The Blue Angel

Josef Von Sternberg knew he had a good thing going when he cast Marlene Dietrich in this, the first big sound film to come out of Germany in 1930. Marlene is Lola Lola, a voluptuous, beautiful woman who exudes sexuality in every form, from a little intimate look to the way she stands. You could seriously believe he could send a poor English professor (Emmanuel Rath, played by Emil Jannings of Faust fame) into the lower depths, losing his position and being nothing more than a sad clown who’s brain has cracked over his possessive love over Dietrich, the perfect woman no man can have. Speaking of intimate, this is probably Sternberg most intimate film, at least compared to what was to follow. It does have it’s stylish, surreal moments, such as the close-ups of the figures coming out of the clock, but it’s mostly played into a downward, more personal story. 5 out of 5 singing whores.