A film by Karl Ulrich Schnabel
The Cold Heart (Das Kalte Herz) is a unique film project created in the 1930s by Karl Ulrich Schnabel and finished in 2016 with a enthralling soundtrack by Robert Israel. This spellbinding silent film is a fascinating accomplishment, starring Swiss director Franz Schnyder and Stefan Schnabel.
Based on Wilhelm Hauff’s classic German fairy tale, the film captures the timeless story of Peter Munk, a young charcoal burner whose desire for wealth leads him into a dangerous pact with supernatural forces.
The Cold Heart is a 1931–33 fantasy film directed by young pianist Karl Ulrich Schnabel, based on a famous German legend rooted in the Black Forest’s traditional crafts and rivalries. The film follows Peter Munk (played by Swiss filmmaker Franz Schnyder) as he embarks on a magical journey filled with moral challenges.
Using innovative techniques such as superimpositions, stop motion, and on-screen text, the film shares an aesthetic connection with avant-garde works by Maya Deren and Kenneth Anger. Produced modestly with the help of Schnabel’s friends and family near Berlin, the film remained unfinished due to the political upheaval of the 1930s in Germany.
Rediscovered and restored by Swiss filmmaker Raff Fluri in 2009, it stands as a testament to creativity and resilience, finally bringing this long-hidden treasure to light.
In 2016, 83 years after its inception, The Cold Heart was finally completed. The restored version is based on a unique but shortened 16mm print.
A version faithful to the original has been carefully recreated, guided by the director’s notes and supplemented with working materials and cut scenes. To enhance clarity, a few intertitles have been added.
Although no evidence of a planned soundtrack was found in the director’s notes, acclaimed composer Robert Israel, deeply familiar with Schnabel’s musical legacy, composed a fitting score after extensive research and careful consideration.
The first public screening of Karl Ulrich Schnabel’s film The Cold Heart at the Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley on March 2, 2019, was a resounding success, warmly received by the audience.
The event was attended by several family members of the main actors, including Stefan Schnabel’s sons, Peter and David, Wendy Robushi, and Sophie Lamparter, the great-niece of lead actor Franz Schnyder. Representing the director, Karl Ulrich Schnabel, and restoration coordinator, Raff Fluri, François and Ann Mottier-Schnabel were also present, making the occasion truly special.
