She attended Max Reinhardt’s drama school and soon started to land small parts on stage and in German films. Dietrich made several more films with von Sternberg, including Dishonored (1931), Shanghai Express (1932) and The Scarlet Empress (1934), in which she played the famed member of Russian royalty, Catherine the Great. There’s that unforgettable voice, what one critic called “a whisky tenor.” German-American actress and singer who achieved 62 years of international fame as an immortal screen goddess in German and American films. If one is to be in awe of anyone, let it be a doctor or a brilliant scientist. One of the most glamorous leading ladies of the 1930s and 1940s, Marlene Dietrich is remembered for her smoldering sex appeal, distinctive voice, and unusual personal style. German-born Dietrich was openly bisexual and referred to her female partners as her “sewing circle.” Just take a look at her in Morocco and you’ll be convinced. Dietrich died on May 7, 1992, in Paris due to renal failure at the age of 90. In 1921, Marlene applied for an acting school run by Max Reinhardt. Well, it isn't. Born 27 December 1901 in Berlin-Schöneberg, Germany. And when I laugh, they laugh. [1969] This secret of all performing is that you have to be able to concentrate at such an extent that everybody who is listening to you has no other thoughts. The declaration hoped this "would symbolize the city of Berlin's reconciliation with her. Three-quarters of my audience are young people who cannot possibly be nostalgic simply because the mood I create is of a period most of them have not lived in. The original "One Touch of Venus" Broadway musical production opened at the Imperial Theatre on October 7, 1943, closed on February 10, 1945 after 567 performances. Learn more about Dietrich… She only made seven productions in the 1950's. No more work. [on her life as a star] Do you think this is glamorous? I don't think it is. And as I am that way too we get along just fine together. Careful grooming may take twenty years off a woman's age, but you can't fool a flight of stairs. The part went to Jane Greer. She was voted the 43rd Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly. Afterwards the roles came fewer, perhaps one to two films every year. Her father was an army officer who had served in the Franco-Prussian War. In her teens, she gave up music to explore acting. And as long as people want me, and I have them eating out of my hands, I shall continue to do so. My Old Flame; 12. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Written and performed by Uschi Felix, Marlene Dietrich Perfect Illusion presents a 74 year old Dietrich moments before her final concert. You still have to keep them in trance and I'm really happy that I'm able to do that. But a new career as a singer and performer appeared, with reviews and shows in Las Vegas, touring theatricals, and even Broadway. The beautifully talented Marlene Dietrich was born today! Dietrich remained popular throughout her long career by continually re-inventing herself, professionally and characteristically. ", She thought of feet to be the ugliest part of the human body, and therefore always tried to hide them in one way or another, The only show-business friend she ever had was. Once a woman has forgiven a man, she must not reheat his sins for breakfast. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us! However, by 1979, she was a shell of her former self. Acting was to be her vocation. Movie goers were simply attracted to her. Growing up, Dietrich studied French and English at her private school. How am I to know that? You see in our language, in German or in French, there is no such word as relax. Was made a Chevaliere of the Legion by France. They should grow up. Her daughter, Maria Elisabeth Sieber, later wrote her biography of her mother. Dietrich, was recognized as an international symbol of glamour and sex for more than half a century. At least I never find them so. Around this time, Dietrich also made several films with John Wayne, including Seven Sinners (1940), The Spoilers (1942) and Pittsburgh (1942). But I enjoy nightclub work, wherever it is. In order to make it allowed. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Denny Jackson. [1960s, when asked if the tag "sex goddess" annoyed her] You mean like. Official Sites, Wearing tuxedoes, men's hats, and men's tailored suits, Her signature scent was Bandit by Robert Piguet. No temperaments, no periods of dark, gloomy despair and pessimism. She prided herself on the fact that she had slept with three men of the Kennedy clan -. I'm against that very much. In Brazil, they throw flowers at you. I think one should be full of enthusiasm for everything that happens if one considers it to be worthy of enthusiasm. A big hit, the film helped make Dietrich a star in the United States. It's hard work. Marie Magdalene "Marlene" Dietrich (German pronunciation: [maɐˈleːnə ˈdiːtʁɪç]; 27 December 1901 – 6 May 1992) was a German-Americanactress and singer. She was a German actress and singer. She moved to Paris where she lived out the remainder of her life in near-seclusion. In Europe they have a car, they have it 15 years and they polish it and they wash it and they love it but here people don't love their cars because they know next year they are going to get another one. [on reading] I love quotations because it is a joy to find thoughts one might have, beautifully expressed with much authority by someone recognizedly wiser than oneself. Before she became anything and after she had been everything, Marlene Dietrich was a cabaret singer. I cannot waste that time. Interviewed in "Talking to the Piano Player: Silent Film Stars, Writers and Directors Remember" by Stuart Oderman (BearManor Media). The Official Marlene Dietrich. Was named #9 Actress on The AFI 50 Greatest Screen Legends. And then everything is on credit. They later separated, but never divorced. Some films such as Desire (1936) in 1936 didn't do that but she wanted to expand. She began her career as a cabaret singer in her native Berlin in the 1920s, when she was in her 20s. If I dressed for myself, I wouldn't bother at all. The book musical by S.J. The weak are more likely to make the strong weak than the strong are likely to make the weak strong. "One Touch of Venus" with music by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Ogden Nash, directed by Ilia Kazan, featured choreography by Agnes de Mille, starred Mary Martin, Kenny Baker and Paula Laurence. That this is a great life, and that I do it for my health? In America, sex is an obsession, in other parts of the world it's a fact. People say that I have some sort of "quality" - well, maybe I have. This latter movie had her cast as a street walker who is appointed a spy. See more ideas about marlene dietrich, dietrich, old hollywood. A series of successes followed, and Marlene became the highest paid actress of her time, but her later films in the mid-part of the decade were critical and popular failures. [1969, on attitude] I do think it's rather stupid to be nonchalant. Her first US film was Morocco (1930) with Gary Cooper later that year followed, by Dishonored (1931) in 1931. Her mother remarried to Colonel Eduard von Losch, who was killed in WWI. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. This is fun. Marlene Dietrich, Soundtrack: Witness for the Prosecution. [when Paramount bought the rights to the book, 'Mommie Dearest'] I am shocked that Paramount bought that filthy book and made the frightful bitch who wrote it rich, and that rhymes. In 1924, she married and, although she and Rudolf Sieber lived together only 5 years, they remained married until his death. You need a man you can look up to and respect. Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone; 5. She was in over a dozen silent films in increasingly important roles. Possessions do not make you happy. Clothes bore me. They are stupid people. [1969] I think if you have any sort of intelligence you can't succumb to adoration because people adore so many things. I have not tried to create an image or a myth about myself; I am as quiet and placid off-stage as I am when the bright lights are on me. She also took violin lessons with the hopes of becoming a professional violinist. What else for? Marlene seemed to be typecast as a woman of low morals and she wanted different parts. Because of her family’s disapproval of her career choice, Dietrich chose to use a combination of her first and middle name professionally. Who am I to be held in awe? I am an American citizen, and proud to be so. I prefer to do what I know is safe. Perelman and Ogden Nash was based on the novella "The Tinted Venus" by Thomas Amstey Guthrie, and very loosely spoofing the Pygmalion myth. Real Name: Marie Magdalene Dietrich. If people call all sorts of relationships love, they know themselves it isn't so but they say it in order to make it valuable. We don't have a feeling like the American has, now it's 07:00 or something and I have to have a drink and relax. In May 2018, she was honored as Turner Classic Movies Star of the Month. New success was accompanied by a too close acquaintance with alcohol, until falls in her performance eventually resulted in a compound fracture of the leg. Marlene Dietrich. And if you're sitting in a waiting room and can't help it - don't believe a word of any of them. Never worked without a mirror on the set so she could constantly check her makeup and hair. Marlene Dietrich has a curious story. There is a lack of dignity to film stardom. Actress and singer Marlene Dietrich was born Maria Magdalene Dietrich on December 27, 1901, in Berlin, Germany. After the war, Dietrich made several more successful films. In 1939, an offer came to star with James Stewart in a western and, after initial hesitation, she accepted. In her teens, she gave up music to explore acting. She sucked lemon wedges between takes to keep her mouth muscles tight. I am a unique performer and my audience realize this. She encountered some opposition to her return, but she received a warm reception overall. Film actress Marlene Dietrich was known for her sultry, sex appeal. With her sultry good looks and sophisticated manner, Dietrich was a natural for the role of Lola Lola, a nightclub dancer. Dietrich died on May 6, 1992, in her Paris home. I have an awful lot of private life to catch up on, which, at this rate, I don't think will be possible. The remainder of her early film career was generally filled with bit roles that never amounted to a whole lot. Most women set out to change a man, and when they have changed him they do not like him. Her father was a police lieutenant and imbued in her a military attitude to life. That’s why, before we go any further, we should take a minute and listen to one of her biggest hits, Falling in Love Again, from her first American movie, The Blue Angel (1930). - IMDb Mini Biography By: I have a child and I have made a few people happy. [on her preference for trousers] They are so comfortable. They love you. On December 27, in 1901, the beautiful German actress Marlene Dietrich was born. [1969] America has a youth complex. She attempted films for the first time in 1922 Her first film was The Little Napoleon (1923) which was followed by The Tragedy of Love (1923). The two were said to have had a romantic relationship, which later turned into a strong friendship. Eva Braun was the mistress and later the wife of Adolf Hitler. Marlene Dietrich. "use strict";(function(){var insertion=document.getElementById("citation-access-date");var date=new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined,{month:"long",day:"numeric",year:"numeric"});insertion.parentElement.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(date),insertion)})(); Subscribe to the Biography newsletter to receive stories about the people who shaped our world and the stories that shaped their lives. I'd retire. Hermann Göring was a leader of the Nazi Party. She demanded that Max Factor sprinkle half an ounce of real gold dust into her wigs to add glitter to her tresses during filming. In April 1930, shortly after the premiere of Der Blaue Engel in Berlin, Dietrich moved to America. It takes too much time to be a well-dressed woman. Born on December 27, 1901, in Berlin, Germany, Marlene Dietrich had the given name Maria Magdalene Dietrich. Marie Magdalene "Marlene" Dietrich (27 December 1901 – 6 May 1992) was a German actress and singer who held both German and American citizenship. Profile: German actress and singer, 2 April 1930 departure for America, became an American citizen 6 March 1937. The film follows the decline of a local professor who gives up everything to have a relationship with her character. [on English audiences] They are marvelous and warm. [on audiences at her nightclub performances] They spoil you. On the spot. I'm against war that goes and fights in some unknown land. Everybody in America works today. Despite her status as one of Hollywood's most legendary sex symbols, Dietrich was known to be most comfortable indulging her fantasy of being a "typical hausfrau," cleaning house, cooking chicken soup and comforting those in need of consoling. American film actress Rita Hayworth is best known for her stunning explosive sexual charisma on screen in films throughout the 1930s and 1940s. She performed her act around the world, from Las Vegas to Paris, to the delight of her fans. Gregory Peck presents Marlene Dietrich with a special award for her one-woman Broadway show (1968). Wrapped Up In The Comfort Of You; 7. All I know is that I walk onto a stage, stand still, and sing. Her make-up man said she kissed so hard that she needed a new coat of lipstick after every kiss. Marlene Dietrich, the stage name of Maria Magdalena Von Losch the German singer and actress who spent most of her career in America. In short, she wasn't setting the stage world on fire. She has performed on Broadway, radio, television, and film and has been nominated for an Emmy. Marlene enjoyed music and attended concerts. Tracks of Disc 1; 1. In particular with me, they adore to make me older and I don't see why they should do that because it's bad enough as it is, but maybe it looks better in print if I'm a hundred and two and I still walk on the stage and I'm not on crutches. Her co-star was Cary Grant and once again she was cast as a prostitute. You must never, ever read American magazines. [1969] Surely I'm anti-war. Spending the last 12 years of her life bed-ridden, Marlene died on May 6, 1992 in Paris, France of natural causes at the age of 90. For her work on the film, Dietrich received her one and only Academy Award nomination. [1969] I have never used my body. As a result, her films were banned in her native land. Because of his constant absences from the family due to his army duties, Marlene and the rest had to rely on themselves. She returned to Europe at the end of the decade, with a series of affairs with former leading men (she had a reputation of romancing her co-stars), as well as other prominent artistic figures. Although she failed to "save" Gilbert (who died in 1936) Marlene did become a lifelong "guardian angel" to Gilbert's young daughter, remembering the child with annual Christmas and birthday gifts until Dietrich died more than 60 years later. As her film career faded, Dietrich began a thriving singing career in the mid-1950s. Marlene was known in school for her "bedroom eyes" and her first affairs were at this stage in her life - a professor at the school was terminated. |  Dietrich later softened her image somewhat by taking on lighter fare. In Europe, it doesn't matter if you're a man or a woman - we make love with anyone we find attractive. Considered by many to her most ultimate portrayal of a vamp, Dietrich played a cold-hearted temptress who captivates several men during the Spanish revolution. [1963, when asked why, at age 61, she continued to act] For the money. You have to. She got international fame by starring in 1930 German tragicomedic film “The Blue Angel”. [1960s, when asked about the secret of her success] Secret? In 1954, she began her cabaret performances appearing on stages worldwide. Stupid people annoy me. Although the last 13 years of her life were spent in seclusion in her apartment in Paris, with the last 12 years in bed, she had withdrawn only from public life and maintained active telephone and correspondence contact with friends and associates. [on her appeal among audiences] It is not nostalgia. Marlene Dietrich was best known for her movie parts as a femme fatale and lady of the night. That's not necessarily so because the real love has not changed and the one great love that will never change is mother love. German-born actress and singer Marlene Dietrich making a telephone call to her daughter from her bed in Hollywood. Besides, the songs that seem to go down best are the newer ones - that is, when I can find new songs good enough to sing. She appeared in several stage production, but never had more than a couple of spoken lines. Marlene Dietrich. Dietrich was survived by her daughter Maria and her four grandchildren. She was adept at playing the violin and piano. If your dream is to have had the opportunity of an intimate Q and A with the German star, then this is the show for you. Noël Coward and Dietrich became, and remained, close friends since their first conversation - by transatlantic telephone - in 1935. The couple welcomed their only child, Maria, the following year. Died 6 May 1992 in Paris, France. After being seen in the German production of The Blue Angel (1930) in 1930, Marlene was given a crack at Hollywood. Far Away; 9. On this last project, she met Rudolf Sieber and married him in 1924. She also worked on war-bond drives and recorded anti-Nazi messages in German for broadcast. Latins are tenderly enthusiastic. They must think of them all the time. Oh - know, I could live tucked away out of sight in some Swiss chalet - but why should I? Her cinematography life started in Germany and later in Hollywood where she became very famous. In 1960, Dietrich performed in Germany, her first visit there since before the war. All through the 1940s, she appeared in well-produced, well-directed films such as Manpower (1942), The Spoilers (1942), The Lady Is Willing (1942) and Pittsburgh (1942) all in 1942. In the mid-1980s, she did provide some audio commentary for Maximillian Schell’s documentary film on her, Marlene (1984), but she refused to appear on camera. With the success of this film, von Sternberg immediately took her to Hollywood, introducing her to the world in Morocco (1930), and signing an agreement to produce all her films. To be completely a woman you need a master, and in him a compass for your life. She turned down the role of Charlie in Station West (1948). Marlene Dietrich, the magnetic movie star and singer who was an international symbol of glamour and sex for more than half a century, died May 6 1992 at her home in Paris. The relationship between the make-up man and the film actor is that of accomplices in crime. Marlene Dietrich, the magnetic movie star and singer who was an international symbol of glamour and sex for … Oh You Beautiful Doll; 10. During World War II, Dietrich traveled extensively to entertain the allied troops, singing such songs as "Lili Marlene" and others that would later become staples in her cabaret act. They also adore things that you think quite worthless so you can't take it too seriously. I work because I pay away in taxes to the American Government 88 cents out of each dollar I earn. I think also the English like me because they know that I do not take myself seriously, and that the whole thing is a joke, and that I am laughing at myself all the time. 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