The Blue Angel (1930)

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
Károly Huszár	...	Wirt / Innkeeper (as Karl Huszar-Puffy)
Wilhelm Diegelmann	...	Kapitän / Captain
Gerhard Bienert	...	Polizist / Policeman

Storyline

Germany 1924. Middle aged Dr. Immanuel Rath is a literature professor at a boys college. Most of his students don't much like him, often calling him "unrath" - German for garbage. Dr. Rath learns that many of his boys often frequent a cabaret called Der blaue Engel - the Blue Angel - which he believes is corrupting their impressionable young minds. He heads to the Blue Angel himself to catch the boys in the act and shame them into not going again. Over several visits, Rath is able to catch the boys, but in the process he also understands what attracts the boys, namely the headlining performer Lola Lola. Rath falls under Lola's spell, he who falls in love with her - and she seemingly with him - so much so that he wants to marry her and give up his teaching career to be with her on her travels from cabaret to cabaret. Their relationship ends up not being what either envisioned, the question being how they will both deal with their disintegrating relationship and the reasons behind that ...

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Plot Keywords:

nightclub | female corrupts male | unrequited love | based on novel | legs | 

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Genres:

Drama | Music

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Germany

Language:

German English French

Release Date:

3 January 1931 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Blue Angel

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,451, 15 July 2001, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$77,982, 9 December 2001

Company Credits

Production Co:

UFA Tonfilm,Universum Film (UFA)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min (TCM print) 108 min (German) 94 min (English)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Emil Jannings' first film back in his native country after an abortive trip to Hollywood. Hoping to become a star of American films, Jannings was soundly rebuffed because no one could understand his accent.

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Goofs

When the professor returns to his class and the boys burst out in uproar, the drawing on the blackboard shows three lines with Lola's name. The director, drawn by the noise, enters the class and now there are only two lines. After the class is dismissed, the third line has returned.

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Quotes

Lola Lola: I knew you'd be back. They all come back for me.

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Connections

Referenced in Die Macht der Bilder: Leni Riefenstahl (1993)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Marlene Dietrich's ticket to Hollywood Stardom!

Joseph von Sternberg 'packaged' his muse, Marlene Dietrich to become a world star with "The Blue Angel". The disturbing story of a revue entertainer (Dietrich) and the middle aged professor(Emil Jannings)who falls madly in love with, and later is destroyed by her, based on the novel "Professor Unrat".

Many unforgettable songs by Friedrich Hollander are featured, most noteworthy of course "Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuss auf Liebe eingestellt" ("Falling in Love Again") and "Ich bin die feche Lola" ("They Call Me Naughty Lola").

There is an English language version available (filmed simultaneously for an intended International release), but I recommend the original German with subtitles. Many effects are lost with the former. I can highly recommend this film, a must for fans of either the stars or the director!*****