Available on YouTube with English Captions
Films by German directors are an essential part of post World War One German Culture. From the groundbreaking silent classics of the Weimer Republic to the movies of Leni Reisenthal in celebration of Nazi rule, beloved by Goebels, to modern Oscar winners, I am pleased to see German Literature Month XIII now welcomes posts on Films by German Directors.
(YOUTUBE has numerous German films online, often with English Captions)
German Literature Month is hosted by Lizzy’s Literary Life
https://lizzysiddal2.wordpress.com/2023/09/22/announcing-german-literature-month-xiii/
The Blue Angel (German: Der blaue Engel) is a 1930 German musical comedy-drama film directed by Josef von Sternberg and starring Marlene Dietrich, Emil Jannings, and Kurt Gerron. Written by Carl Zuckmayer, Karl Vollmöller, and Robert Liebmann, with uncredited contributions by Sternberg, it is based on Heinrich Mann's 1905 novel Professor Unrat (Professor Filth) and set in an unspecified northern German port city. The Blue Angel presents the tragic transformation of a respectable professor into a cabaret clown and his descent into madness. The film was the first feature-length German sound film and brought Dietrich international fame.
The film tells the story of Immanuel Rath (Emil Jannings), a stern and uptight professor who teaches at a prestigious German school. When he discovers that some of his students are frequenting a local cabaret called The Blue Angel, he decides to investigate. At the Blue Angel, Rath is mesmerized by Lola Lola (Marlene Dietrich), a beautiful and seductive cabaret singer. He becomes obsessed with her and begins to neglect his teaching duties.
Rath's obsession with Lola Lola leads to his downfall. He resigns from his job, marries Lola Lola, and joins her cabaret act. However, Lola Lola soon grows tired of Rath and begins to cheat on him. Rath becomes increasingly humiliated and eventually descends into madness. He is eventually found dead in a gutter, having drunk himself to death.
The Blue Angel is a classic film that has been praised for its groundbreaking use of sound, its innovative cinematography, and its powerful performances. Dietrich's performance as Lola Lola is particularly iconic, and she is credited with creating the archetype of the femme fatale.
The film is also significant for its exploration of themes such as obsession, morality, and the dark side of human nature. It is a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked desire and the consequences of making bad choices.
The Blue Angel is considered to be one of the most important films of the German Expressionist movement. It has been influential on countless filmmakers, including Alfred Hitchcock, Billy Wilder, and Rainer Werner Fassbinder. The film is also a popular choice for film studies courses and is often shown in retrospectives of German cinema.
1930 - Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film (nominated)
1931 - New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Foreign Film (won)
1931 - New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Foreign Film (won)
The Blue Angel made Marlene Dietrich an international star. Her performance as Lola Lola was so captivating that she was quickly offered Hollywood contracts. She went on to become one of the most popular actresses of the 1930s and 1940s.
Overall, The Blue Angel is a landmark film that has had a lasting impact on cinema. It is a must-see for any fan of classic films or German Expressionism.
This is definitely on my list of films to watch. I feel as though I've heard countless references to it over the years.
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