Marlene Dietrich, a German actress and singer who worked in Hollywood and Broadway, is undoubtedly one of the greatest in the history of the 20th century. Even during her lifetime, she became a legend, creating an unforgettable image of both a pure and vicious woman, brave and independent Marlene, even today, many years after her death, causes genuine interest in her person. Her name is associated with such famous men as Ernest Hemingway, Jean Gabin and Erich Maria Remarque. She has more than 50 roles in films and more than 15 albums and collections of songs. Bright, self-sufficient and unusually attractive Dietrich still has millions of fans around the world.
Childhood and teens
Maria Magdalena Dietrich was born in 1901 in Berlin. Her father died when she was 10 years old, and then her mother remarried. The girl was brought up in accordance with the German traditions of duty, obedience and discipline. Being a musically gifted child, Maria learned to play the violin. From 1906 to 1918 she attended a Berlin school for girls. However, the family soon moved to the village, where her adoptive father passed away. Maria Magdalena entered the conservatory in Weimar in the violin class. She dreamed of becoming a professional violinist, but a wrist injury ruined all plans.
In 1920, Marlene returned to Berlin, where she began her studies at the Drama School at the German Theater, led by the most famous German director and theater figure Max Reinhardt. There she learns the basics of acting, learns to dance tap dance and cancan, takes singing lessons. Marlene played supporting roles in theater productions, and also worked part-time at a glove factory. The girl barely made ends meet and led a rather sad lifestyle.
First marriage
In 1923, Marlene Dietrich met with assistant director Rudolf Sieber during the filming of the film “The Tragedy of Love”. It was definitely not love from the first meeting, but Marlene felt a quivering feeling for the man. Soon the lovers got married, and in 1925 they had a daughter. However, they lived together for only 5 years, after which they parted without a divorce. Dietrich overshadowed his spouse, and he, according to her, was a man "extremely sensitive." She bought Sieber a farm in California, where he worked on animals until his death in 1976.
In the next few years, Marlene Dietrich starred in several films, among which were "I kiss your hand, Madame" and "Cafe Electric." She was first noticed by film critics and compared with Greta Garbo, although Dietrich never rated her first movie roles highly.
The path to fame
In 1929, a novice attractive actress interested Joseph von Sternberg, an eminent German filmmaker who examined the passion and sexuality of a vamp woman in Dietrich. She agreed to play in his tape "Blue Angel" and did not lose. The first German sound film received worldwide recognition, and the songs "Watch out for Blondes", "I was made from head to toe for love" and "I Dashing Lola" performed by Dietrich instantly became hits. The release of this picture on the screens overnight made Marlene a superstar. The blonde with bright makeup, low voice singing the sensuality and joys of love, was the very embodiment of sex, a fatal woman, able to drive anyone crazy. Von Sternberg discerned the duality of her nature, arguing that it strangely combines "incredible sophistication and childlike immediacy." Tandem with a talented director and led Marlene Dietrich to the pinnacle of fame.
The success of the Blue Angel was followed by an invitation to Paramount Pictires and a move to the United States. From 1930 to 1935, 6 films with her participation, directed by von Sternberg, were released in the USA: "Morocco", "dishonored", "Blonde Venus" and "Shanghai Express", "The Slutty Empress" and "The Devil is a Woman". The role of the cabaret artist, in love with the French legionnaire, in the film "Morocco" made a splash. The scene in which Marlene Dietrich appeared in a man’s suit caused a storm of public indignation, which soon changed into a new fashion direction: women, following the movie star, became convinced of the practicality and universality of the new wardrobe item - trousers.
World War II and Homeland
Relations with the government of his own country at Dietrich were quite complicated. Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels repeatedly invited her to return to Germany and star in German cinema. At the same time, she was promised rather high fees and freedom in choosing a director, producer and scripts. But Marlene Dietrich every time refused to cooperate with the National Socialists. Moreover, in 1937. she received American citizenship. Then in Germany, films with the participation of an actress who did not recognize the regime of the Third Reich were banned for showing, and all copies of the Blue Angel in the country were destroyed.
From 1943 to 1946, Marlene Dietrich left shooting films and went to Europe with performances in front of the Allied forces. In total, about 500 concerts were held, for which in 1947 she was awarded the Medal of Liberty of the USA, and in 1950 she became a holder of the Order of the Legion of Honor of France. In an elegant concert outfit that resembled a military uniform, with a perfect hairstyle and makeup, she raised the morale of the fighters, entertained them and inspired them to win. Jean-Pierre Omont, a French actor whom Marlene met in military Italy, and who later became her close friend, spoke of the actress and singer like this: “In the eyes of the Germans, she was a traitor fighting against them on the side of the American army. They would have shot her, not slow. A strong and courageous woman hides behind the outer gloss of her legendary image. No tears. No panic. When deciding to sing on the battlefield, she always knew what she was going to and took the risk with dignity, without boasting and without regret. " Dietrich herself said so about that time: "This was the most important work I have ever done."
