werner Herzog, I Am My Films, andI Am What My Films Are), Filmwelt verleib/New Yorker, 1978
• Monk, Nosferatu--Phantom der Nacht (also known as Nosferatu, the Vampire and Nosferatu, Phantom of the Night), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1979
• Himself, Garlic Is As Good As Ten Mothers, Les Blank, 1980
• Himself, Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe (short film), Les Blank, 1980
• Burden of Dreams (documentary about the making of Fitzcarraldo; also known as Die Last der Traume), Contemporary Films Ltd., 1982
• Werner Herzog in Peru (short film), Les Blank, 1982
• Chambre 666 (documentary; also known as Chambre 666 n'importe quand... and Room 666), Gray City, 1982
• Narrator, Ballade vom kleinen Soldaten (also known as Ballad ofthe Little Soldier), New Yorker, 1983
• The father, Man of Flowers, International Spectrafilm, 1984
• Himself, Tokyo-Ga (documentary), Filmverlag der Autoren, 1984
• Himself, Lightning over Braddock: A Rustbowl Fantasy, 1988
• Gemeindeschreiber Businger, Gekauftes Glueck (also known as Bride of the Orient and La fiancee thailandaise), 1988
• Mita, Hard to Be a God (also known as Es ist nicht leicht ein Gott zu sein, Trudno Byt Bogom, and Un dieu rebelle), 1989
• Himself, Schneeweissrosenrot (also known as SnowwhiteRosered), 1991
• Brennendes Herz (also known as Burning Heart), 1995
• The Night of the Film-makers, 1995
• Narrator, Little Dieter Needs to Fly, 1997
• Face, What Dreams May Come, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, 1998
• Himself, Mein liebster Feind--Klaus Kinski (also known as 25.tunti: Klaus Kinski and My Best Friend), 1999
• Himself, Der Ball ist ein Sauhund, 1999
• Father, Julien Donkey-Boy (also known as Dogme #6-Julien Donkey-Boy and Julien Donkey-Boy), Fine Line, 1999
• Der Letzte Dokumentarfilm, 1999
• A Brief History of Errol Morris, 2000
• Himself, Der Boxprinz (also known as The Boxing Prince), 2002
• Television Work
• Specials
• Opera director and director, Giovanna d'Arco, 1989
• Opera director, Lohengrin, 1991
• Opera director and director, La donna del lago, 1992
• Producer and director, Lessons of Darkness (documentary; also known as Lektionen in Finsternis), The Discovery Channel, 1992
• Director, Julianes Sturz in den Dschungel (also known as Wingsof Hope), 2000
• Television Director
• Movies
• Die fliegenden Aarzte von Ostafrika (documentary short film; alsoknown as The Flying Doctors of East Africa), 1969
• God's Angry Man, 1980
• Glaube und Waehrung, 1980
• Jag Mandir: Das excentrische Privattheater des Maharadscha von Udaipur, 1991
• The Transformation of the World into Music (also known as Die Verwandlung der Welt in Musik), 1994
• Tod fuer fuenf Stimmen (also known as Death for Five Voices, Gesualdo: Death for Five Voices, and Gesualdo--Tod fuer fuenf Stimmen), 1995
• Miniseries
• (With others) Les francais vus par... (also known as The Frenchas Seen By...), 1988
• Television Appearances
• Specials
• Narrator, Lessons of Darkness (documentary; also known as Lektionen in Finsternis), The Discovery Channel, 1992
• Himself, Julianes Sturz in den Dschungel (also known as Wings of Hope), 2000
• Stage Director
• Tannhauser, 2000
• Fidelio, La Scala, Milan, Italy, 2000
• Also directed operas in Bayreuth, Germany, and Washington, DC.
• WRITINGS
• Screenplays
• Herakles (short film), 1962
• Spiel im Sand (also known as Playing in the Sand and Game in the Sand; uncompleted), 1964
• Die beispiellose Verteidigung der Festung Deutschkreuz (also knownas The Unparalleled Defense of the Fortress of Deutschkreuz), WernerHerzog Filmproduktion, 1966
• Lebenszeichen (based on the story "Der tolle Invalide auf dem FortRatonneau" by Achim von Armin; also known as Signs of Life), Werner Herzog Filmproduktion, 1968
• Letzte Worte (short film; also known as Last Words), WernerHerzog Filmproduktion, 1968
• Massnahmen gegen Fanatiker (also known as Measures against Fanatics), Werner Herzog Filmproduktion, 1969
• Die fliegenden Arzte von Ostafrika (documentary short film; also known as The Flying Doctors of East Africa), Werner Herzog Filmproduktion, 1970
• Auch Zwerge haben klein angefangen (also known as Even Dwarfs Started Small), New Line Cinema, 1970
• Behinderte Zukunft (documentary; also known as Frustrated Future, Handicapped Future, and Impeded Future), Werner Herzog Filmproduktion, 1970
• Fata Morgana, Werner Herzog Filmproduktion, 1970
• Land des Schweigens und der Dunkelheit (documentary; also known asLand of Silence and Darkness), New Yorker, 1971
• Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes (also known as Aguirre, the Wrath of God; dialogue and cutting continuity published as "Aguirre, la colere de Dieu" in Avant-Scene du Cinema, 6 15, 1978, New Yorker, 1972
• Die grosse Ekstase des Bildschnitzers Steiner (documentary short film; also known as The Great Ecstasy of the Sculptor Steiner, The Great Ecstasy of Woodcarver Steiner, and The Strange Ecstasy of Woodcarver Steine), New Yorker, 1974
• Jeder fuer sich und Gott gegen alle (also known as Every Man for Himself and God against All, The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser, and The Mystery of Kaspar Hauser; dialogue and cutting continuity publishedas "L'enigme de Kaspar Hauser" in Avant-Scene du cinema, June, 1976, Cine International/Cinema V, 1974
• How Much Wood Would a Woodchuck Chuck? (documentary short film), Werner Herzog Filmproduktion, 1976
• (With Herbert Achternbusch) Mit mir will keiner spielen (short film; also known as No One Will Play with Me and Nobody Wants to Playwith Me), Werner Herzog Filmproduktion, 1976
• (With others) Herz aus Glas (also known as Heart of Glass;based in part on Achternbusch's novel Die Stunde des Todes), Cine International Filmvertrieb, 1976
• La soufriere (documentary short film), New Yorker, 1977
• Stroszek, Werner Herzog Filmproduktion, 1977, published in 2 Filmerzahlungen, 1979
• Nosferatu--Phantom der Nacht (also known as Nosferatu, the Vampire, Nosferatu-fantome de la nuit, Nosferatu, the Vampyre,and Nosferatu, Phantom of the Night), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1979, published in 2 Filmerzahlungen, 1979
• Werner Herzog's Woyzeck (also known as Woyzeck), Werner Herzog Filmproduktion, 1979
• Huie's Predigt (documentary short film; also known as Huie's Sermon), New Yorker, 1980
• Glaube und Wahrung (also known as God's Angry Man), New Yorker, 1980
• Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe (short film), Les Blank, 1980
• Fitzcarraldo, New World, 1982, published as Fitzcarraldo: The Original Story, translated by Martje Herzog and Alan Greenberg, Fjord Press, 1982
• Ballade vom kleinen Soldaten (also known as Ballad of the Little Soldier), New Yorker, 1984
• Gasherbrum--Der leuchtende Berg (documentary; also known as TheDark Glow of the Mountains), New Yorker, 1984
• (With Bob Ellis) Wo die gruenen Ameisen traeumen (also known as Where the Green Ants Dream), Orion, 1985
• Cobra Verde (also known as Slave Coast), De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, 1988
• Echos aus einem dustern Reich (also known as Echo d'un sombre empire and Echoes from a Somber Empire), 1990
• Little Dieter Needs to Fly, 1997
• Mein liebster Feind--Klaus Kinski (also known as 25.tunti: Klaus Kinski and My Best Friend), New Yorker Films, 1999
• Invincible (also known as Unbesiegbar), Fine Line, 2001
• "Ten Thousand Years Older," Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet, 2002
• Film Composer
• Auch Zwerge haben klein angefangen (also known as Even Dwarfs Started Small), 1971
• Television Specials
• Lektionen in Finsternis (also known as Lessons in Darkness), The Discovery Channel, 1992
• Television Movies
• Tod fuer fuenf Stimmen (also known as Death for Five Voices, Gesualdo--Tod fuer fuenf Stimmen, and Gesualdo: Death for Five Voices), 1995
• Julianes Sturz in den Dschungel (also known as Wings of Hope), 2000
• Other Writings
• Werner Herzog: Drehbucher I, 1977
• Werner Herzog: Drehbucher II, 1977
• Vom Gehen im Eis, 1978, translation by Alan Greenberg published asWalking on Ice, Tanan Press, 1980
• Sur la chemin des glaces: Munich-Paris 23.11 au 14.12 1974, 1979
• Screenplays (collection), translation by Greenberg, Tanan Press, 1980
• Also contributed articles to film magazines.

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Books

• Corrigan, Timothy, The Films of Werner Herzog, Routledge, 1990
• Cronin, Paul, Herzog on Herzog, 2003
• International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, Volume 2: Directors, St. James Press, 1996

Periodicals

• Cineaste, fall, 1999, p. 32
• Interview, November, 1997, p. 88
• Journal of European Studies, September, 1996, p. 239
• New Republic, October 14, 2002, p. 24