Marlene (1984)

Retrospective on the career of enigmatic screen diva Marlene Dietrich.

Director:

Maximilian Schell

Writers:

Meir Dohnal, Maximilian Schell

Stars:

Marlene Dietrich, Maximilian Schell, Annie Albers

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Annie Albers	...	Self
Marlene Dietrich	...	Self (voice)
Bernard Hall	...	Self
Maximilian Schell	...	Self
Marta Rakosnik	...	Self
Patricia Schell	...	Self
Ivana Spinell	...	Self
William von Stranz	...	Self

Storyline

Acclaimed, award-winning filmmaker Maximillian Schell reconstructs the life and career of the enigmatic film diva. This is accomplished through use of archival footage and commentary from the actress recorded at her home. Schell's job was complicated by the aging actresses's stipulation that her face not be photographed directly.

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Plot Keywords:

actress name as title | marlene dietrich character | forename as title | diva | octogenarian | 

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Taglines:

An astonishing visit

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography

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Certificate:

Unrated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Marlene Dietrich expected the film to be a modest conventional film and, when she realized director Maximilian Schell had taken the film in a different direction, she had a falling out with the director and they did not speak for more than a year. However, after the film won several prestigeous awards and was nominated for a Best Documentary Oscar, they reconciled.

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Goofs

The documentary states that "Dietrich" was the maiden name of Marlene's mother. This is completely untrue. Wilhelmina Dietrich was born Wilhelmina Felsing. Dietrich was the name of Marlene's biological father, Louis Dietrich, after whose death Wilhelmina married Eduard von Losch, who thereby became Marlene's stepfather.

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Quotes

Marlene Dietrich: I don't have kitschy feelings like that. None of us did. I was born a German. We didn't have kitsch. We didn't have sentimental feelings. I have feelings for people, but I have no feelings for cities or things like that, no.

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Connections

Features Nights of Love (1930)

User Reviews

A love letter, but it's recipient never hears it.

MARLENE (1984) is a documentary of one of the 20th cetury's most alluring women.

As I write this (late Oct, '11), we've just had the passing of APPLE CEO, Steve Jobs, and, these 2 different people have a lot in common:

They both were very controlling of their image.

Marlene was discovered, molded by director Josef von Sternberg. As the world, and media were quite different, Marlene was molded in different ways. Everything - from (supposedly) having her back molars removed, to the way she was lit - EVERYTHING was tightly controlled.

I say this, because when MARLENE's director (and one-time Dietrich co-star) Maximillian Schell approached Dietrich, she said yes (Ms. Dietrich had for the past 20 years, had become a virtual recluse - her only prior screen appearance - JUST A GIGOLO, had featured Ms. Dietrich behind both gauze, and diffusion filters on the lens - he felt he would 'direct.'

However, one of Ms. Dietrich's stipulations, was that she not be filmed - only allowing her voice to be recorded.

I can understand both Mr. Schell's disappointment with this arrangement, but, I also understand Ms. Dietrich's urge to control her image.

She wanted to till be perceived by her fans as she once was.

It's apparent to the viewer that Ms. Dietrich felt that at this point (1984) her life was, in essence - over.

Whether you agree or not, bear in mind that this is the view of a woman, who, from her teen years onward, hab been so controlled, that, as the years had passed, she was at a point in her life where (she felt) she could no longer 'create' the illusion of 'Marlene Dietrich.'

Let me give a quick background;

When film work became scarce, Marlene moved to the stage, where she did her incredible stage shows, but, even then - everything the public saw, was heavily controlled: lighting, the clothing (heavy under-boning, built in, to give Ms. Dietrich a 'va-va-voom' look.

I can't recall who said it, but, someone had seen one of her stage performances, where she appeared (well in to her 60's!) as the eternally gorgeous Marlene Dietrich.

He went backstage, and said he saw an 'old woman - ironing.'

That was Ms. Dietrich, sans the lighting, the makeup, the beautifully constructed gowns.

So, it is with bearing this in mind, that, by '84, Ms. Dietrich had long ago retired, from 'life,' - the artificially created, maintained 'Marlene Dietrich,' only allowing those most intimate to see her.

Having said this, I can understand both Mr. Schell's disappointment with this arrangement, but, I also understand Ms. Dietrich's urge to control her image.

She wanted to till be perceived by her fans as she once was.

What the end result is, is a dialogue between Ms. Dietrich and, Mr.Schell - as the two watch Marlene's films, and comment on them.

'Shhmutz,' (a German word meaning dirt) as well as 'kitsch' (tasteless), are two words that Ms. Dietrich uses to describe many of her best-loved, classic films.

I think a large part of this film is what's NOT seen - NOT heard.

The voice - still strong - is that of a woman, who sees herself, her life, as being one big performance, and, sadly, doesn't see the love, and adulation, but can only view her 'professional' self, and all it's imperfections, with a cold, clinical eye.

Mr. Schell, who is obviously a fan, as well as an actor/director - tries though MARLENE to subtly get Ms. Dietrich to open up, and see the love, but, sadly, that never happens.

As a fan of hers, I could laugh at her jokes, but, I still felt melancholic.

You wish: 'if only she knew.'

If only.

Details

Country:

West Germany

Language:

English German French

Release Date:

2 March 1984 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Lähikuvassa Marlene Dietrich

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$14,490, 9 November 1986

Gross USA:

$852,676

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$852,676

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR), Braun Entertainment Group, OKO-Film

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1