It sounds like a weekend at Post Apocalyptic Bohemia: anguished souls, sinister villains & twisted Nazis, but I am actually considering Helmut Berger on his Birthday.
Helmut Beger by Helmut Newton 1970
I was very drawn to Helmut Berger in the 1970s. I swooned at photos of him in After Dark magazine & in fashion layouts. Check out his work in Dorian Gray, a warped Italian version of the Oscar Wilde tale, set in sexually loose 1970’s London. Berger turns 67 today. He continues to work in film.
In 1964, Helmut Berger met Italian director Luciano Visconti, who would become his partner in life. Visconti gave him his first acting role & he gained international fame in Visconti's from 1969- The Damned, a movie that fascinated me for its depravity when I was 15 years old. In this film, Berger mimics the role of Lola, as played by Marlene Dietrich in The Blue Angel . In the equally twisted role of King Luwig II of Bavaria
Visconti introduced Berger to musicians, models &international artists: Rudolf Nureyev, Maria Calla, Leonard Bernstein & Mick Jagger. Berger had an affair with Nureyev, but didn’t appreciate the dancer’s passion for garlic & vodka. He claims one time encounter withJagger. At least I went twice with the Rolling Stones singer.
Visconti's death in 1976 drove Berger into deep despair & financial collapse. Visconti's will, in which Berger was to be heir, could not be found. The former lover of Visconti, Franco Zeffirelli, berated Berger publicly, accusing him of exploiting his mentor. Berger attempted suicide on the first anniversary of Visconti's death, & fell into alcohol & drug addiction. In his 1988 memoir- Ich, he refers to his relationship with Visconti as a marriage & claims to be the director's widow.
Berger worked in B-movies & a few high profile films like Ash Wednesday in 1973 with Elizabeth Taylor. He also worked in TV, including the role of Peter De Vilbis on Post Apocalyptic Bohemian favorite- Dynasty. Since Visconti's death no director has been able to bring Berger's considerable talents to the screen again.
Visconti introduced Berger to musicians, models &international artists: Rudolf Nureyev, Maria Calla, Leonard Bernstein & Mick Jagger. Berger had an affair with Nureyev, but didn’t appreciate the dancer’s passion for garlic & vodka. He claims one time encounter withJagger. At least I went twice with the Rolling Stones singer.
Visconti's death in 1976 drove Berger into deep despair & financial collapse. Visconti's will, in which Berger was to be heir, could not be found. The former lover of Visconti, Franco Zeffirelli, berated Berger publicly, accusing him of exploiting his mentor. Berger attempted suicide on the first anniversary of Visconti's death, & fell into alcohol & drug addiction. In his 1988 memoir- Ich, he refers to his relationship with Visconti as a marriage & claims to be the director's widow.
Berger worked in B-movies & a few high profile films like Ash Wednesday in 1973 with Elizabeth Taylor. He also worked in TV, including the role of Peter De Vilbis on Post Apocalyptic Bohemian favorite- Dynasty. Since Visconti's death no director has been able to bring Berger's considerable talents to the screen again.
I was very drawn to Helmut Berger in the 1970s. I swooned at photos of him in After Dark magazine & in fashion layouts. Check out his work in Dorian Gray, a warped Italian version of the Oscar Wilde tale, set in sexually loose 1970’s London. Berger turns 67 today. He continues to work in film.
Berger Today
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