IMDb > The Song of Songs (1933)

The Song of Songs (1933) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.6/10   140 votes
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Up 9% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Rouben Mamoulian
Writers:
Hermann Sudermann (novel)
Edward Sheldon (play)
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Song of Songs on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
19 July 1933 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Romance more
Tagline:
One of the world's great love stories comes to the star who can make it live
Plot:
Country orphan Lily goes to Berlin to stay with her tippling aunt, and soon meets Richard, handsome sculptor across the street... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
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User Comments:
Dietrich outstanding in role of innocence betrayed more (6 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Marlene Dietrich ... Lily Czepanek
Brian Aherne ... Richard Waldow
Lionel Atwill ... Baron von Merzbach
Alison Skipworth ... Mrs. Rasmussen
Hardie Albright ... Von Prell
Helen Freeman ... Fräulein Von Schwertfeger
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
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Runtime:
90 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)
Company:
Paramount Pictures more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
"You are my Song of Songs" by Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin was written for the movie but not used in the final release print. more
Quotes:
Lily Czepanek: I can't take my clothes off!
Richard Waldow: Why? Why can't you?
Lily Czepanek: Why, I'd, I'd be undressed!
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Wind at My Back: Life on Mars (#3.13)" (1999) more
Soundtrack:
JONNY more

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User Comments

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10 out of 12 people found the following comment useful.
Dietrich outstanding in role of innocence betrayed, 23 February 2004
Author: Arne Andersen (aandersen@landmarkcollege.org) from Putney, VT

Mamoulian was able to work with three of the most glamorous and lovely actresses of the early 1930s - Garbo, Sten and Dietrich. Here he tells the tale of a peasant girl, Dietrich, who goes to live with her aunt upon the death of her father. Both a penniless sculptor and a lecherous baron have their eye on her. The sculptor (Aherne) romances her but bows out when it comes to marriage. The Baron (Atwill) is accepted on the rebound, but life is not tranquil at the chateau. Of course she manages to be compromised and is thrown out. A hardened woman of the world, she is finally tearfully reunited with the repentant sculptor.

The film is quite glossy and entertaining but all along it is Dietrich who carries it. She is radiantly innocent, childlike, modest and trusting in the beginning, emerging as cynical, hardened and bitter at the end. Anyone who believes Dietrich to be just a beautiful face and not an actress had best visit this film, the first she made without her director mentor, Von Sternberg.

Mamoulian here does not try to impose any clever editing or cinematography, but allows the simple story to unfold, concentrating on his actress and helping her to shine. Other than Dietrich, Atwill comes across best as a

believable, human and not altogether unlikeable character, obsessed with our heroine.

What is most amazing about the pre-Code film are the numerous nude sculptures, primarily of Dietrich, that abound - they are quite beautiful and the lovely cinematography lights them to great effect.

The only fly in the ointment is the wooden performance from Aherne - he would improve with age.

Quite worth seeing.

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