Variety is reporting that Gary Conklin, the noted documentary filmmaker, died on December 26 at the age of 92. For fans and devotees of Louise Brooks, Conklin may be best known for Memories of Berlin: The Twilight of Weimar Culture, which featured Louise Brooks in one of her few appearances in any documentary. The Variety obit for Conklin can be found HERE.
Memories of Berlin: The Twilight of Weimar Culture, which was released in 1976, tells the cultural story of Berlin during the Weimar Republic through interviews with persons who were involved in the literature, film, art, and music of the period. Besides Brooks, this groundbreaking documentary included interviews with Francis Lederer (Brooks co-star in Pandora's Box), as well as Christopher Isherwood, Lotte Eisner, Elisabeth Bergner, Carl Zuckmayer, Gregor Piatigorsky, Claudio Arrau, Rudolf Kolisch, Mischa Spoliansky, Herbert Bayer, Mrs. Walter Gropius, and Arthur Koestler.
Notably, Brooks knew Eisner, a well known film critic and historian, and was acquainted with Isherwood, author of The Berlin Stories (the basis for Cabaret), whom she met later in life. And, as well, there is a connection with the Bauhaus artist Herbert Bayer, who included an image of Brooks in one of his collages from the period.
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| Herbert Bayer's "Profil en face" (1929) |
For more about this must see film, check out this page on Conklin's website. It includes a link to a clip from the film as well as a clip of Louise Brooks. Kenneth Tynan (the author of the famous Louise Brooks profile "The Girl in the Black Helmet"), described this film as “A magnificent documentary on a fascinating period of history.”
THE LEGAL STUFF: The Louise Brooks Society™ blog is authored by Thomas Gladysz, Director of the Louise Brooks Society (www.pandorasbox.com). Original contents copyright © 2025. Further unauthorized use prohibited. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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