Herbert Lichtenfeld
Encyclopedia
Herbert Lichtenfeld was one of the most successful television screenplay writers in Germany
. He wrote over 300 film scripts. Many of his scripts were successful in Germany.
magazine. At this time he started to write radio plays and books. From 1968 he worked full-time as a screenplay writer. His first television film Deutschlandreise (German Journey) (1970, co-production between NDR og NRK) was co-written with Adolf Grimme-Preis.
A little later he began a partnership with the then still unknown director Wolfgang Petersen
. Together they developed a series of detective TV movies called Kriminalreihe (Crime Scene). These achieved ratings of over seventy per cent. The high point of this series was School Leaving Certificate (1974) with Nastassja Kinski
and Christian Quadflieg
, about a relationship between a teacher and a pupil.
While Wolfgang Petersen moved to the cinema and today works successfully in Hollywood, Lichtenfeld remained a writer for television. Besides writing further Kriminalreihe scripts he wrote for other crime film series such as Der Alte (The old man).
Also outside of the crime film genre he wrote numerous books, radio plays, television films and television series. Lichtenfeld's film scripts were always complex, with very precise dialogue, often not without a shot of irony.
(Die Schwarzwaldklinik). Lichtenfeld is often called the inventor of The Black Forest Clinic. But the idea to create a series in a hospital in the Black Forest was conceived by producer Wolfgang Rademann, who gave the screenplay writing job to Lichtenfeld. The series, featuring the white-coated Professor Brinkmann, attracted audiences of 25 million.
Lichtenfeld wrote all the scripts for The Black Forest Clinic, as well as his own series Der Landarzt (The Country Doctor), centring around physician Dr. Matthiesen in the fictitious small town of Deekelsen in Schleswig-Holstein
. Lichtenfeld wrote all the episodes until 1997.
In the early 1990s Lichtfeld was one of the most sought after directors on German television. Among other series he wrote Das Traumschiff (The Dream Ship), and Hotel Paradies (1990), Unsere Hagenbecks (1991), Immer wieder Sonntag (1993-1995), and several successful television films such as Vater wider Willen (Father Against Will)" (1995). Lichtenfeld's final film, Jugendsünde (Youth Sin) appeared in 2000.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He wrote over 300 film scripts. Many of his scripts were successful in Germany.
Life
After graduating, Lichtenfeld moved into the Federal Republic, and there worked as a reporter on several newspapers. In the 1960s he became the television correspondent for HörzuHörzu
Hörzu is a German weekly television listings magazine published by Axel Springer. The magazine first appeared in 1946 as the first radio program magazine to be produced in what was then the British zone of occupation...
magazine. At this time he started to write radio plays and books. From 1968 he worked full-time as a screenplay writer. His first television film Deutschlandreise (German Journey) (1970, co-production between NDR og NRK) was co-written with Adolf Grimme-Preis.
A little later he began a partnership with the then still unknown director Wolfgang Petersen
Wolfgang Petersen
Wolfgang Petersen is a German film director and screenwriter. His films include The NeverEnding Story, Enemy Mine, Outbreak, In the Line of Fire, Air Force One, The Perfect Storm, Troy, and Poseidon...
. Together they developed a series of detective TV movies called Kriminalreihe (Crime Scene). These achieved ratings of over seventy per cent. The high point of this series was School Leaving Certificate (1974) with Nastassja Kinski
Nastassja Kinski
Nastassja Kinski is a German-born American-based actress who has appeared in more than 60 films. Her starring roles include her Golden Globe Award-winning portrayal of the title character in Tess and her roles in two erotic films , as well as parts in Wim Wenders' films The Wrong Move; Paris,...
and Christian Quadflieg
Christian Quadflieg
Christian Urs Quadflieg is a German television actor and director. He has lived in Hamburg since 1991. His father was the German actor Will Quadflieg.Christian Quadflieg attended school in Hamburg...
, about a relationship between a teacher and a pupil.
While Wolfgang Petersen moved to the cinema and today works successfully in Hollywood, Lichtenfeld remained a writer for television. Besides writing further Kriminalreihe scripts he wrote for other crime film series such as Der Alte (The old man).
Also outside of the crime film genre he wrote numerous books, radio plays, television films and television series. Lichtenfeld's film scripts were always complex, with very precise dialogue, often not without a shot of irony.
The Black Forest Clinic
Lichtenfeld's greatest success was The Black Forest ClinicThe Black Forest Clinic
The Black Forest Clinic is a German language medical drama television series that was produced by and filmed in West Germany. The series was produced between 1984 and 1988 with the original airing being from October 2, 1985 to March 25, 1989 on West Germany's ZDF television channel.The series'...
(Die Schwarzwaldklinik). Lichtenfeld is often called the inventor of The Black Forest Clinic. But the idea to create a series in a hospital in the Black Forest was conceived by producer Wolfgang Rademann, who gave the screenplay writing job to Lichtenfeld. The series, featuring the white-coated Professor Brinkmann, attracted audiences of 25 million.
Lichtenfeld wrote all the scripts for The Black Forest Clinic, as well as his own series Der Landarzt (The Country Doctor), centring around physician Dr. Matthiesen in the fictitious small town of Deekelsen in Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
. Lichtenfeld wrote all the episodes until 1997.
In the early 1990s Lichtfeld was one of the most sought after directors on German television. Among other series he wrote Das Traumschiff (The Dream Ship), and Hotel Paradies (1990), Unsere Hagenbecks (1991), Immer wieder Sonntag (1993-1995), and several successful television films such as Vater wider Willen (Father Against Will)" (1995). Lichtenfeld's final film, Jugendsünde (Youth Sin) appeared in 2000.