MARLENE DIETRICH BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:
Marlene Dietrich was born with the birth name Magdalene Dietrich on December 27th, 1901 in Berlin, Germany. She had an older sister and her father, Louis was a former Prussian cavalry officer who was serving as a police lieutenant when she was born. Her mother, Josephine raised both girls after her father passed away when she was only nine years old.
As a child, Dietrich was a talented violinist, attending the Augusta Victoria School in Berlin. When World War I came about, her family relocated to Dessau since her step father was an army officer. After the war, Dietrich finished her schooling at a boarding school in Weimar.
In 1921, she moved back to Berlin and found work as a violinist in a movie theater, sadly due to a wrist injury, her musical instrument career came to an end. She did however, find employment as a chorus girl in Berlin's nightclub scene.
In 1922, Dietrich enrolled in Berlin's Deutsche Theater School and began studying acting. She finally had a chance to debut in a stage production of, "Pandora's Box" (1922) and from there proceeded to appear in a couple other stage productions as well as landing some bit roles with the German Film Industry. Since her mother disapproved of her career choice, she changed her name to use a combination of her first and middle name as her stage name.
Dietrich's screen debut was in a German film, "So Sind Die Manner" (1922), English translation, Men are Like Us. In 1923 Marlene married Rudolph Sieber, a film professional who helped her get a role in, "Tragedy of Love" (1923) and a year later the couple had a daughter together, Marie. They soon separated, but never officially divorced. Six years later, she followed with her first lead in, "Prinzessin Olala" (1928), however, she still remained relatively unknown to public audiences until she was cast in, "Blaue Engel", also known by it's English title, "Blue Angel". This was the first Sound German film and Dietrich played a cabaret singer.
Her role in the film helped her get noticed in America, therefore she relocated to Hollywood after extricating herself from her contract with Universum Film AG, which was the top German Studio at the time and in 1930 she filmed, "Morocco" with fellow actor, Gary Cooper. For her work on this film, she received her one and only Academy Award nomination. Under the direction of director, Von Sternberg, she worked on a variety of other films such as, "Dishonored" (1931), "Shanghai Express" (1932) and "The Scarlet Empress" (1934).
Many associated with Adolph Hitler wanted her to return to Germany and do some film work there, however she refused, hence her films were banned to be shown in her native country, so in 1939 she chose to become an American citizen.
During World War II, Dietrich appeared over 500 times to entertain troops and also worked on war-bond drives recording anti Nazi messages in German for broadcast. She also starred in more films with roles that softened her image such as, "Destry Rides Again" (1939) starring alongside James Stewart. She had the opportunity to film with John Wayne on such pictures as, "Seven Sinners" (1940), "The Spoilers" (1942) and "Pittsburgh" (1942).
During the late 40's and throughout the 50's her film career excelled with more roles on films such as "A Foreign Affair" (1948), "Rancho Notorious" (1952) co-starring Arthur Kennedy, Mel Ferrer and George Reeves, "Witness for the Prosecution" (1957) and "Touch of Evil" (1958).
Entering into the 60's, her film career was slowly declining and so she returned to working as a nightclub singer touring from Las Vegas to Paris. She even returned to perform in Germany and for the most part, her appearance was well received.
As Marlene Dietrich entered into the 70's, she decided to put her performing career behind her and enter retirement, but completed one final film role on, "Just a Gigolo" (1979). She then relocated to Paris and stayed out of the industry accept for one audio commentary for a documentary film about her, "Marlene" (1984) but she refused to appear on camera.
Dietrich passed away on May 6th, 1992 in her home in Paris. She was buried next to her mother in Berlin. She is survived by her daughter, Maria and four grandchildren. Marlene Dietrich was one of the 20th Century's most enduring painted images. She was known for her smoldering sex appeal, distinctive voice and personal fashion style.
Filmography
1919 Im Schatten des Glücks
1923 The little Napoleon
1923 Man by the Wayside
1923 Love Tragedy
1924 Der monch from Santarem
1924 Leap Into Life
1925 Dance Mad
1926 Manon Lescaut
1926 Madame Doesn't Want Children
1927 Eine Dubarry von heute
1927 Der Juxbaron
1927 Kopf hoch, Charly!
1927 His Greatest Bluff
1927 Cafe Elektric
1928 Prinzessin Olala
1928 Die gluckliche Mutter
1929 Dangers of the Engagement Period
1929 I Kiss Your Hand, Madame
1929 The Woman One Longs For
1929 The Ship of Lost Men
1930 The Blue Angel
1930 Morocco
1931 Dishonored
1932 Shanghai Express
1932 Blonde Venus
1933 The Song of Songs
1934 The Scarlet Empress
1935 The Devil is a Woman
1935 The Fashion Side of Hollywood
1936 I Loved a Soldier
1936 Desire
1936 The Garden of Allah
1937 Screen Snapshots Series 16, No. 7
1937 Knight Without Armor
1937 Angel
1939 Destry Rides Again
1940 Seven Sinners
1941 The Flame of New Orleans
1941 Manpower
1942 The Lady is Willing
1942 The Spoilers
1942 Pittsburgh
1943 Show Business at War
1944 Memo for Joe
1944 Kismet
1944 Follow the Boys
1946 Martin Roumagnac
1947 Golden Earrings
1948 A Foreign Affair
1949 Jigsaw
1950 Stage Fright
1951 No Highway in the Sky
1952 Rancho Notorious
1956 Around the World in Eighty Days
1957 The Monte Carlo Story
1957 Witness for the Prosecution
1958 Touch of Evil
1961 Judgement at Nuremberg
1962 Black Fox: The Rise and Fall of Adolf Hitler
1963 Galakväll pa Berns
1964 Paris When It Sizzles
1968 Magic of Marlene
1973 An Evening With Marlene Dietrich
1979 Schöner Gigolo, armer Gigolo
1984 Marlene
