Margrit Rainer
{{Short description|Swiss actress (1914–1982)}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Margrit Rainer
|other names =
|birth_name= Margrit Rosa Sandmeier{{cite web|url=http://www.hls-dhs-dss.ch/textes/d/D9540.php|title=Rainer, Margrit|publisher=HDS|author=Michael Gautier|language=German|date=2010-03-09|accessdate=2015-10-01}}
|image = Margrit Rainer - Theater am Rigiblick - WN-WP.jpg
|caption = Margrit Rainer assumably in the late 1970s
|birth_date = {{birth date|1914|2|9|df=yes}}
|birth_place = Zürich, Canton of Zürich, Switzerland
|death_date = {{death date and age|1982|2|10|1914|2|9|df=yes}}
|death_place = Zürich, Canton of Zürich, Switzerland
|occupation = Comedian, radio personality, stage, television and film actor
|nationality = Swiss
|spouse = Fritz Pfister (1934–1938)
|years_active = 1938–1982
|notable_works =
|awards = Margrit Rainer#Awards
}}
Margrit Rainer born as Margrit Rosa Sandmeier (9 February 1914 – 10 February 1982) was a Swiss comedian, radio personality, and stage and film actress starring usually in Swiss German language cinema and television and stage productions.
Early life and education
Born and raised in Zürich-Oerlikon, Canton of Zürich in Switzerland, to Elise née Boller and Johannes Rudolf, Margrit Rosa Sandmeier dreamed of a circus career. Her parents forced her to make an apprenticeship as a photo lab assistant, but she secretly took acting classes and singing lessons. At the age of 18, she married Fritz Pfister, a Swiss actor, and they emigrated to Ibiza, where they operated a chicken farm. But the marriage broke up and she returned to Switzerland. Rainer worked as a cashier at the Zürich hotel Hirschen in 1934, the venue of the Cabaret Cornichon.{{cite web|url=http://tls.theaterwissenschaft.ch/wiki/Margrit_Rainer|publisher=theaterwissenschaft.ch|title=Margrit Rainer|author=Mats Staub|language=German|date=2013-12-05|accessdate=2015-10-01}}
Theater, film and television and children's voice actress
After first appearances at the Schweizerisches Volkstheater in 1938, Rainer debuted as chinesische Mutter ("Chinese mother") at the Cabaret Cornichon. Engagements at the Corso Theater Zürich and on occasion of the Swiss National Exhibition Landi'39 at Zürichhorn as Mäiti in the Swiss-German play "Steibruch", brought her artistic breakthrough. In the meanwhile, she also staged on the cabarets Resslirytti in Basel and Nebelhorn in Zürich, but from 1938 to 1950 she was a member of the Cornichon ensemble in Zürich where she met Ruedi Walter.{{cite web|url=http://www.hls-dhs-dss.ch/textes/d/D9257.php|title=Walter, Ruedi|publisher=HDS|author=Michael Gautier|language=German|date=2013-04-03|accessdate=2015-09-23}} She also played in various radio plays, among others in Regenpfeifer by Jürg Amstein and Artur Beul in 1948.{{cite web|url=http://www.srf.ch/sendungen/hoerspiel/der-regenpfeifer-von-juerg-amstein-und-artur-beul-3|publisher=srf.ch|title=Der Regenpfeifer von Jürg Amstein und Artur Beul|author=Tanja Stenzl|language=German|date=2015-01-02|accessdate=2015-10-01}}
After participation in the musical "Eusi chliini Stadt" at the opening of the Theater am Hechtplatz in Zürich in 1959,{{cite web|url=http://tls.theaterwissenschaft.ch/wiki/Theater_am_Hechtplatz,_Z%C3%BCrich_ZH|publisher=theaterwissenschaft.ch|title=Theater am Hechtplatz, Zürich ZH|author=Tanja Stenzl|language=German|date=2013-12-05|accessdate=2015-09-26}} Rainer staged there in the 1960s on a regular basis, so in several musicals such as "Bibi Balù" and "Golden Girl". In 1969 Rainer played at the Basler Theater the role of mother in the dialect version of Edward Bond's "Saved".
Margrit Rainer's premiered in the 1951 Swiss film Wahrheit oder Schwindel; her most popular films include Peter's mother in Heidi in 1951 and in 1955 in the sequel, Polizischt Wäckerli in 1956, Die Käserei in der Vehfreude two years later, An heiligen Wassern (Sacred Waters) in 1960 and Demokrat Läppli starring Alfred Rasser in 1961, in 1971 Der Kapitän (The Captain) and ten years later Der Erfinder (The Inventor). In the Swiss television she appeared in 25 episodes of Ein Fall für Mändli alongside Ruedi Walter and Inigo Gallo between 1973 and 1975.
Beside the stage and television and film, from 1970 to 1982 she participated in a number of children's fairy tales and musicals directed by Jörg Schneider.{{cite web|url=http://tls.theaterwissenschaft.ch/wiki/J%C3%B6rg_Schneider|title=Jörg Schneider|publisher=theaterwissenschaft.ch|author=|language=German|date=2013-12-05|accessdate=2015-08-22}}{{cite web|url=http://www.srf.ch/unterhaltung/people/schweiz/vip-archiv/archiv-perlen-die-schoensten-joerg-schneider-momente|title=Archiv-Perlen: Die schönsten Jörg-Schneider-Momente|publisher=Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen SRF|author=Karl Baldinger|language=German|date=2015-08-22|accessdate=2015-08-24}}{{cite web|url=http://www.zol.ch/bezirk-hinwil/wetzikon/joerg-schneider-ist-tot/story/13778801|title=Jörg Schneider ist tot|publisher=Zürcher Oberländer|author=|language=German|date=2015-08-22|accessdate=2015-08-22}}
Margrit Rainer, Ruedi Walter and Inigo Gallo
{{main|Ruedi Walter|Inigo Gallo}}
Margrit Rainer first appeared with Ruedi Walter as cabaret duo in 1951, first among others in a dialect version of Jan de Hartog's "Das Himmelbett", then in numerous popular dialect farces. As "Ehepaar Ehrsam" (Ehrsam couple) in the popular satirical radio program "Spalebärg 77a" from 1955 to 1965 the duo Rainer-Walter became very popular; Spalbärg 77a was filmed in 1957, and in 1962 produced as a musical. Rainer and Walter played in numerous popular dialect plays and farces, and were during thirty years probably the most popular entertainment duo in Switzerland. At the Schauspielhaus Zürich, they had great success in "Die Kleine Niederdorf-Oper" (1951 and 1959) and in 1954 in "Der schwarze Hecht". Great touring successes were among others the dialect adaption of Arthur Lovegrove's "Goodnight, Mrs. Puffin!" in 1969, in 1977 "D'Mueter wott nur s'Bescht", and in 1980 "Potz Millione",{{cite web|url=http://tls.theaterwissenschaft.ch/wiki/Ruedi_Walter|publisher=theaterwissenschaft.ch|title=Ruedi Walter|author=Mats Staub|language=German|date=2013-12-05|accessdate=2015-09-23}}{{cite web|url=http://www.srf.ch/kultur/im-fokus/der-archivar/es-gibt-schauspieler-und-es-gibt-ruedi-walter|publisher=Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen|title=Es gibt Schauspieler – und es gibt Ruedi Walter|author=Franz Kasperski|language=German|date=2014-06-15|accessdate=2015-09-23}} both directed by Rainer's spouse Inigo Gallo. Rainer, Gallo and Walter worked in a variety of dialect plays and musicals. Gallo directed, among other things his own Swiss German versions of farces like "Hurra, en Bueb!" "D'Mutter wott nur s'Bescht" and "Potz Millione", that became in 1980 a great success, touring with Rainer, Walter, Gallo and Ines Torelli.{{cite web|url=http://tls.theaterwissenschaft.ch/wiki/Ines_Torelli|publisher=theaterwissenschaft.ch|title=Ines Torelli|author=Thomas Hostettler|language=German|date=2013-12-05|accessdate=2015-09-27}}
Personal life
Born in Zürich, Margrit Rainer was citizen of Seengen, by first marriage of Richterswil, and since 1975 also citizen of Zürich.
Margrit Rainer and Ruedi Walter often was rumored to be a couple; indeed in the early days of their joint cooperation, but in 1959 the private paths of the film and stage partner separated. Margrit Rainer found in Inigo Gallo a new partner who also frequently appeared on the side of Margrit Rainer and Ruedi Walter in films and the theater.
File:Friedhof Enzenbühl - Grab Margrit Rainer, Susanne Gallo-De Santi und Inigo Gallo 2015-11-06 15-57-29.JPG and his wife by second marriage, Enzenbühl cemetery, Zürich-Weinegg]]
Margrit Rainer died after a routine intervention: a cyst was removed in her abdomen, but she died a short time later from internal bleeding on 10 February 1982. She was buried at Enzenbühl cemetery in Zürich-Weinegg alongside Inigo Gallo and his wife from first marriage.{{cite web|url=https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/content/dam/stzh/ted/Deutsch/gsz/Natur-%20und%20Erlebnisraeume/Publikationen%20und%20Broschueren/Friedhoefe/2015_Graeber_Prominenter_Verstorbener/FH_Enzenbuehl_Prominente_2015.pdf|title=Friedhof Enzenbühl - Gräber von prominenten Verstorbenen|publisher=stadt-zuerich.ch|language=German|accessdate=2015-09-25|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925114917/https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/content/dam/stzh/ted/Deutsch/gsz/Natur-%20und%20Erlebnisraeume/Publikationen%20und%20Broschueren/Friedhoefe/2015_Graeber_Prominenter_Verstorbener/FH_Enzenbuehl_Prominente_2015.pdf|archivedate=2015-09-25}}
Aftermath
Margrit Rainer became very popular as she often played the role of the petty-bourgeois housewife and wife, and was to the early 1980s the most popular Swiss folk actress, the "Mother of the Nation"; radiant and warm...but also complex, dark and broken. Only with this double meaning you will do her justice.{{cite web|url=http://www.srf.ch/kultur/film-serien/margrit-rainer-war-ein-liebevolles-muetti-und-horrormama-zugleich|title=Margrit Rainer war ein liebevolles Muetti und Horrormama zugleich |publisher=srf.ch|author=Thomas Lüthi|language=German|date=2014-02-09|accessdate=2015-10-01}}
Adjacent to the Ruedi-Walter-Strasse in Zürich-Oerlikon where she was born,{{cite web|url=http://www.cyranos.ch/sfrain-d.htm|publisher=cyranos.ch|title=Margrit Rainer|author=|language=German|date=|accessdate=2015-10-01}}{{cite web|url=http://www.alt-zueri.ch/turicum/strassen/r/ruedi_walter_strasse/ruedi_walter_strasse.html|title=Die Ruedi-Walter-Strasse|author=|language=German|date=|accessdate=2015-09-23}} the Margrit-Rainer-Strasse was named after the popular actress.{{cite web|url=http://www.alt-zueri.ch/turicum/strassen/m/margrit_rainer_strasse/margrit_rainer_strasse.html|title=Die Margrit-Rainer-Strasse|author=|language=German|date=|accessdate=2015-10-01}} At the Theater Rigiblick, on occasion of the artist's 100th birthday, in September 2014 premiered Euse Rainer chönnt das au!, a play respectively musical dedicated to Margrit Rainer,{{cite web|url=http://www.theater-rigiblick.ch/spielplan/projekt/euse-rainer-choennt-das-au-eine-liebevoll-wahnwitzige-hommage-fuer-margrit-rainer-zum-100|publisher=Theater Rigiblick|title=Euse Rainer chönnt das au!|author=|language=German|date=|accessdate=2015-10-02}} who's still popular although she died 32 years ago.{{cite web|url=https://www.art-tv.ch/10525-0-Theater-Rigiblick-Musikalische-Hommage-Euse-Rainer-choennt-das-au.html|publisher=art-tv.ch|title=Theater Rigiblick, Euse Rainer chönnt das au!|author=|language=German|date=|accessdate=2015-10-02}}
Filmography (selected works)
{{colbegin|colwidth=27em}}
- 1935: Zyt ischt Gält - Gritli Honegger
- 1941: De Hotelportier
- 1951: Wahrheit oder Schwindel
- 1952: Palace Hotel - Hilde Staub - Telefonistin
- 1952: Heidi - Peter's mother
- 1955: Heidi und Peter (Heidi and Peter)
- 1955: Polizischt Wäckerli - Hedwig Wäckerli
- 1956: Oberstadtgass - Frieda Jucker
- 1957: Der 10. Mai (The Tenth of May) - Frau Wyss
- 1957: Glück mues me ha - Margrit Baumann
- 1958: Zum goldenen Ochsen (Golden Ox Inn) - Marie Egli
- 1958: Die Käserei in der Vehfreude (aka The Fear of Power) - Eisi / Zenzi
- 1959: Hinter den sieben Gleisen - Frau Herzog - Bahnwärterin
- 1960: Anne Bäbi Jowäger - I. Teil: Wie Jakobli zu einer Frau kommt - Mädi
- 1960: An heiligen Wassern (Sacred Waters) - Creszenz Waldisch - die Bärenwirtin
- 1961: Demokrat Läppli - Agathe - Läpplis Schwester
- 1962: Der 42. Himmel (The 42nd Heaven) - Frau Beilfleiss
- 1962: Anne Bäbi Jowäger - II. Teil: Jakobli und Meyeli - Mädi
- 1964: Geld und Geist (Money and Spirit) - Dorngrütbäuerin
- 1967: Polizist Wäckerli in Gefahr (Policeman Waeckerli in Danger) - Hedwig Wäckerli
- 1968: Die sechs Kummerbuben - Bäbi
- 1968: Sommersprossen (aka Beyond Control, Sex and Violence Beyond Control, aka What a Way to Die)
- 1969: Pfarrer Iseli - Haushälterin Regula
- 1971: Der Kapitän (The Captain) - Elsie Haas
- 1972: Gute Abig, Signor Steiger (TV Movie) - Frau Murer
- 1972: Nid jetz, Schatz! (TV Movie) - Ambrosia Hug
- 1973-1975: Ein Fall für Männdli (TV Series, 25 episodes) - Rosa Emmenegger
- 1978: Anne Bäbi Jowäger - Mädi
- 1980: Der Erfinder (The Inventor) - Herta
- 1981: Potz Millione (TV Movie, broadcast of the theater play) - Leni Hugentobler (final film role)
{{colend}}
Awards
- 1978: Prix Walo{{cite web|url=http://www.prixwalo.ch/prix-walo/publikumsliebling/|title=Publikumsliebling|publisher=Prix Walo|author=|language=German|date=|accessdate=2015-09-28}}
- 1958: Movie award of the city of Zürich (Filmpreis der Stadt Zürich)
Literature
- Ernst Reinhardt: Ruedi Walter. Spuren eines Schauspielerlebens. Friedrich Reinhardt Verlag, Basel 1984, {{ISBN|3-7245-0549-3}}.
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commons category|Margrit Rainer}}
- {{IMDb name|id=0707024|name=Margrit Rainer}}
- {{HDS|9540|Rainer, Margrit|author=Michael Gautier|date=9 March 2010}}
- [http://www.srf.ch/suche?q=Margrit+Rainer Margrit Rainer on the website of the Swiss national television SRF] {{in lang|de}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rainer, Margrit}}
Category:Swiss stage actresses
Category:20th-century Swiss actresses
Category:Actresses from Zurich
Category:Swiss radio actresses
Category:Swiss women comedians
Category:Swiss musical theatre actresses
Category:Swiss television actresses
Category:Swiss voice actresses
Category:20th-century Swiss women singers
Category:People from Lenzburg District
Category:People from Richterswil