Marlene Dietrich, a German actress and singer who has worked in Hollywood and Broadway, is undoubtedly one of the greatest in 20th century history. Even during her lifetime, she became a legend, who created an unforgettable image of both a pure and vicious woman, brave and independent Marlene, even today, many years after her death, arouses genuine interest in her person. Her name is associated with such famous men as Ernest Hemingway, Jean Gabin and Erich Maria Remarque. On account of her more than 50 roles in films and more than 15 albums and collections of songs. Bright, self-sufficient and unusually attractive, Dietrich still has millions of fans around the world.
Childhood and early years
Maria Magdalena Dietrich, was born in 1901 in Berlin. Her father died when she was 10 years old, and then her mother remarried. The girl was brought up according to the German tradition of duty, obedience and discipline. As a musically gifted child, Maria learned to play the violin. From 1906 to 1918 she attended the Berlin Girls' School. However, the family soon moved to the village, where her adoptive father passed away. Maria Magdalena entered the Conservatory in Weimar where she studied violin. She dreamed of becoming a professional violinist, but a wrist injury ruined all plans.
In 1920, Marlene returned to Berlin, where she began her studies at the Drama School at the German Theater, directed by the famous German director and theatrical figure Max Reinhardt. There she comprehends the basics of acting, learns to tap dance and cancan, takes singing lessons. Marlene played supporting roles in theater productions, and also worked part-time at a glove factory. The girl barely made ends meet and led a rather sad lifestyle.
First marriage
In 1923, Marlene Dietrich met the assistant director Rudolf Sieber while filming The Tragedy of Love. It was definitely not love from the first meeting, but Marlene had tremulous feelings for the man. Soon the lovers got married, and in 1925 they had a daughter. However, they lived together for only 5 years, after which they parted without filing a divorce. Dietrich overshadowed her husband, and he, in her words, was a "extremely sensitive" person. She bought Sieber a farm in California, where he worked with animals until his death in 1976.
In the next few years, Marlene Dietrich starred in several films, among which were "Kiss your hand, Madame" and "Cafe Electric". She was first noticed by film critics and compared to Greta Garbo, although Dietrich never rated her first film roles highly.
The path to glory
In 1929, the aspiring attractive actress became interested in Joseph von Sternberg, an eminent German filmmaker who examined the passion and sexuality of the vamp woman in Dietrich. She agreed to play in his tape "Blue Angel" and was right. The first German sound film received worldwide recognition, and the songs "Beware of the Blondes", "I was made from head to toe for love" and "I dashing Lola" performed by Dietrich instantly became hits. The release of this picture on screens overnight made Marlene a superstar. A blonde with bright makeup, a low voice praising sensuality and the joys of love, was herself the embodiment of sex, a femme fatale, capable of driving anyone crazy. Von Sternberg discerned the duality of her nature, arguing that she strangely combines "incredible sophistication and childlike spontaneity." A tandem with a talented director led Marlene Dietrich to the pinnacle of fame.
The success of the Blue Angel was followed by an invitation to Paramount Pictires and a move to the United States. From 1930 to 1935in the USA 6 films with her participation, directed by von Sternberg, were released: "Morocco", "Dishonored", "Blond Venus" and "Shanghai Express", "The Slutty Empress" and "The Devil is a Woman". The role of the cabaret artist in love with the French legionnaire in the film "Morocco" made a splash. The scene in which Marlene Dietrich appeared in a men's suit caused a storm of public outrage, which soon gave way to a new fashion trend: women, following the movie star, became convinced of the practicality and versatility of a new wardrobe item - trousers.
World War II and homeland
Dietrich's relations with the government of his own country were rather complicated. Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels has repeatedly suggested that she return to Germany and star in German cinema. At the same time, she was promised rather high fees and freedom in choosing a director, producer and scripts. But Marlene Dietrich always refused to cooperate with the National Socialists. Moreover, in 1937. she received American citizenship. Then in Germany, films with the participation of an actress who did not recognize the regime of the Third Reich were banned from showing, and all copies of "Blue Angel" in the country were destroyed.
From 1943 to 1946, Marlene Dietrich left filming and went to Europe to perform in front of the Allied forces. In total, about 500 concerts were held, for which in 1947 she was awarded the Medal of Freedom of the United States, and in 1950 she became a Knight of the Order of the Legion of Honor of France. In an elegant concert outfit resembling a military uniform, with perfect hair and makeup, she raised the morale of the fighters, entertained them and inspired them to win. Jean-Pierre Aumont, a French actor whom Marlene met in military Italy and who later became her close friend, spoke of the actress and singer this way: “In the eyes of the Germans, she was a traitor fighting against them on the side of the American army. Behind the veneer of her legendary image is a strong and courageous woman. No tears. No panic. Deciding to sing on the battlefield, she always knew what she was doing and took the risk with dignity, without bragging and without regret. " Dietrich herself said this about that time: "It was the most important job I have ever done."
Last years
Having buried her mother in 1945, and with her dreams of a homeland, Marlene Dietrich finally moved to the United States, where she returned to filming. In 1948, Builder's film Foreign Romance was released, which was named by film critics her best work in the past 13 years. Then there were several more famous paintings: "A Story in Monte Carlo" (1956), "Witness for the Prosecution" (1957), "Touch of the Devil" (1958), "Nuremberg Trials" (1961) and "Lovely Gigolo, Poor Gigolo" (1974 However, she increasingly moved away from the world of cinema, preferring to sing on stage and only occasionally act in films for good fees. In 1967 she made her Broadway debut. With her One Artist Show, where Marlene Dietrich acted as a singer and entertainer at the same time, she has traveled many countries for 9 years. And only when in Sydney she suffered a thigh neck injury, having fallen into the orchestra pit, did she decide that it was time to leave the profession.
The documentary "Marlene" about Dietrich's stage career and personal life was created by Maximilian Schell in 1984. In it, she herself tells about her roles and colleagues on the set, reflects on God, her native Germany and the place of women in society. Her interview is accompanied by footage from films with her participation and newsreels of those years. The aged Dietrich categorically refused to appear in the frame. By that time, she had already lived alone in Paris for several years, communicating with the outside world through her longtime friend Jean-Pierre Aumont and by telephone.
The great actress died in 1992 in Paris at the age of 90, and was buried in Berlin next to her mother. In 2000, the Berlin Film Museum opened a permanent exhibition of her filming costumes, records, documents, photographs and personal belongings.
