The Blue Angel (1930)
"Der blaue Engel" (original title)

An elderly professor's ordered life spins dangerously out of control when he falls for a nightclub singer.

Director:

Josef von Sternberg

Writers:

Heinrich Mann (novel), Carl Zuckmayer,

Stars:

Emil Jannings, Marlene Dietrich, Kurt Gerron

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Emil Jannings	...	Prof. Immanuel Rath
Marlene Dietrich	...	Lola Lola
Kurt Gerron	...	Zauberkünstler Kiepert / The Magician
Rosa Valetti	...	Guste Kiepert / The Magician's Wife
Hans Albers	...	Mazeppa / The Strongman
Reinhold Bernt	...	Der Clown / The Clown
Eduard von Winterstein	...	Schuldirektor / The Director of School (as Eduard V. Winterstein)
Hans Roth	...	Hausmeister / The Caretaker of the Secondary School
Rolf Müller	...	Gymnasiast Angst / Pupil
Roland Varno	...	Gymnasiast Lohmann / Pupil (as Rolant Varno)
Carl Balhaus	...	Gymnasiast Ertzum / Pupil (as Karl Balhaus)
Robert Klein-Lörk	...	Gymnasiast Goldstaub / Pupil
Charles Puffy	...	Wirt / Innkeeper (as Karl Huszar-Puffy)
Wilhelm Diegelmann	...	Kapitän / Captain
Gerhard Bienert	...	Polizist / Policeman

Storyline

Immanuel Rath, an old bachelor, is a professor at the town's university. When he discovers that some of his pupils often go into a speakeasy, The Blue Angel, to visit a dancer, Lola Lola, he comes there to confront them. But he is attracted to Lola. The next night he comes again--and does not sleep at home. This causes trouble at work and his life takes a downward spiral.

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Plot Keywords:

professor | obsession | marriage proposal | unrequited love | cuckold | 

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Genres:

Drama | Music

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Germany

Language:

German English

Release Date:

3 January 1931 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Blue Angel

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$6,451 (USA) (13 July 2001)

Gross:

$77,982 (USA) (7 December 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universum Film (UFA)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min 107 min (TCM print) 108 min (cut) 94 min (English)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was Emil Jannings' final English-language film (it was released in both German and English versions - see Alternate Versions).

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Quotes

[to stuffy Professor Immanuel Rath, who is dressed in a clown suit]
Lola Lola: Your boys should see you now.

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Connections

Referenced in Cinema Paradiso (1988)

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Soundtracks

"Ich bin die fesche Lola"
(uncredited)
Written by Friedrich Hollaender
Performed by Marlene Dietrich

User Reviews

A classic of cinema

This movie should merit a place in the upper region of the 250 top movies, somewhere in the neighborhood of "Citizen Kane" and "Twelve Angry Men". Apparently it is not very well known in the USA.

In Germany and in countries where the German language is rather familiar, it is rightly considered as one of the classics of cinema.

Amazing, that Sternberg, only a couple of years after the invention of the "talky" could produce a masterpiece that has seldom been surpassed. It was this movie that launched the carreer of Marlene Dietrich, with her famous song "Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuss auf Liebe eingestellt".

I had seen the movie many years ago. When I saw it for the second time about a year ago, I realized that Emile Jennings acting, as the rather silly teacher at the local grammar school who sacrifies his career because of a cabaret girl, was not less impressive than that of Marlene Dietrich. A pity that I did never see another film with this great actor.