What is the reason for Bridget von Hammersmark's unusual name?
One thing I always wondered about Inglourious Basterds is, why the famous actress Bridget von Hammersmark has such an unusual name (and which nobody else in the movie seems to find unusual). Her last name is classically German, yet she bears a very English forename, one that would never have been used in Germany right away. While in nowadays' globalized world and especially American-influenced German culture this wouldn't be totally uncommon, at that time it would have been completely unusual.
So is there any further information why that name was chosen for her? While this might have been an arbitrary decision and there might not be much more to this, it could also be that this name is a reference to somebody else or has some deeper meaning to it. Or maybe it was just a foreshadowing of her work for the British empire (one that nobody else noticed, though).
Best Answer
I found an article in the German newspaper Die Welt from 2009 "Quentin Tarantinos Spaß mit obskuren Namen" (Quentin Tarantinos fun with strange names):
WELT ONLINE: Diane Kruger ist Bridget von Hammersmark, deutscher Filmstar und englische Agentin. Bridget/Brigitte klingt schon deutsch genug. Und dann noch "von Hammersmark". Das deutet sehr auf einen gewissen "Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck".
Tarantino: Das ist nun wirklich ein völliger Zufall!
WELT ONLINE: Meinen Sie wirklich!?
Tarantino: Als man mich zum ersten Mal auf diese Ähnlichkeit aufmerksam machte, fragte ich mich, ob ich den Namen so belassen sollte. Ich denke, von Donnersmarck sollte erst noch ein paar weitere Filme drehen, bevor ich ihm den Namen einer meiner Charaktere spendiere. Ich habe mich dann gegen eine Änderung entschieden, weil ich das Wort so schlagend finde: "Hammer!" Hammermäßig!
Rough translation (with the help of google, links added by me ;) ):
WELT ONLINE: Diane Kruger is Bridget von Hammersmark, German movie star and British agent. Bridget / Brigitte does sound German enough. And then "von Hammersmark." This points to a very certain "Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck."
Tarantino: This really is a complete coincidence!
WELT ONLINE: You really think so?
Tarantino: When I was made ??aware of this similarity for the first time, I wondered whether I should leave the name that way. I think von Donnersmarck should only turn a few more movies before I'll buy him the name of one of my characters. I then decided against a change because I find so striking the words: "Hammer" Hammermäßig!
In German Hammer is the same as the English hammer. Beside the tool, you can use it also more literally. Hammermäßig ("Das ist der Hammer") is English That's just about the limit.
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Is Bridget von Hammersmark real?
Q Diane Kruger plays Bridget von Hammersmark, a German actress who spies for the Allies. Is she a real person? A Von Hammersmark is imaginary, though her glamour and beauty evoke the popular German actress, Marlene Dietrich. Dietrich, however, was never a spy.Who is Bridget von Hammersmark based on?
One of the main sources of inspiration for the character of Bridget von Hammersmark is the Hungarian-born actress Ilona Massey. The dress worn by Bridget at the film premiere is very similar to one worn by Massey in the 1941 movie International Lady.Who was in the bar scene in Inglourious Basterds?
EricTitle/RankProprietor/BartenderNationalityFrenchFateDied in the tavern gunfightPortrayed byChristian Berkel6 more rowsInglourious Basterds - Bridget Von Hammersmark's Death - Movie Clip HD
More answers regarding what is the reason for Bridget von Hammersmark's unusual name?
Answer 2
The best I can find is that the various inspirations for the character were Ilona Massey, Zarah Leander, and Marlene Dietrich. Otherwise I can't find anything describing a reason for why the name Bridget was chosen, so it appears to simply be arbitrary.
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Images: Perry Wunderlich, Armin Rimoldi, cottonbro, Armin Rimoldi