# Hein Heckroth

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German art director (1901–1970)

A bust of Hein Heckroth

**Hein Heckroth** (14 April 1901 in [Gießen](/source/Gie%C3%9Fen) - 7 July 1970 in [Amsterdam](/source/Amsterdam)) was a German painter, costume designer and [art director](/source/Art_director) of stage and film productions. Heckroth spent much of his career in the United Kingdom, and he is best known for his work during that period with the filmmakers [Michael Powell](/source/Michael_Powell) and [Emeric Pressburger](/source/Emeric_Pressburger) on films such as *[The Red Shoes](/source/The_Red_Shoes_(1948_film))* and *[The Tales of Hoffmann](/source/The_Tales_of_Hoffmann_(film))*.

## Early life and career

Heckroth was born in 1901 in Giessen, Germany. As a young man, he moved to [Frankfurt](/source/Frankfurt), where he studied as a painter. He was deeply affected by the prevailing artistic movements of the postwar era, including [Surrealism](/source/Surrealism), [Expressionism](/source/Expressionism), and [Cubism](/source/Cubism). Heckroth's career quickly skyrocketed, and, at only twenty-three years old, he began designing costumes and sets for [Kurt Jooss](/source/Kurt_Jooss)'s pioneering dance company.[1] He achieved renown as a prolific designer of stage productions, including several performances of [Jacques Offenbach](/source/Jacques_Offenbach)'s opera *[The Tales of Hoffmann](/source/The_Tales_of_Hoffmann)* and the original production of *[The Green Table](/source/The_Green_Table)*. After [Adolf Hitler](/source/Adolf_Hitler) came to power in Germany, Heckroth's Jewish wife Ada, also an artist, left for [Paris](/source/Paris) with their daughter, Nandi. Heckroth joined them in 1935, and the three moved to [Great Britain](/source/Great_Britain). There, he reestablished himself as both a painter and art designer, designing the sets and costumes for the first production of *[Don Giovanni](/source/Don_Giovanni)* at [Glyndebourne](/source/Glyndebourne) in 1936[2] and the [Kurt Weill](/source/Kurt_Weill) operetta, *[A Kingdom for a Cow](/source/A_Kingdom_for_a_Cow)*.[1] During this time, he also began teaching art at [Dartington Hall](/source/Dartington_Hall). There, he met his old friends, [Walter Gropius](/source/Walter_Gropius) and [Lee Miller](/source/Lee_Miller). Miller introduced him to her husband, [Roland Penrose](/source/Roland_Penrose), and the art critic [Herbert Read](/source/Herbert_Read). He also befriended other members of the Dartington faculty, including [David Mellor](/source/David_Mellor), [Mark Tobey](/source/Mark_Tobey), and [Cecil Collins](/source/Cecil_Collins_(artist)).[3]

## Move to England and work with The Archers

When [World War II](/source/World_War_II) broke out, Heckroth was imprisoned by the British government as an enemy alien and shipped to [Australia](/source/Australia). His friends in the art world rallied to his defense; Read campaigned for his release, as did [Michael Foot](/source/Michael_Foot). As part of their efforts, the organized his first solo exhibition in Britain in May 1943. Their efforts were successful, and Heckroth was allowed to return to England. After his return, he designed an ambitious stage production of *[War and Peace](/source/War_and_Peace)* which incorporated a number of filmic elements, including film projected onto the stage. The art director [Vincent Korda](/source/Vincent_Korda) noticed this, and he was soon recruited as the costume designer on [Gabriel Pascal](/source/Gabriel_Pascal)'s *[Caesar and Cleopatra](/source/Caesar_and_Cleopatra_(film))*.[1]

His entry into the film world was noticed by another German emigre, [Alfred Junge](/source/Alfred_Junge), who was working as the production designer for [Michael Powell](/source/Michael_Powell) and [Emeric Pressburger](/source/Emeric_Pressburger), the acclaimed filmmaking duo known as [The Archers](/source/Powell_and_Pressburger). He served under Junge as the costume designer on *[A Matter of Life and Death](/source/A_Matter_of_Life_and_Death_(1946_film))* and *[Black Narcissus](/source/Black_Narcissus)*.

Heckroth's greatest success came in 1948, when The Archers made him their production and costume designer on *[The Red Shoes](/source/The_Red_Shoes_(1948_film)).* Junge was unwilling to design a film with the radical edge that Powell was looking for, and Heckroth's work quickly earned him notice. He won the [Academy Award for Best Art Direction](/source/Academy_Award_for_Best_Production_Design) for his work on the film with art director, [Arthur Lawson](/source/Arthur_Lawson_(designer)).[4]

Heckroth remained one of The Archers' principal collaborators for the next several years, designing their films *[The Small Back Room](/source/The_Small_Back_Room)*, *[The Elusive Pimpernel](/source/The_Elusive_Pimpernel_(1950_film))*, *[Gone to Earth](/source/Gone_to_Earth_(film))*, *[The Tales of Hoffmann](/source/The_Tales_of_Hoffmann_(film))* (for which he was nominated for two more [Academy Awards](/source/Academy_Awards) for his art direction and costume designs), and *[Oh... Rosalinda!!](/source/Oh..._Rosalinda!!)*. He also served as artistic supervisor on *[The Battle of the River Plate](/source/The_Battle_of_the_River_Plate_(film))*.

## Return to Germany and last years

During the four year gap between *The Tales of Hoffmann* and *Oh... Rosalinda!!*, Heckroth returned to Germany, where he became the chief designer at the Frankfurt City Theatre. He also switched from a career in film to one in television. He invited Powell to Germany to direct the television versions of two stage productions he'd been hired to design, *[The Sorcerer's Apprentice](/source/The_Sorcerer's_Apprentice_(1955_film))*, based on a recent ballet, and *[Herzog Blaubarts Burg](/source/Herzog_Blaubarts_Burg)*, based on the [Béla Bartók](/source/B%C3%A9la_Bart%C3%B3k) opera *[Duke Bluebeard's Castle](/source/Duke_Bluebeard's_Castle)*.[4] The last film he designed was [Alfred Hitchcock](/source/Alfred_Hitchcock)'s *[Topaz](/source/Topaz_(1969_film))* in 1967. He died in 1970.[5]

His designs for *The Red Shoes* are preserved at [MOMA](/source/Museum_of_Modern_Art) in [New York City](/source/New_York_City) and the [British Film Institute](/source/British_Film_Institute) in [London](/source/London).

## See also

- [List of German-speaking Academy Award winners and nominees](/source/List_of_German-speaking_Academy_Award_winners_and_nominees)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Gothic_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Gothic_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Gothic_1-2) Moor, Andrew. ["Gothic Riots: The Work of Hein Heckroth"](https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/404-gothic-riots-the-work-of-hein-heckroth). *The Criterion Collection*. Retrieved 20 April 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Norwich, John Julius](/source/John_Julius_Norwich) (1985). *Fifty Years of Glyndebourne, p.148*. London: Jonathan Cape. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-224-02310-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-224-02310-1).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Aldred_3-0)** Aldred, Nanette (2005). "Hein Heckroth and The Archers". In Christie, Ian; Moor, Andrew (eds.). *The Cinema of Michael Powell: International Perspectives on an English Film-Maker*. London: BFI. pp. 187–206. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-84457-094-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-84457-094-0).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Sickliness_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Sickliness_4-1) Moor, Andrew (May 2005). "Hein Heckroth at the Archers: Art, Commerce, Sickliness". *Journal of British Cinema and Television*. **2** (1): 67–81. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3366/jbctv.2005.2.1.67](https://doi.org/10.3366%2Fjbctv.2005.2.1.67).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Obituary_5-0)** ["Hein Heckroth"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/956185). *The Musical Times*. **111** (1531): 927. 1970. [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [956185](https://www.jstor.org/stable/956185). Retrieved 20 April 2023.

## External links

- [Hein Heckroth](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0373081/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [Allmovie bio](https://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=2:161195~T1)

- [Hein Heckroth](http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/464379/) at the [BFI](/source/British_Film_Institute)'s [Screenonline](/source/Screenonline)

- [Hein-Heckroth-Gesellschaft e.V.](https://www.hein-heckroth-ges.de)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND FAST WorldCat National United States France BnF data Czech Republic Poland Israel Artists ULAN RKD Artists FID People Deutsche Biographie DDB Other Open Library SNAC RISM Yale LUX

v t e Academy Award for Best Production Design Interior Decoration (1927–1939) 1927/1928: William Cameron Menzies 1928/1929: Cedric Gibbons 1929/1930: Herman Rosse 1930/1931: Max Rée 1931/1932: Gordon Wiles 1932/1933: William S. Darling 1934: Cedric Gibbons, Fredric Hope 1935: Richard Day 1936: Richard Day 1937: Stephen Goosson 1938: Carl Jules Weyl 1939: Lyle R. Wheeler Black & White / Color (1940–1946) 1940 (bw): Cedric Gibbons and Paul Groesse / (c): Vincent Korda 1941 (bw): Richard Day, Nathan Juran, and Thomas Little / (c): Cedric Gibbons, Urie McCleary, and Edwin B. Willis 1942 (bw): Richard Day, Joseph C. Wright, and Thomas Little / (c): Richard Day, Joseph C. Wright, and Thomas Little 1943 (bw): James Basevi, William S. Darling, and Thomas Little / (c): Alexander Golitzen, John B. Goodman, Russell A. Gausman, and Ira S. Webb 1944 (bw): Cedric Gibbons, William Ferrari, Paul Huldschinsky, and Edwin B. Willis / (c): Wiard Ihnen and Thomas Little 1945 (bw): Wiard Ihnen and A. Roland Fields / (c): Hans Dreier, Ernst Fegté, and Samuel M. Comer 1946 (bw): William S. Darling, Lyle R. Wheeler, Thomas Little, and Frank E. Hughes / (c): Cedric Gibbons, Paul Groesse, and Edwin B. Willis Art Direction–Set Decoration Black & White / Color (1947–1956) 1947 (bw): John Bryan and Wilfred Shingleton / (c): Alfred Junge 1948 (bw): Roger K. Furse and Carmen Dillon / (c): Hein Heckroth and Arthur Lawson 1949 (bw): Harry Horner, John Meehan, and Emile Kuri / (c): Cedric Gibbons, Paul Groesse, Edwin B. Willis, and Jack D. Moore 1950 (bw): Hans Dreier, John Meehan, Samuel M. Comer, and Ray Moyer / (c): Hans Dreier, Walter Tyler, Samuel M. Comer, and Ray Moyer 1951 (bw): Richard Day and George James Hopkins / (c): Cedric Gibbons, E. Preston Ames, Edwin B. Willis, and F. Keogh Gleason 1952 (bw): Cedric Gibbons, Edward Carfagno, Edwin B. Willis, and F. Keogh Gleason /(c): Paul Sheriff and Marcel Vertès 1953 (bw): Cedric Gibbons, Edward Carfagno, Edwin B. Willis, and Hugh Hunt / (c): Lyle R. Wheeler, George Davis, Walter M. Scott, and Paul S. Fox 1954 (bw): Richard Day / (c): John Meehan and Emile Kuri 1955 (bw): Hal Pereira, Tambi Larsen, Samuel M. Comer, and Arthur Krams / (c): William Flannery, Jo Mielziner, and Robert Priestley 1956 (bw): Cedric Gibbons, Malcolm F. Brown, Edwin B. Willis, and F. Keogh Gleason / (c): Lyle R. Wheeler, John DeCuir, Walter M. Scott, and Paul S. Fox 1957–1958 1957: Ted Haworth and Robert Priestley 1958: William A. Horning, E. Preston Ames, Henry Grace, and F. Keogh Gleason Black & White / Color (1959–1966) 1959 (bw): Lyle R. Wheeler, George Davis, Walter M. Scott, and Stuart A. Reiss / (c): William A. Horning (posthumous award), Edward Carfagno, and Hugh Hunt 1960 (bw): Alexandre Trauner and Edward G. Boyle / (c): Alexander Golitzen, Eric Orbom (posthumous award), Russell A. Gausman, and Julia Heron 1961 (bw): Harry Horner and Gene Callahan / (c): Boris Leven and Victor A. Gangelin 1962 (bw): Alexander Golitzen, Henry Bumstead, and Oliver Emert /(c): John Box, John Stoll, and Dario Simoni 1963 (bw): Gene Callahan / (c): John DeCuir, Jack Martin Smith, Hilyard M. Brown, Herman A. Blumenthal, Elven Webb, Maurice Pelling, Boris Juraga, Walter M. Scott, Paul S. Fox, and Ray Moyer 1964 (bw): Vassilis Photopoulos / (c): Gene Allen, Cecil Beaton, and George James Hopkins 1965 (bw): Robert Clatworthy and Joseph Kish /(c): John Box, Terence Marsh, and Dario Simoni 1966 (bw): Richard Sylbert and George James Hopkins / (c): Jack Martin Smith, Dale Hennesy, Walter M. Scott, and Stuart A. Reiss 1967–1980 1967: John Truscott, Edward Carrere, and John W. Brown 1968: John Box, Terence Marsh, Vernon Dixon, and Ken Muggleston 1969: John DeCuir, Jack Martin Smith, Herman A. Blumenthal, Walter M. Scott, George James Hopkins, and Raphaël Bretton 1970: Urie McCleary, Gil Parrondo, Antonio Mateos, and Pierre-Louis Thévenet 1971: John Box, Ernest Archer, Jack Maxsted, Gil Parrondo, and Vernon Dixon 1972: Rolf Zehetbauer, Jurgen Kiebach, and Herbert Strabel 1973: Henry Bumstead and James W. Payne 1974: Dean Tavoularis, Angelo P. Graham, and George R. Nelson 1975: Ken Adam, Roy Walker, and Vernon Dixon 1976: George C. Jenkins and George Gaines 1977: John Barry, Norman Reynolds, Leslie Dilley, and Roger Christian 1978: Paul Sylbert, Edwin O'Donovan, and George Gaines 1979: Philip Rosenberg, Tony Walton, Edward Stewart, and Gary J. Brink 1980: Pierre Guffroy and Jack Stephens 1981–2000 1981: Norman Reynolds and Leslie Dilley (art); Michael D. Ford (set) 1982: Stuart Craig and Robert W. Laing (art); Michael Seirton (set) 1983: Anna Asp (art) 1984: Patrizia von Brandenstein (art); Karel Černý (set) 1985: Stephen B. Grimes (art); Josie MacAvin (set) 1986: Gianni Quaranta and Brian Ackland-Snow (art); Brian Savegar and Elio Altramura (set) 1987: Ferdinando Scarfiotti (art); Bruno Cesari and Osvaldo Desideri (set) 1988: Stuart Craig (art); Gérard James (set) 1989: Anton Furst (art); Peter Young (set) 1990: Richard Sylbert (art); Rick Simpson (set) 1991: Dennis Gassner (art); Nancy Haigh (set) 1992: Luciana Arrighi (art); Ian Whittaker (set) 1993: Allan Starski (art); Ewa Braun (set) 1994: Ken Adam (art); Carolyn Scott (set) 1995: Eugenio Zanetti (art) 1996: Stuart Craig (art); Stephenie McMillan (set) 1997: Peter Lamont (art); Michael D. Ford (set) 1998: Martin Childs (art); Jill Quertier (set) 1999: Rick Heinrichs (art); Peter Young (set) 2000: Timmy Yip (art) 2001–present 2001: Catherine Martin (art); Brigitte Broch (set) 2002: John Myhre (art); Gordon Sim (set) 2003: Grant Major (art); Dan Hennah and Alan Lee (set) 2004: Dante Ferretti (art); Francesca Lo Schiavo (set) 2005: John Myhre (art); Gretchen Rau (set) 2006: Eugenio Caballero (art); Pilar Revuelta (set) 2007: Dante Ferretti (art); Francesca Lo Schiavo (set) 2008: Donald Graham Burt (art); Victor J. Zolfo (set) 2009: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg (art); Kim Sinclair (set) 2010: Robert Stromberg (art); Karen O'Hara (set) 2011: Dante Ferretti (art); Francesca Lo Schiavo (set) 2012: Rick Carter (art); Jim Erickson (set) 2013: Catherine Martin (art); Beverley Dunn (set) 2014: Adam Stockhausen (art); Anna Pinnock (set) 2015: Colin Gibson (art); Lisa Thompson (set) 2016: David Wasco (art); Sandy Reynolds-Wasco (set) 2017: Paul Denham Austerberry (art); Shane Vieau and Jeff Melvin (set) 2018: Hannah Beachler (art); Jay Hart (set) 2019: Barbara Ling (art); Nancy Haigh (set) 2020: Donald Graham Burt (art); Jan Pascale (set) 2021: Patrice Vermette (art) and Zsuzsanna Sipos (set) 2022: Christian M. Goldbeck (art) and Ernestine Hipper (set) 2023: James Price and Shona Heath (art); Zsuzsa Mihalek (set) 2024: Nathan Crowley (art); Lee Sandales (set) 2025: Tamara Deverell (art); Shane Vieau (set)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hein Heckroth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hein_Heckroth) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hein_Heckroth?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.