Friday, April 22, 2016

Randomly Dietrich


  Photographed by William Walling Jr., 1934.
In transit, circa mid-1930s.
Indulging reporters on the deck of the Île-de-France, 1934 (?).
Circa 1940.
With Melvyn Douglas, publicity for "Angel", 1937.
Circa early1940s.
Circa 1935. Her eyebrows - then at their zenith - look even more unnatural in the bright sunlight.
Publicity for "Knight Without Armour", 1937. This is one of my favorite Dietrich films, though not well known.
Publicity for "Knight Without Armour", 1937.
In "Desire", 1936. The way she says "pearls" is inimitable.
Beaded by Irene, early 1940s.
Beaded by Jean Louis, publicity for her Las Vegas shows, mid-1950's
Publicity for "Stage Fright", 1950, another of my favorite Dietrich films.
In "Stage Fright", 1950.
Photographed by William Walling Jr. (?), circa 1934.
Circa early 1930s.



4 comments:

  1. I recently re-watched "The Blue Angel" on TCM. Dietrich is so natural, so appealing in that film, even if heavier and far less glamorous than her later persona.

    "Stage Fright" is a delight. I had never seen it until a year or so ago. I was surprised by its tone: light, almost giddy. But then, Mr. Hitchcock often surprises. He had a yen to work with glamorous female film stars (he once lamented "Where are the Norma Shearers?" after that actress's retirement) so Dietrich was right up his alley.

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    1. Much of Stage Fright is rather silly - and so-earnest Jane Wyman wears a little thin after a while - but there's so much fun in it, and the British supporting cast is fabulous; Joyce Grenfell and her "lovely ducks" is a classic. Dietrich seems to be - intentionally - campy for once, and looks to be having a ball, chewing the scenery. But then there are a few of her moments - especially her last scene, talking about a dog - that are totally different, that have a wonderfully bizarre edge to them. Visually, too. Love it!

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