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Marlene Dietrich's definitive screen role?


According to:

http://www.filmsite.org/afilegends2.html

this and The Blue Angel (1930) are listed as Marlene Dietrich's two best definitive screen roles. I would agree with The Blue Angel, but I would say that either Shanghai Express (1932), Destry Rides Again (1939), or Witness for the Prosecution (1957) were better performances.

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I would say Touch of Evil is her best performance besides The Blue Angel. But I love Blonde Venus too. Hot Voodoo has to be seen to be believed.

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and Morocco?

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...in many ways-YES

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I agree with Filmsite. While I certainly love her other films, Blonde Venus, clunky though the story may be at times, show Dietrich's depth as an actress and it's a truly memorizing performance.

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Hi mercycroft,

I just watched it. She was marvelous.

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Me too I saw it today, but I have seen it before. 2 She was a great actress. And the movie was very good. I wonder if this was made before Code because I said to myself this is not going to end good for her. But it did. Love it.

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Hi marbleann,

It was made before the code, but apparently the studio had to threaten the director and Marlene with a law suit to get them to do it. I read an article from the year of production. Apparently the director wanted to make something a lot darker.

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Well all I am happy about is that she was not punished by death or being along for the rest of her life. For sleeping around and prostitution. I would of loved to see what the Director had in mind.

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I have seen most of Dietrich's von Sternberg films, as well as many of her later post-stenberg roles, and am a great admirer. I have wanted to see Blonde Venus for years, having seen clips of her singing in the gorilla suit and the blonde wig many times only peaked my interest more! TCM finally played it last night as part of their new Friday Night Spotlight feature. This month's theme is "Introduction to The Hollywood Costume", playing Blonde Venus & Cleopatra(1934) to showcase the work of costume designer Travis Banton.
I must agree that this film really shows Dietrich's depth as an actress. I don't think I've ever seen her as natural before. This movie showcases all of her strengths. Also, this film is just beautiful to look at! The print they showed must have been a remastered one, as it was flawless! Anyone know?

The film Cleopatra from 1934 by Cecil B. DeMille, with Claudette Colbert in the lead that followed Blonde Venus was remastered and I believe a TCM premiere, I wasn't familiar with it! It's another good example of beautiful B&W cinematography of the early 1930's! It won an academy award for cinematography, I believe a new category that year, and was nominated for 4 others, including Best Picture. I recommend it.

----------Gary

Do you remember the spell?
Asa Nisi Masa... Asa Nisi Masa... sh!

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Yes the movie had to be remastered. I have seen it a few times before and it did not look as clean and sharp as it does now. I always loved Dietrich she always acted like she knew more then we did in her movies. That is why even though I loved Witness For the Prosecution the ending was so uncharacteristic for her. She would of know about his girlfriend and put a twist on him in the ending,
Cleopatra has been on a few times. I did not even look at it because I saw it so many times.

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