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Alexandr Hackenschmied

March 04, 2023

Alexandr Hackenschmied,[1] born Alexander Siegfried George Hackenschmied, known later as Alexander Hammid (17 December 1907, Linz – 26 July 2004, New York City) was a Czech-American photographer, film director, cinematographer and film editor. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1938 and became involved in American avant-garde cinema. He is best known for three films: Crisis (1939), Meshes of the Afternoon (1943) and To Be Alive! (1964). He made Meshes of the Afternoon with Maya Deren, to whom he was married from 1942 to 1947. His second marriage was to the photographer Hella Heyman, who had also collaborated with Hammid and Deren on several films.[2]

Alexandr Hackenschmied
Alexander Hammid in a screenshot of the short film Meshes of the Afternoon (1943)
Born17 December 1907
Linz, Austria
Died26 July 2004 (aged 96)
New York City
NationalityCzech (1907-1942)
American (1942-2004)
Occupation(s)Film director, photographer, cinematographer, film editor
SpouseMaya Deren (1942–1947) Hella Hilde Heyman (1948-1992; her death)

He won the 1965 Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject) for To Be Alive! (1964), which he co-directed with Francis Thompson.[3]

Career in Czechoslovakia and the U.S.

Born in Linz, Austria-Hungary to the son of a school-teacher,[4] he changed his name to Alexander Hammid when he became a citizen of the United States in 1942. He is best known for his work in documentary film, both as a director, cameraman, and editor.

According to Jaroslav Anděl's biography of Hackenschmied, in 1930, Hackenschmied created his first film Bezúčelná procházka (Aimless Walk) which inaugurated the movement of avant-garde film in Czechoslovakia. The same year he also organized the Exhibition of New Czech Photography in the Aventinská Mansarda—a showcase for artists of the Aventinum publishing house in Prague—and the first show of European avant-garde films in the Kotva Cinema, also in Prague. He contributed to the illustrated weekly Pestrý týden and also published a number of articles on photography and film, in which he formulated the new aesthetics of both fields.[5]

Before emigrating from Czechoslovakia, Hackenschmied worked for the Baťa Film Studio in Zlín, founded by Jan Antonín Baťa in the 1930s who hired young filmmakers and artists to develop modern films, primarily for advertising. While employed there, Hackenschmied made numerous advertising and documentary films. One of the most famous was a four minute commercial for Bata tires called The Highway Sings. Created together with director Elmar Klos and cinematographer Jan Lukas in 1937, it featured an avant-garde style montage of auto tires in motion.[6]

During the late 1930s he collaborated with the American filmmaker Herbert Kline on the feature-length documentary Crisis (1939) and moved to the USA where he met and married Maya Deren. Together they made Meshes of the Afternoon (1943), a experimental film with the directors playing the two protagonists.[7] He also directed the documentaries The Forgotten Village (1941), The Valley of the Tennessee (1944), and A Better Tomorrow (1945). Hammid also made the 22-minute short The Private Life of a Cat (1947). This short film was part narrative, part documentary about cats and their daily lives. The film starts off with two cats, a male and a female. The female is eventually impregnated by the male cat, and begins to search for shelter for when she gives birth to her kittens. The film shows her giving birth to five kittens in graphic detail.

In 1944, he directed a documentary featuring conductor Arturo Toscanini, Hymn of the Nations, produced by the Office of War Information. He also appeared in Maya Deren's At Land (1944), a 15-minute silent experimental film. His documentary Library of Congress (1945) was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Short Documentary. Through the 1950s and 1960s Hammid made documentaries. In 1951, Hackenschmied and Gian Carlo Menotti co-directed the film version of Menotti's opera The Medium.

Hammid directed his final film, To Be Alive! (1964), for screening at the 1964 New York World's Fair. The film won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short in 1965.

Hammid worked in partnership with filmmaker Francis Thompson (1908–2003) for over 25 years, producing numerous “in-house” documentaries as well as several films for general viewership. One of the best known of these is the first IMAX format film, To Fly! (1976), which premiered at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum (NASM) at the museum’s grand opening celebration on July 1, 1976. Produced in conjunction with MacGillivray Freeman Films, it continues to play regularly at the Air and Space Museum.

During his years with Francis Thompson, Inc., Hammid went on to be involved with several other early IMAX films. Graeme Ferguson, co-founder of IMAX Corporation (speaking at Francis Thompson’s memorial service in 2004) recalled how he had wanted Hammid and Thompson to make the first commercial IMAX films because of their extensive work in earlier large-scale multi-screen films including To Be Alive! (which won an Oscar after being shown at the New York World's Fair in 1964), We Are Young (on six screens for the Montreal World's Fair/Expo 67 in 1967) and US (for San Antonio's Hemisfair in 1969).

Legacy

Austrian film director, Martina Kudláček directed, documentary, Aimless Walk: Alexander Hammid (1996) based on his life and work.[8] In 2006, MoMA organized a tribute film exhibition titled, "Alexander Hammid: A Memorial Salute" based on its film archives.[4]

The Academy Film Archive has preserved Arturo Toscanini: Conducting Music of Giuseppe Verdi and Library of Congress by Alexandr Hackenschmied.[9]

Filmography

Director

Editor

  • Loupežník (1931)
  • Zem spievá (1933, The Earth Sings)
  • A život jde dál (1935)
  • Crisis (1939)
  • The Photographer (1948)
  • The Medium (1951)
  • Miracle in Java (1956)
  • Out (1957)
  • To Be Alive! (1964)

See also

  • Book: Michael Omasta (ed.): Tribute to Sasha (Vienna: SYNEMA, 2002) (German/English)
  • Documentary Film: Aimless Walk: Alexander Hammid (1996, 48 minutes) directed by Martina Kudlacek

References

  1. ^ Kathryn L. Shattuck (August 8, 2004). "Alexander Hammid, 96, Filmmaker Known for Many Styles". The New York Times. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  2. ^ "Alexandr Hackenschmied - Monoskop". monoskop.org. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
  3. ^ "1965 (38th Academy Award)". Academy Awards® Database - AMPAS. Archived from the original on 2012-07-01. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  4. ^ a b "Alexander Hammid: A Memorial Salute". MoMA. February 24–26, 2006. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  5. ^ "Alexandr Hackenschmied". Schaden.com.
  6. ^ Marta Filipová (2020-02-28). "Artwork of the Month, February 2020: The Highway Sings by Elmar Klos, Jan Lukas and Alexander Hackenschmied (1937)". Continuity/Rupture: Art and Architecture in Central Europe 1918-1939. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  7. ^ "MoMA | Maya Deren. Meshes of the Afternoon. 1943". www.moma.org. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
  8. ^ Aimless Walk: Alexander Hammid at IMDb
  9. ^ "Preserved Projects". Academy Film Archive.

External links

  • "Alexander Hammid Biography and films".
  • Czech avant-garde pioneer Alexandr Hackenschmied (Hammid) dies at 96 Radio Prague article.
  • Alexander Hammid at IMDb
  • Private Life of a Cat (1947) at the Internet Archive
  • To Fly details at MacGillivray Freeman Films

March 04, 2023
alexandr, hackenschmied, born, alexander, siegfried, george, hackenschmied, known, later, alexander, hammid, december, 1907, linz, july, 2004, york, city, czech, american, photographer, film, director, cinematographer, film, editor, immigrated, 1938, became, i. Alexandr Hackenschmied 1 born Alexander Siegfried George Hackenschmied known later as Alexander Hammid 17 December 1907 Linz 26 July 2004 New York City was a Czech American photographer film director cinematographer and film editor He immigrated to the U S in 1938 and became involved in American avant garde cinema He is best known for three films Crisis 1939 Meshes of the Afternoon 1943 and To Be Alive 1964 He made Meshes of the Afternoon with Maya Deren to whom he was married from 1942 to 1947 His second marriage was to the photographer Hella Heyman who had also collaborated with Hammid and Deren on several films 2 Alexandr HackenschmiedAlexander Hammid in a screenshot of the short film Meshes of the Afternoon 1943 Born17 December 1907Linz AustriaDied26 July 2004 aged 96 New York CityNationalityCzech 1907 1942 American 1942 2004 Occupation s Film director photographer cinematographer film editorSpouseMaya Deren 1942 1947 Hella Hilde Heyman 1948 1992 her death He won the 1965 Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for To Be Alive 1964 which he co directed with Francis Thompson 3 Contents 1 Career in Czechoslovakia and the U S 2 Legacy 3 Filmography 3 1 Director 3 2 Editor 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksCareer in Czechoslovakia and the U S EditBorn in Linz Austria Hungary to the son of a school teacher 4 he changed his name to Alexander Hammid when he became a citizen of the United States in 1942 He is best known for his work in documentary film both as a director cameraman and editor According to Jaroslav Andel s biography of Hackenschmied in 1930 Hackenschmied created his first film Bezucelna prochazka Aimless Walk which inaugurated the movement of avant garde film in Czechoslovakia The same year he also organized the Exhibition of New Czech Photography in the Aventinska Mansarda a showcase for artists of the Aventinum publishing house in Prague and the first show of European avant garde films in the Kotva Cinema also in Prague He contributed to the illustrated weekly Pestry tyden and also published a number of articles on photography and film in which he formulated the new aesthetics of both fields 5 Before emigrating from Czechoslovakia Hackenschmied worked for the Bata Film Studio in Zlin founded by Jan Antonin Bata in the 1930s who hired young filmmakers and artists to develop modern films primarily for advertising While employed there Hackenschmied made numerous advertising and documentary films One of the most famous was a four minute commercial for Bata tires called The Highway Sings Created together with director Elmar Klos and cinematographer Jan Lukas in 1937 it featured an avant garde style montage of auto tires in motion 6 During the late 1930s he collaborated with the American filmmaker Herbert Kline on the feature length documentary Crisis 1939 and moved to the USA where he met and married Maya Deren Together they made Meshes of the Afternoon 1943 a experimental film with the directors playing the two protagonists 7 He also directed the documentaries The Forgotten Village 1941 The Valley of the Tennessee 1944 and A Better Tomorrow 1945 Hammid also made the 22 minute short The Private Life of a Cat 1947 This short film was part narrative part documentary about cats and their daily lives The film starts off with two cats a male and a female The female is eventually impregnated by the male cat and begins to search for shelter for when she gives birth to her kittens The film shows her giving birth to five kittens in graphic detail In 1944 he directed a documentary featuring conductor Arturo Toscanini Hymn of the Nations produced by the Office of War Information He also appeared in Maya Deren s At Land 1944 a 15 minute silent experimental film His documentary Library of Congress 1945 was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Short Documentary Through the 1950s and 1960s Hammid made documentaries In 1951 Hackenschmied and Gian Carlo Menotti co directed the film version of Menotti s opera The Medium Hammid directed his final film To Be Alive 1964 for screening at the 1964 New York World s Fair The film won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short in 1965 Hammid worked in partnership with filmmaker Francis Thompson 1908 2003 for over 25 years producing numerous in house documentaries as well as several films for general viewership One of the best known of these is the first IMAX format film To Fly 1976 which premiered at the Smithsonian Institution s National Air and Space Museum NASM at the museum s grand opening celebration on July 1 1976 Produced in conjunction with MacGillivray Freeman Films it continues to play regularly at the Air and Space Museum During his years with Francis Thompson Inc Hammid went on to be involved with several other early IMAX films Graeme Ferguson co founder of IMAX Corporation speaking at Francis Thompson s memorial service in 2004 recalled how he had wanted Hammid and Thompson to make the first commercial IMAX films because of their extensive work in earlier large scale multi screen films including To Be Alive which won an Oscar after being shown at the New York World s Fair in 1964 We Are Young on six screens for the Montreal World s Fair Expo 67 in 1967 and US for San Antonio s Hemisfair in 1969 Legacy EditAustrian film director Martina Kudlacek directed documentary Aimless Walk Alexander Hammid 1996 based on his life and work 8 In 2006 MoMA organized a tribute film exhibition titled Alexander Hammid A Memorial Salute based on its film archives 4 The Academy Film Archive has preserved Arturo Toscanini Conducting Music of Giuseppe Verdi and Library of Congress by Alexandr Hackenschmied 9 Filmography EditDirector Edit Aimless Walk 1930 The Prague Castle 1932 Crisis 1939 The Forgotten Village 1941 Meshes of the Afternoon 1943 Valley of the Tennessee 1944 The Private Life of a Cat 1944 Hymn of the Nations 1944 Library of Congress 1945 A Better Tomorrow 1945 Marriage Today 1950 Angry Boy 1950 Of Men and Music 1951 The Gentleman in Room 6 1951 Power Among Men 1959 To Be Alive 1964 U S 1968 To Fly 1976 Editor Edit Loupeznik 1931 Zem spieva 1933 The Earth Sings A zivot jde dal 1935 Crisis 1939 The Photographer 1948 The Medium 1951 Miracle in Java 1956 Out 1957 To Be Alive 1964 See also EditBook Michael Omasta ed Tribute to Sasha Vienna SYNEMA 2002 German English Documentary Film Aimless Walk Alexander Hammid 1996 48 minutes directed by Martina KudlacekReferences Edit Kathryn L Shattuck August 8 2004 Alexander Hammid 96 Filmmaker Known for Many Styles The New York Times Retrieved August 24 2014 Alexandr Hackenschmied Monoskop monoskop org Retrieved 2020 07 10 1965 38th Academy Award Academy Awards Database AMPAS Archived from the original on 2012 07 01 Retrieved 2014 08 24 a b Alexander Hammid A Memorial Salute MoMA February 24 26 2006 Retrieved 2014 08 24 Alexandr Hackenschmied Schaden com Marta Filipova 2020 02 28 Artwork of the Month February 2020 The Highway Sings by Elmar Klos Jan Lukas and Alexander Hackenschmied 1937 Continuity Rupture Art and Architecture in Central Europe 1918 1939 Retrieved 2021 04 12 MoMA Maya Deren Meshes of the Afternoon 1943 www moma org Retrieved 2021 04 22 Aimless Walk Alexander Hammid at IMDb Preserved Projects Academy Film Archive External links Edit Alexander Hammid Biography and films Czech avant garde pioneer Alexandr Hackenschmied Hammid dies at 96 Radio Prague article Alexander Hammid at IMDb Private Life of a Cat 1947 at the Internet Archive To Fly details at MacGillivray Freeman Films Bata company history Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alexandr Hackenschmied amp oldid 1133829280, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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