Cheap Marlene Dietrich - Her Own Song (DVD) (David Riva) Price

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Customer Reviews of Marlene Dietrich - Her Own Song

But don't expect the film to be about her as actress. As the title of the film suggest, "Marlene Dietrich: Her Own Song" uses its considerable time to describe her war-time activity. As you know, she travelled all around the world during the WW2, and sang her songs before the cheering soldiers, and the film shows how she did the work, even risking her own life. No wonder we associate her image with the song "Lili Marleen," (which is, incidentally, not her song at first -- it was first sung by Lala Anderson).

The film covers the aspect of Dietrich as actress, but the part is not what we can call in-depth study. In this film, her acting career means "The Blue Angel" "Morocco" and many others which are touched rather superficially. When Billy Wilder is mentioned, the film quoted is NOT "Witness for the Prosecution" but "A Foreign Affair." Strangely, the first one is never talked about, the decision no serious film critic would take.

The most memorable part of the new documentary is its materials which only the people close to Marlene Dietrich can obtain. The home video part (8 mm films) is fascinating, capturing the Marlene Dietrich enjoying herself in holiday (some shots in swimming suit), and incredibly, they are mostly in color (remember, it's around the 1930-40s). And the brief reunion conversation between Marlene (who left Germany) and her mother (who stayed in Berlin during the war) recorded by US military is very touching.

The interviewees include: Burt Bacharach, Rosemary Clooney, Maria Riva (the director's mother, and Marlene Dietrich's daughter), Volker Schlondorff, and many others. Narration by Jamie Lee Curtis, and Marlene's voice provided by Nina Franoszek.

Not an incisive study of Marlene Dietrich, I admit, and some part looks whitewashed. (The existence of Marlene's elder sister is virtually ignored.) However, the materials used here are rare and quite interesting to see, and for that only it deserves to be seen. But of course, you should watch sexy and seductive Dietrich in "Morocco" first, and how she sings there, throwing a flower to Gary Cooper. It's a must.

Dietrich: The War Years
This DVD concentrates mostly on Dietrich's devotion to "her boys" and the US during WW2. It does go through her entire life, as well, however. There is fantastic footage from her silent films, her personal life (some in color!) rare interviews and her later stage shows. It made me realize, as someone who has studied Dietrich the woman, for years, what a shock it was for her to return home after the war. Before the war, she lived for clothes, makeup and lovers. She found real depth as a person, when the war came. She saw real life and participated in it for the first time. She loved being of service to the country, and the contact with everyday beings.
When it was all over, she had to return to clothes, makeup and being merely a "movie star". She was very unhappy. Only the stage shows that she began in the early 50's brought her back to life. The contact with an audience was there, she could sing songs from and about the war, AND look great! That is really the focus of this DVD. I highly recommend this. It is very well done.

A Woman we thought we knew - rediscovered
This amazing work was screened first at the Berlin Film Festival last year. All I can say is to tell you that at the end of the screening, two kids - complete with blue mohawks and chains - told the Director that they had wandered into the film because the one they came to see was sold out. They also told him, in front of a moved audience of 800, that he had given them a hero, one they never knew they had. It was an incredible moment of closure for everyone there. The film is not about Lesbian affairs, the numerous hetero affairs or even films and dresses, what it is about is the real woman inside. A character study accomplished better than any in many many years. This is a film that APG, Turner Classic Movies and Marlene herself (if she's listening) should be proud of. Borrow it, buy it, see it. Thanks for listening, you won't be disappointed!