Marlene Dietrich Films Moved to the US War Bonds and War Medals

Home , Blonde Venus, The Blue Angel, The Scarlet Empress

NAME: DATE:

CLASS NOTES A

Marlene Dietrich

Films

Moved to the US

War Bonds and war medals

Cabaret

UNIT 5.3 page 32 NAME: DATE:

CLASS NOTES B

Notes on MD:

• MD began in Vaudville but later became a German film star of the 1920s and 30s.

• Started by doing a bunch of Shakespeare plays

• Played parts in Café Elektric , Ich küsse Ihre Hand, Madame and Das Schiff der verlorenen Menschen

• MD performed in a few movies prior to this but landed breakout role as Lola Lola in film The Blue Angel.

• Was also in the films: Dishonored, Blonde Venus, Shanghai Express, The Scarlet Empress, and The Devil Is a Woman.

• MD was one of the best-paid film stars of the time

• MD was approached by the Nazi Party in 1937 to become a representative film star of the 3rd Reich.

• MD declined the offer and applied for US citizenship instead

• MD received US Citizenship • MD sold War bonds for the US government during the war

• MD put on a show in which the musical saw had a big role.

• MD made recordings to demoralize enemy (German) soldiers

• MD’s most popular song was one called “Lilli Marleen” which was widely loved by troops of both sides.

• MD was awarded the Medal of Freedom by the US in 1945

• MD was seen by many Germans as a traitor. • MD became an American cabaret star in later years

• MD was offered a gig singing on the Las Vegas Strip.

• MD worked with Burt Bacharach to turn the cabaret into a one person show.

UNIT 5.3 page 33 NAME: DATE: CLASS NOTES C

Marlene Dietrich:

A. German Film star of the 1920s and 30s

1. 1920s, Berlin: MD began as a Vaudeville Chorus girl

2. 1930: Performed in a few movies prior to this but landed breakout role as Lola Lola in film The Blue Angel.

3. One of the best-paid film stars of her time

B. Staunch Anti-Nazi

1. 1937: Was approached by the Nazi Party to become a

representative film star of the 3rd Reich. a. Declined the offer

b. Applied for US citizenship instead.

2. 1939: Received US Citizenship

3. Sold War bonds for the US government during the war

4. Made recordings to demoralize enemy (German) soldiers

a. Most popular: Song called “Lilli Marleen”

b. Widely loved by troops of both sides.

5. 1945: Awarded the Medal of Freedom by the US.

6. Seen by many Germans as a traitor.

C. American Cabaret Star in her later years

• 1. 1950s-1970s: worked as a Cabaret star

• 2. 1953: Offered a gig singing on the Las Vegas Strip.

• 3. Worked with Burt Bacharach to turn the cabaret into a one woman show.

UNIT 5.3 page 34