The Salon of Exiled Artists in California

1. Salka Viertel: From European actress to Hollywood screenwriter and salonnière

"Salka Viertel, like other Jewish women of that time, whether writers and poets in the German language such as Vicki Baum, Gina Kaus, Hilde Spiel, Nelly Sachs or Else Lasker-Schüler, lived through the genocide in exile or concentration and extermination camps, like the young Ruth Klüger in Auschwitz."

From stage to screen: Salka Viertel's journey from a European actress to a Hollywood screenwriter exemplifies the transformation many artists underwent during the tumultuous early 20th century. Born in 1889 in what is now Ukraine, Viertel began her career on European stages before emigrating to the United States with her husband, Berthold Viertel, in 1928.

Hollywood's cultural bridge: In California, Viertel reinvented herself as a screenwriter and became a crucial link between European and American cultures. Her ability to adapt to the American film industry while maintaining her European sensibilities made her an invaluable asset to studios like MGM. She specialized in writing scripts for Greta Garbo, including the acclaimed "Queen Christina" (1933).

The salonnière of Santa Monica: Perhaps Viertel's most significant contribution was her role as a salonnière. Her home at 165 Mabery Road in Santa Monica became a renowned salon, attracting European exiles, Hollywood stars, and American intellectuals. This salon served as a cultural oasis, preserving European traditions and fostering intellectual discourse in the heart of Hollywood.

2. The Hollywood salon: A haven for European exiles and intellectuals

"Salka's salon becomes a meeting point where Europeans cultivate their culture and speak in their native language, mainly German, with other compatriots, friends and colleagues who live in that strange paradise, that provides them with work and new opportunities."

A cultural lifeline: Viertel's salon played a crucial role in preserving European culture and providing a sense of community for exiles. It became a place where intellectuals, artists, and filmmakers could speak their native languages, discuss European politics and culture, and maintain connections to their homelands.

Notable attendees: The salon attracted an impressive array of talent, including:

• Writers: Thomas Mann, Bertolt Brecht, Lion Feuchtwanger, Christopher Isherwood
• Filmmakers: Fritz Lang, Billy Wilder, Ernst Lubitsch
• Actors: Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Charles Chaplin
• Musicians: Arnold Schoenberg, Igor Stravinsky
• Scientists: Albert Einstein

More than just socializing: The salon served multiple purposes:

• Networking hub for finding work in Hollywood
• Intellectual forum for discussing art, literature, and politics
• Support system for newly arrived refugees
• Platform for preserving and promoting European culture in America

3. Greta Garbo: A complex friendship and professional collaboration

"Salka protects Greta with her loyalty and discretion, so there are not many secrets she reveals in her book, nor from other close gay friends who do not even appear in these memoirs."

A multifaceted relationship: Salka Viertel and Greta Garbo's friendship was both personal and professional, spanning decades and continents. Their relationship was characterized by:

• Mutual understanding and support
• Professional collaboration on scripts
• Shared experiences as European women in Hollywood
• Complex dynamics involving sexuality and discretion

Professional impact: Viertel became Garbo's primary screenwriter at MGM, crafting roles that showcased the actress's talents and evolving persona. Their collaborations included:

• "Queen Christina" (1933)
• "Anna Karenina" (1935)
• "Conquest" (1937)

Personal complexities: The nature of their relationship extended beyond friendship, but both women were discreet about their personal lives. Viertel's memoirs, "The Kindness of Strangers," reveal little about the intimate details of their connection, reflecting the need for privacy in an era when same-sex relationships were taboo.

4. The rise of Nazism and its impact on European artists in Hollywood

"With Hitler's rising in 1933, many Jews and anti-fascists cannot return to their respective countries, and her salon becomes a kind of a port for those intellectuals who are far from their homeland, their language, their customs and their traditions."

Exodus of talent: The rise of Nazism in Europe triggered a massive exodus of artists, intellectuals, and filmmakers to Hollywood. This influx of European talent significantly impacted the American film industry and cultural landscape.

Key figures who fled to Hollywood:

• Directors: Fritz Lang, Billy Wilder, Ernst Lubitsch
• Writers: Bertolt Brecht, Thomas Mann, Lion Feuchtwanger
• Actors: Peter Lorre, Conrad Veidt
• Composers: Arnold Schoenberg, Hanns Eisler

Viertel's role: Salka Viertel played a crucial part in helping fellow exiles:

• Her salon provided a support network for newcomers
• She used her connections to help find work for refugees
• She was involved in organizations like the European Film Fund, which assisted emigrating filmmakers

Cultural impact: The influx of European talent led to:

• A blending of European and American filmmaking styles
• The development of film noir and other new genres
• An infusion of intellectual and artistic ideas into American culture

5. The challenges of adapting to American culture and the film industry

"The lives of Salka and the rest of her family are agitated by a very different fear since none of them can return to their home country and currently survive as emigrants going from one country to the other."

Language barriers: Many European artists struggled with English, limiting their opportunities in Hollywood. Some, like Salka Viertel, managed to overcome this obstacle and build successful careers.

Cultural differences: Adapting to American culture and the Hollywood system proved challenging for many exiles. Key differences included:

• The emphasis on commercial success over artistic merit
• The studio system's control over creative decisions
• American social norms and expectations

Professional setbacks: Many European artists faced difficulties in their careers:

• Actors struggled with typecasting or limited roles due to their accents
• Writers and directors had to adapt their styles to American tastes
• Some, like Berthold Viertel, found it challenging to succeed in the Hollywood system

Personal toll: The exile experience often led to:

• Feelings of displacement and nostalgia
• Financial insecurity
• Strained relationships and family separations

6. McCarthyism and the Hollywood blacklist: The end of the American dream

"The United States that once was a safe country for exiles suddenly becomes another that persecutes them."

The rise of anti-communist sentiment: The onset of the Cold War led to increased suspicion of leftist sympathizers in Hollywood, many of whom were European exiles.

Key events:

• Formation of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)
• The Hollywood Ten trials
• Creation of the Hollywood blacklist

Impact on the exile community:

• Many artists were called to testify before HUAC
• Some, like Hanns Eisler, were deported
• Others, including Bertolt Brecht, chose to leave the United States
• Careers were destroyed or severely impacted

Viertel's experience: Salka Viertel found herself under suspicion due to her associations and political views. This led to:

• Difficulty finding work in the film industry
• Increased scrutiny of her salon and personal life
• Eventually contributing to her decision to leave the United States

7. Return to Europe: Nostalgia, new beginnings, and lasting legacies

"Salka starts working on a script for German television Die staatsfeinde (Enemies of the Third Reich), which deals with emigrants, and for which she receives 12,000 marks."

The decision to return: Many exiles, including Salka Viertel, chose to return to Europe in the 1950s and 1960s. Factors influencing this decision included:

• Disillusionment with American politics and culture
• Desire to reconnect with their roots
• Opportunities in the rebuilding European film industries

New challenges: Returning to Europe presented its own set of difficulties:

• Readjusting to post-war European society
• Rebuilding careers and professional networks
• Confronting the trauma of the past and the changes in their homelands

Viertel's later years: Salka Viertel settled in Klosters, Switzerland, where she:

• Continued to write scripts for European television and film
• Maintained connections with friends from her Hollywood days
• Wrote her memoirs, "The Kindness of Strangers"

Lasting impact: The legacy of European exiles in Hollywood includes:

• Innovations in film style and storytelling
• Cross-cultural exchange between Europe and America
• Preservation of European intellectual and artistic traditions
• Contributions to the development of American culture in the mid-20th century

Last updated: August 14, 2024