Blond beast. Favorite men Marlene Dietrich

Given name- Maria Magdalena von Losch. American film actress. She starred in the films Blue Angel (1930), Morocco (1930), Desire (1936), Witness for the Prosecution (1957), Beautiful Gigolo - Poor Gigolo (1978), etc. singer. She published a book of memoirs.

In her image, the main thing was mystery. The movie star turned her life into a profession: her way of dressing, her way of tempt fate - scandal or risk - created the legend of Dietrich.

In 1929, the American film director Joseph von Sternberg, who was called the "Renoir of cinema", came to Berlin from Hollywood. This was not a planned turn of the script of the fate of Marlene Dietrich. She did not know a person by the name of von Sternberg, did not hear about his success, but she was friends with the secretaries of the UFA studio, the largest German film concern.

Von Sternberg told the studio that he had found an actress for his film Blue Angel. But in UFA, Marlene had scandalous fame, and the director was told that Dietrich had no talent. But she had talent, but she was not in a love affair with anyone from the company's management. It came to a scandal: after one of the tests of another lady, Sternberg shouted: "Either you say Dietrich, or I'm leaving for America." Sternberg had no idea what actress he approved for the main role…

At that time, the bar-cafe "Excelent" was especially popular in Berlin. Men came there rouged and with painted lips. Marlene appeared in "Excelent" in a man's tailcoat. The suit suited her. To the tailcoat, she also added an exclusively masculine detail of the toilet - a monocle, which, with a scandal, was rented from her own mother. There Marlene met her future husband Rudolf Sieber, an aspiring film producer.

Dietrich got married after a bitter struggle with the family. The mother did not so much agree with her arguments as succumbed to her stubbornness. Witnesses from both sides were invited, and in the Lutheran church Rudolf Sieber was married to Maria Magdalena von Losch - Marlene Dietrich. The joys of marriage at first swallowed her entirely, she had a daughter, Maria, that Maria, who later married the famous furniture manufacturer of Romanian origin, Riva, arranged in New York famous shows with elephants and eventually wrote a scandalous book about her mother's life.

Blue Angel was the first sound film in Europe. When the "great dumb" spoke up, it turned out that Marlene's hoarse voice was full of eroticism. And there was still a body ... which already belonged entirely to Joseph von Sternberg. In her home circle, Marlene said of him: "This one in golf pants, who loves eccentricities."

Sternberg seduced Dietrich with Hollywood. Marlene replayed somewhat in her ironic attitude towards him. Joseph was her first hero-lover, to whom she obeyed unquestioningly. The image he came up with for Marlene - an aristocrat indifferent to aristocratic principles - was pleasant to the snobbish audience. Sternberg taught Marlene the beauty of vice. Carried away by this dark beauty, the actress has created her famous "queen of hearts" image.

A young German woman who came to act in an unfamiliar country did not think that she would stay in America. Von Sternberg convinced the owners of Paramount 2 that they needed a superstar. Dietrich had to endure a hard struggle for the hearts of the audience, although her mood did not bode well: she was very skeptical of herself: "Have you ever seen such hips?" - she complained to the dressers. After the first tryout for "Morocco," von Sternberg quietly told her that there was nothing of a sex bomb in her. A new image had to be created. Joseph gave himself up to this task completely and overdid it a little: when Marlene saw one of the directors of Paramount, he immediately tried to seduce her. The prospect of becoming a toy administrator frightened Marlene, and she finally entrusted herself to the "Hollywood Marquis" - Sternberg.

Marlene was the winner. To the audience, her love seemed genuine. But the victory won did not remain without consequences.

In 1932, von Sternberg gave her a Rolls-Royce (the second car in her life) with the condition that she use the services of a chauffeur. Sternberg was afraid that such a secretive woman like Marlene would one day want to go wherever she looked. Marlene complied with his terms, but bought herself a white leather chauffeur's jacket, white gloves, and white boots with black toes. This is what chauffeurs and gangsters looked like in films. The wheels of the car were also white, and special tires were ordered. Marlene sat behind the driver in the back seat and scared Sternberg that she would someday sit in the front.

Sternberg called his gift "the ship on which Paris kidnapped Elena." He was not the only one who noted this psychological closeness of Marlene to the one who seduced Menelaus, then Paris, and in fact always acted as she wanted, and not the men in love with her.

Sternberg's gift became the topic of numerous newspaper publications. Journalists described the car, noticed that it had a mystical number of two sevens, three and zero, and a statuette of the goddess Nika was attached to the bumper. After that, a Rolls-Royce of the same model was bought by dozens of wealthy people within a few days.

After the phenomenal success of Morocco, Marlene bought herself a house in Beverly Hills, on the corner of Roxborough Avenue and Sunset Boulevard. Houses at intersections were usually more expensive than in the middle of the street. "Corner" were considered architectural flagships, began the line of stone buildings, and were sold at flagship prices. Marlene's house was a two-story colonial-style house. A copy of it was later built by David Selznick for Gone With the Wind.

Marlene ordered all the walls of the new dwelling to be upholstered in white fur. Where it was impossible, I glued white wallpaper. The dressing room was an exhibition-parade of perfumery products from the best companies in the world and occupied a solid area. At this time, Marlene began to accept invitations to pose for photographers. V new house gossip reporters began to filter in.

The only place where they were allowed with their cameras was the toilet room. Marlene went out to pose in a white robe against the backdrop of white walls with mirrors. The reports of the Paramount star's new home made a name for interior designer Marlene. But with him she played a great joke.

Marlene asked the young maestro to stay for a few days in the house he had decorated so brilliantly. The young man agreed. One afternoon, Marlene called in some of her acquaintances, as well as photo reporters: to evaluate the work of the designer. The guests passed room by room, looking in all corners. We got to the bathroom, Marlene hospitably opened the door.

The designer sat in a gorgeous white bubble bath. The embarrassed man stood up to his full height, as if making an attempt to sneak away. The women closed their eyes. The awkward scene was discharged by a canvas cover that fell from above, which hid the swimmer from prying eyes.

Marlene was pleased. She explained: "Everything is provided in case the reporters infiltrate me while I take a bath."

The ingenious designer was awarded with applause. From under the canvas blanket, he replied with an embarrassed "thank you." Of this funny case it was enough for the designer to be overwhelmed with similar orders by the wealthy inhabitants of Beverly Hills. Marlene knew how to bring happiness to those people with whom she worked.

Her lovers changed in her life, but the rule did not change: they are all famous and each wears his own mask: Remarque drank, Gabin played the accordion ... Marlene seemed only a detail of a large love mechanism, in life she was coldness and aloofness herself, and only on stage and the screen is a lively bright woman. But it was the coldness and isolation that may have helped her conquer life. And she came out the winner. The one with whom she competed - Greta Garbo - left the stage much earlier.

In 1939, Dietrich became an American citizen.

Marlene always tried to look strong. Therefore, she did not succeed in her friendship with Charlie Chaplin, who himself has always remained successful and self-confident. She noticed the weaknesses behind every person, she could be an evil and ironic commentator on the actions of any man from her environment. Maybe only Sinatra and Hemingway were not affected by her sharp tongue. With Hemingway, she was forever linked by memories of the brightest moments in her life. She idolized his gifts, everywhere she took a photo with an intimate inscription: "My sweet cabbage."

With Remarque, she quarreled, forcing him to go out, instead of drinking his favorite red wine with him. She called him a traitor when he listened to Tchaikovsky's music for hours, keeping Marlene awake. He wore a jacket with blisters on his elbows, and this annoyed Marlene so much that when Jean Gabin appeared in her life, who preferred to walk at home in a thick fishing sweater, Marlene seemed happy.

In mid-February 1941, Jean Gabin left German-occupied France and moved to the United States. Gabin felt sad, lonely and unnecessary in this city, he had nothing to do with his old Parisian habits and bad English. In one of the fashionable shops in New York, naturally called "Parisian Life", he met ... Marlene Dietrich. They had known each other even before the war, but very briefly ... "Gabin was a man, a superman that every woman is looking for," Marlene wrote in her "Memoirs". - He had no flaws. He was perfect and far surpassed everything that I was looking for in vain or trying to imagine. "

Another important circumstance in the development of history was the following: Jean Gabin was French, and French was Marlene's second language. She never tired of repeating that she was brought up by a French governess and that deep down she always felt like a European. The pain of France being a defeated and unhappy country was deep and sincere in Marlene. Gabin, on the other hand, appeared in Hollywood not as a poor emigrant, but in the prime of his talent and in an energetic search for new cinematic fame. Greta Garbo's rival, Marlene knew how to admire and respect her lovers. Jean Gabin was not an intellectual. In opera, he certainly yawned; when Marlene advised him to read Hemingway's novel, he shrugged his shoulders and muttered, "There's nothing to think about!" - “You have an empty head! Look how empty it is inside, ”Marlene laughed, pounding his forehead. - But don't change. You are perfect".

Not having succeeded in introducing Gabin to literature, Dietrich ventured to vigorously take on his career. The career of Marlene herself during this period was in some decline. She enthusiastically performed all the roles that were offered to her, but for some reason the films suffered financial ruin. Fortunately, failures touched her a little: she had so much creative strength ...

Marlene's energy and charm were enough to convince producer Darryl Zanuck to become interested in one of her projects. "Well, maybe this will help him finally learn English," muttered Zanuck upon hearing Gabin's name.

Marlene took on everything.

The lovers rented a house in Brentwood, not far from the film studio. The neighboring property belonged to Greta Garbo. Gaben was quite amazed, noting that every day at 18 o'clock "Divine" (Garbo), hiding behind a shock of hair and black glasses, went down into the garden and watched the "movements" of the neighboring couple. A woman who was worshiped all over the world loved to spy! Gaben was disappointed. The food was no less disappointing. Hamburgers and Coca Cola! Marlene went to the stove. Stuffed cabbage and boiled meat became her specialties... Subsequently, Marcel Dalo, who worked side by side with Jean Gabin in the film "The Great Illusion" by Jean Renoir, in his memoirs made fun of Dietrich, who received guests in his "golden kitchen" in an expensive apron from Hermes.

To make the atmosphere even more Parisian, Marlene took Gabin's harmonium, and he put a kerchief around his neck and a cap on his head. And under the California sun, songs from musicals from the times of her youth sounded. He called her "Great", and she said: "I became for him a mother, sister, friend and everything in the world." For journalists, it became obvious that she intended to quit the stage and devote herself entirely to this man.

Marlene was in the clouds, and Gaben signed a contract with Fox.

Maria Sieber, daughter of Dietrich and Rudolf Sieber, gave a lot of trouble to her famous mother. The seventeen-year-old girl perfectly remembered her first steps in cinema in The Red Empress (where she played the role of little Catherine) and in The Garden of Allah. Now she dreamed of gaining popularity and getting rid of the humiliating position of the daughter of a celebrity. She no longer wanted to be in the shadow of Marlene's gigantic and all-pervading fame. The conflict erupted over Maria's intention to marry one director. Talking to my mother about marriage did not lead to anything good. Marlene was indignant. Never! Maria is too young! Gaben intervened in the conflict, taking the side of the rebel, hoping to soften the situation. Gaben could no longer hide his irritation.

Europe was on fire, and he was so far away, he was just a "darling of the Great", chilling out in Hollywood! Marlene added fuel to the fire: her extravagance as a sex symbol of Hollywood, emancipation of behavior - all this was too much, especially for a person like Gabin. At the end of 1942, he decided to leave the United States and say goodbye to cinema in order to join the French liberation forces. "We perfectly understand your intentions," Fox told him, "but it would be much better to follow the example of our colleagues who are involved in the fight against Nazism by making patriotic films."

But Gabin still got his way: shortly after completing work in Julien Devivier's film "The Deceiver", he met in New York with a representative of the Maritime Armed Liberation Forces of France and entered military service. Marlene was inconsolable. At parting Gaben gave her three paintings: Sisley, Vlaminck and Renoir ... What was Marlene's parting gift? As Gabin was leaving US customs, a package - a "luxurious gift" that he handled with great care - gave rise to rumors in the corridor that it was a "diamond necklace." In mid-April 1943, Gaben was ordered to report to Norfolk on board a ship intended for escort. Marlene accompanied him. They just had dinner at a restaurant, watched a film about the war with Humphrey Bogart and parted at two in the morning.

It seemed to Marlene that she was dying of grief. She could not even think about returning to Hollywood for roles on English language... Her soul was in constant anxiety, she wandered around the house, which from now on seemed to her forever empty, and lingered for a long time in front of photographs of the times of their happiness.

Thirty years later, Dietrich said: "He lit a fire in me that will never go out." But the actress was not one of those women who are ready to drown themselves in their grief. After going through all the military authorities, Marlene decided to enlist in the women's department of the WAF. Of course, despite her pompous speeches about patriotism, all this was done with one single purpose: to find Gabin. Perhaps the thought of crossing the Atlantic to see Marlene also came to Gabena. But he was in Algeria on a military mission. The announcement of the possible arrival of the actress was not a surprise for Gabin: he knew how stubborn she was.

During the war, Dietrich became a soldier's dream come true. There was something sinful in her appearance. In this depravity, the soldiers saw the features of those of their beloved who did not expect them from the front. They were more likely to be recruited in the unit where Marlene had visited than in the area where she had not been. Marlene traveled everywhere with her photographer, giving her countless photographs everywhere. Her photos with the soldiers confirmed that the aristocrat Marlene was "sitting" in the trenches, although her daughter Maria Riva later claimed that this was fiction. During the war, a joke was told. Marlene is asked: "Is it true that during the war you had an affair with Eisenhower?" "What do you! - says Marlene. "The general has never come that close to the front line."

In winter, Dietrich found herself in the very center of the battle for Bastogne - in the same place, amidst exploding bombs and the roar of diving planes, there was Gaben. One evening, having traveled the front line in search of "gray hair under the helmet of a naval gunner," Dietrich suddenly saw a familiar figure and shouted: "Jean!" In her autobiography, Marlene described this scene in the dramatic Hollywood style. V real life Gaben seemed discouraged to see the Great One so excited by the meeting. "What the devil are you doing here?" he muttered.

Both were already crowned with glory. But time slipped a little and rolled away from them ... The United States awarded the star with the Medal of Freedom; France awarded the Order of the Legion of Honor and Officer of the Legion of Honor. Gaben was awarded the Cross for his participation in the war. But all this did not suit the "Great". Gaben was too modest, the French were too indifferent, they underestimated the courage of her man and everything he did to help his compatriots who were in captivity in Germany.

In liberated Paris, they saw with amazement grey hair Gabena. The young rebel from the movie "The Banner" has matured and aged. There was no place for him in post-war cinema. Much the same was said about Marlene, who, after leaving for America to treat frostbite received in the frosty war winter, returned to Jean in Paris. She rented an apartment on Avenue Montagna, which she did not leave until her death in May 1992. Marlene and Gabena's relationship has changed. They began to treat each other with humor. They were sarcastically said: "Strange couple." Winner in the war next to a German woman: what a provocation! But Jean Gabin was stubborn. He agreed to star in the film "Doors in the Night" by Marcel Carne, but with the indispensable condition that "The Great" will also be filmed in it. The deal fell through. The role was given to Yves Montana. In 1946, they intended to participate in the filming of the film "Martin Romagnac Goes Bankruptcy" together. Marlene then angrily quoted in her memoirs someone's verdict: "The names of Jean Gabin and Marlene Dietrich are still not enough to attract the viewer." She was depressed. He is calm: "We will wait a little."

Marlene, whose finances are somewhat upset, returned to Hollywood to star in The Golden Years, which added little to her previous successes. What did they say to each other while standing at the plane's ladder? Was he trying to convince her to marry him? He wanted a family, children. The rebellious spirit of youth remained behind. She may have turned down his offer. Marlene has not yet divorced Rudolf Sieber, whom she regularly confides in her cinematic and personal secrets. She adored Paris and France ... but belonged to the whole world.

When Marlene returned to Paris to be closer to Jean, she again became a slave to her love. While still hoping to revive the magic of their relationship, she was shocked to learn that Gabin was seen in the company of actress Martin Carol. Jean gradually moved away from Marlene, which he no longer needed so much. One evening, at a cabaret, they happened to be side by side at the tables. Unable to avoid the meeting, he greeted her by rising from the table. And nothing else. He leaves, walking with his sea gait, without turning his head and expressing nothing with his gaze.

“My love, which I proved to him, is great and indestructible,” assured Marlene. She only really panicked when she read about Gabin's marriage in March 1949 to Domenique Fornier, a fashion model from Lanvin, who later gave him what he dreamed of: three children and a normal life devoid of pomp. In desperation, Marlene decided at all costs to see Gabin. Once she followed a married couple and, when they were seated in a restaurant, sat down at a table next to her, hoping that Gabin would speak to her. He greeted her so deliberately loudly that he was confused. For several years she continued to call him, but she never managed to break or understand his icy silence. "I lost him, as all ideals are lost." Gaben died in 1976. Marlene Dietrich, whose husband passed away a little earlier, said: "I am widowed for the second time."

Dietrich was looking for new recipes to live and awaken attention. She decided to give her viewers the stopped time - that Marlene, whom they remembered in the era of their youth, in the prime of her career, the Dietrich of the legend. She decided to return to the stage with her show.

Her first performance took place in Las Vegas in 1954. In no other city could she immediately appoint such high prices on tickets. She entered the stage in a gold-colored dress with metal threads weighing 36 kilograms. And she was already 53 years old. But the severity had to be understood symbolically: the severity of the time lived and the space traversed over the years, which trailed behind Marlene's shoulders in a train. This gave her heroines a sense of tragedy, and the audience liked it the most ...

In the last years of her life, Marlene was often seen sitting on the balcony of her house and looking down. What was she thinking? Maybe she just slept in a rocking chair on the third floor of a Parisian house at 12 Rue Montagne, all alone, without maids and concierges.

The calling card of this famous woman there was an image of feminist inaccessibility. In tight, heart-shaped lips - a long cigarette, ruddy high cheekbones, thin eyebrows and men's clothing on a thin female figure. This was the type of a stylish successful lady of the thirties. And the merit in this, first of all, is Marlene Dietrich. She fashioned flared trousers, which she wore with amazing grace and boldness. The dazzling woman has left an indelible and stunning mark on the world of fashion, cinema and music. So what was her biggest secret?

The beginning of the life and career of the future idol did not bode well for anything promising and interesting. She was born on December 27, 1901 in Berlin, having received the name from her poor parents - Maria Magdalena Dietrich.

The girl was fond of music, learned to play the violin and lute. Later, she had to give up her career as a violinist due to prolonged pain in her hand. Marlene decided to find more reliable bread for food. The nascent art cinema, like nothing else, attracted a young and already very beautiful girl.

She tested herself as a singer and dancer in a cabaret, toured a lot until she got a job in the theater, while studying the basics of the profession at an acting school. Marlene was allowed to try out small theatrical roles, but, most importantly, she began to appear in films from time to time.

Femme fatale image

This lasted until 1930, when Marlene showed herself in the role of lustful Lola-Lola in the movie "Blue Angel". A long path of recognition begins, which other women could only dream of. The famous director Joseph von Sternberg invites the debutante to Hollywood for "promotion". Marlene is waiting for an exciting filming marathon of seven films. She will become one of the best female performers in the world film industry and create a certain standard, an icon of inimitable style.

Marlene Dietrich in the movie Blue Angel

Marlene works to create a new vision ideal woman and improves its natural characteristics, emphasizing specific traits beauty given to her from birth - thin eyebrows, peculiar cheekbones, long legs and a pretty heart-shaped mouth. But this is clearly not enough. The actress, with the help of a strict diet, removes fourteen kilograms of weight, and at the same time four molars - to visualize a more perfect image, due to high cheekbones.

Marlene Dietrich selflessly created the image of the ideal woman of her time

Daughter Marlene Dietrich Maria after the death of her mother in an interview with the newspaper "Spiegel" described the process of "initialization" of the future "star" something like this:

“She saw such steps as a necessary movement towards excellence. You see, the mother considered it her duty to look like the ideal of beauty. Also played here important role directed by Sternberg. It was he who created the portrait of Dietrich as a new type for the popular actress. She just gladly agreed to this role. My mother became a hostage to her own legend - everything in order to reach the peak of perfect and inaccessible harmony. She had an ineradicable desire to be a role model. "

Be sensual in everything and always

It doesn't matter what the woman is wearing, whether she is wearing a tie or a sequined dress. It must create desire. Real lady- it is always a cult, a high status of sensuality. Marlene Dietrich achieves charisma in the first Hollywood movie"Morocco". The viewers were to experience the shock of the emancipated image of a woman in a masculine trouser suit... The director deliberately went to the scandal, because it was a serious challenge to the then notion of morality, but ...

A real lady is a high status of sensuality

Surprisingly, soon women in different parts of the world began to copy the great actress with pleasure. Pants and blazers easily and naturally entered women's wardrobes. When you see the elegance with which modern ladies wear them, remember how much courage, willpower and perseverance Marlene Dietrich or Coco Chanel had to show many years ago. These women mercilessly dealt with the generally accepted idea of ​​beauty, broke stereotypes, and became a new indisputable model for women who aspired to freedom of expression.

Marlene Dietrich offered the society her own canons of beauty

Marlene Dietrich loved dressing in a sensual blend of fabrics that accentuated both femininity and masculinity. The pungent smell of perfume, bold enthusiasm, manifested in a top hat, wide trousers, feather boas and tight-fitting luminous dresses - this image literally captivated the youth of the thirties. But the ambivalent image created in the dressing room was not only about the vibrant artificial life on the big screen. He was actively used by a popular actress in life. Marlene's adventures with men and women were legendary. She never made a secret out of it. She really didn’t give a damn what people would say about the “stars” romance novels in Hollywood or Berlin.

Having numerous love affairs, Marlene Dietrich remained married to Rudolf Sieber

Theater critic and writer Kenneth Tynan once said of Marlene:

“She always had intimate relationship but there has never been a commitment to purely gender relations. Even today, her image is considered not only as a certain fashionable style, but also as a popular icon for people of non-traditional sexual orientation. "

Hemingway and Marlene met in life no more than 10 times, and love correspondence lasted for many years

Nevertheless, Marlene remained officially married to Rudolf Sieber until the end of her life. She met him even before the triumph in Germany, and then in America. The couple raised their daughter Maria, who later wrote about her mother. big book... In it, she criticized Marlene Dietrich's culinary abilities, as well as the bohemian way of life.

Marlene Dietrich and writer Erich Maria Remarque, one of the actress's favorite men

Marlene Dietrich and Jean Gabin. More than friends. “Gaben was the superman every woman is looking for. He was perfect, "Marlene writes about him.

Jean Gabin and Marlene Dietrich, 1940

With songs and dances against the Nazis

Marlene managed to excel not only in homosexual relationships. While she was playing in American cinema, the Nazi regime seized power in Germany. The actress reacted to this choice with strong condemnation and refused to accept Goebbels' offer - to portray a typical german girl... Even before the war, Marlene moved to Paris, and later to the United States, where she made a lot of efforts for the general fight against fascism. However, the actress has always considered herself German and was proud to be born in Berlin.

Marilyn Monroe and Marlene Dietrich. Homosexual relationships were part of Marlene's life

During the Second World War, Dietrich basically did not act in a big movie and gave all her free time trips to the front with concerts for American soldiers. Despite the fact that the rejection of the roles greatly disappointed the directors of the film industry, Marlene considered these performances the only important thing in her life.

Marlene Dietrich gave concerts for the American military, 1945

Well-deserved fame in the world and a cold welcome in Germany

Later, after the war, Marlene will experience disappointment and resentment. Her countrymen considered the contribution to the war against Hitler a betrayal. The American government awarded the actress the Medal of Freedom. She was also awarded the French title of Knight of the Legion of Honor, but in Germany itself she was greeted coldly and almost hostilely, moreover, not only by former Nazis, but also by ordinary German soldiers. Marlene felt this reproach all the time. The Germans pointed out to her unequivocally that she broke away from her homeland in hard time, for the sake of overseas glory.

In the fifties, the actress begins her career as a popular singer. Who doesn't remember her deep, hoarse voice in the song "Tell me where the flowers come from"? This motive is still used by musicians. Marlene performed actively in nightlife bars and prestigious theaters, wearing chic embroidered dresses and luxurious clothes. Her swan feather coat shocked the audience, but she haughtily answered her:

“I can't just sing like that. What you see on me should be a sensation. "

When, at one of the performances in Germany, the ill-wisher threw an egg onto the stage, Marlene dryly remarked:
“I'm not afraid of the Germans. Eggs and tomatoes are not scary for my swan feather coat. "

Marlene Dietrich did not perform in Germany again.

Legend. Downward trajectory

Despite her fame and success, Marlene Dietrich suffered the fate of most fashion idols - a gradual oblivion. She spent the last years of her life in bed, in a small Parisian apartment, abusing alcohol and pills. The faded "star" no longer appeared in public and did not allow herself to be photographed.

Marlene Dietrich with her grandchildren

“I was photographed before my death,” she loved to say.

Communication with the outside world was carried out only through the telephone. Marlene Dietrich spoke with friends, colleagues and politicians from all over the world.

“Hollywood was not her world. Hollywood belongs to a few people in big cinema. The whole universe was her world, ”once said the daughter of the actress Maria.

Marlene often spoke with dozens of famous people, including the British queen, the Soviet secretary general Gorbachev, the presidents of France and the United States. She discussed world events with them and gave numerous advice. These were remarks from a very intelligent but lonely woman who loved attention and amused herself by taking advantage of her privileged position in society.

Peter Bermbach, one of her active interlocutors, later wrote:

“During my conversations, I completely forgot that Marlene is a legend, that she represents a bygone era. In fact, she was just a person like the rest of us. "

Honorary grave of Marlene Dietrich at the cemetery in Berlin

Marlene Dietrich died on May 6, 1992. But her ideas and ideas did not die. And the point is not only in the peculiar image and style of a woman in trousers, but in the creation of new standards and approaches in the direction of our entire civilization.

Best quotes from Marlene Dietrich

"A woman makes every effort to change her lover, but if this succeeds, she stops loving him."

“Women are much smarter than men. Tell me, have you seen a woman who loves a man because he has beautiful legs? "

"No one will make you happier except yourself."

"If I could live life again, I would have made the same mistakes, but a little earlier, so that I have many more."

Maria Zilber-Riva at the presentation of her book about mother

Laszlo ZURLA, specially for Lady-Chef.Ru
.

Celebrity biographies

4121

27.12.14 11:34

One of the most legendary actresses XX century, "blue angel" with a unique timbre of voice and harsh facial features, was only nominated for an Oscar once, but did not receive an award. For almost fifteen years she was bedridden. But God still did not take her away, measuring out a very long life span - 90 years.

Biography of Marlene Dietrich

"Gray mouse" loving the violin

She shortened her two names - Mary Magdalena, which sound very biblical, and got a short pseudonym: "Marlene Dietrich". The future star was born in the suburbs of Berlin (later Schöneberg became part of the German capital) on December 27, 1901. Experts argue about the correctness of this date: someone believes that Marlene was born in 1904, she herself spoke of 1900.

Marie was the second child in the family of police officer Louis Erich Otto and Wilhelmina Josefina, whose parents were dissatisfied with the misalliance (they were rich: they made and sold watches). The marriage did not work out: when Elizabeth and Marie were still young, their parents separated, and in 1906 their father passed away. The mother was a real family despot, kept her daughters strict. Widowed, she went to the housekeeper to the rich in order to feed the children.

At school, Marlene did not stand out in any way, she was quiet and modest - apparently, Wilhelmina's "firm hand" affected her. As a child, the future star adored music, began to learn to play the lute and violin, and her idols were the French teacher Bregan and the film actress Henny Porten.

When the First World War broke out, the family moved to Dessau and returned home only in 1917. After leaving school, her mother sent Marlene to Weimar, where the girl continued to take violin lessons.

Failed orchestra member

Dietrich's first workplace was an orchestra that accompanied screenings in one of the Berlin cinemas. She really liked it there: after all, films could be watched for free. True, the happiness was short-lived: the orchestra considered that beautiful girl interferes with other musicians.

She began to study vocals, got a job in a cabaret, where she successfully participated in the performance. Her voice was not strong, but mesmerizing.

In 1922, on the second attempt, Marlene managed to enter the acting school of Reinhardt, at the same time she began acting on stage.

A year later, while filming The Tragedy of Love, Dietrich met film administrator Rudolf Sieber and became his wife. At the end of 1924, there was an addition to the family - a daughter, Maria. Returning to the theater, having released her first records, Marlene did not suspect that soon her life would change very dramatically.

Together with Stenberg

In 1929, in one of the revues, the actress was noticed by the director von Sternberg. It was Joseph who made her a star, inviting her to the lead role in the musical drama "Blue Angel". Dietrich played Lola Lola, a cabaret singer in a top hat and revealing outfit, an alluring beauty with a husky voice, feline grace. This image became her "second self". Lola managed to enslave the hero of the tape - Professor Rath, who fell in love with the singer as a boy, and Marlene won the hearts of millions.

Together with Sternberg, the actress went to Hollywood and until 1935 worked with her "Pygmalion". They shot 6 more films, among them - the drama "The Slutty Empress", in which Marlene played Catherine II. The last work of this tandem was the tape "The Devil is a Woman". As the name implies, Marlene reappears in the guise of the fatal seductress. And no one can resist the charm and sex appeal of her heroine, whose innocence is so deceiving!

True patriot

The German government wanted to get back its star: Goebbels himself made the actress the most lucrative offer, but she refused, and in the summer of 1939 she became an American citizen. Moreover, during the Second World War, she showed herself to be a real patriot of her new homeland and gave concerts for the Allied troops - from March 1943 to the Victory.

The post-war period of the star's life was more than eventful: shooting in films (she approached the choice of roles very carefully), her own radio programs, cooperation with popular magazines, performances as a singer and entertainer.

The tour in Germany failed due to the fact that Dietrich was not on the side of Germany during the war. But after 3 years, in 1963, her concerts in the USSR (in Moscow and the cultural capital, Leningrad) were sold out.

Personal life of Marlene Dietrich

Beautiful romances and lonely old age

Marlene did not divorce her husband, but her life with Rudolph lasted only five years, after which the couple parted. They say that this is due to an ardent relationship with Sternberg. The star had many novels. She inspired the genius Remarque to write the Arc de Triomphe and became the prototype the main character books. Dietrich broke the writer's heart; for a long time he could not recover from the break.

With another prose writer, Ernest Hemingway, the actress corresponded for many years.

Among her "victories" is the legendary French actor Jean Gabin.

The last film of the performer is the drama "Lovely Gigolo - Poor Gigolo". A year later, in 1979, a misfortune happened - a hip fracture chained Dietrich to the bed. More in public, she did not appear, did not want to go to the hospital.

She spent 13 long years in her Paris apartment (until her death in May 1992), communicating with the world only by phone and admitting selected guests. Among them was Maximilian Schell, who directed the film "Marlene" about the star (he was nominated for an Oscar). She talked a lot with the director, but did not allow herself to be filmed: Marlene wanted to be remembered as a seductive "blue angel", and not a broken disease, alcohol and painkillers old woman.

Personal life of Marlene Dietrich

It is not surprising that the personal life of Marlene Dietrich constantly became the object of attention of the press: her lovers were the most famous people of her time. Despite the actress's many novels, she got married only once and never officially broke this union. Back in 1923, while filming The Tragedy of Love, young Marlene fell in love with the assistant director Rudolf Sieber. At first, he did not pay attention to the young actress, and they communicated exclusively on work issues. There were rumors that Sieber had an affair with the director's daughter ... Marlene, however, looked forward to meeting them on the set every time. The future Hollywood star tried not to tell her mother stories from the world of cinema, since she did not really approve of her daughter's choice. However, this time Dietrich could not resist. “I met someone I would like to marry,” she told Josephine. The mother reasonably replied, "If so, let's think about what we can do." She strictly forbade her daughter to meet with Sieber outside the studio, although he began to offer the girl either dinner or a ride in the car. Once Rudolph even decided to come to the house of the now unapproachable beauty and get to know her mother! However, in accordance with the wise design of Josephine, Sieber soon realized that Marlene was not the flirt that he was playing. She interested him more and more ... And Rudolph continued to seek Dietrich. He was attentive, intelligent, kind. Marlene realized that she had found a man to rely on.

As a result, the engagement took place, but the young people got married only a year later. And all this time they did not have a single opportunity to be alone: ​​there was always a governess nearby. Josephine consented to the marriage and wove a myrtle wreath herself. There were a lot of people at the wedding, and the bride, full of hope, cried, not believing her happiness. At first, Sieber felt like a stranger in his wife's house, and Dietrich herself, due to inexperience, could not reach mutual understanding between her husband and relatives. However, everything changed when Marlene became pregnant: her family began to treat the father of the unborn child warmer. Rudolph was rarely at home, as he worked and traveled a lot around the world. So that the young wife would not be left alone, during his absence, he brought her to his mother.

Marlene will remember her pregnancy with great warmth. She was all focused on the new life that had arisen within her, everything else simply did not exist. She and her husband decided to name the girl Maria - this name personified dreams and hopes. In December 1924, the baby was born. Dietrich enjoyed motherhood. She was breastfeeding her daughter with great joy and was very worried when the milk disappeared. “She was our happiness,” she wrote in her book. -A house without a child is not a home, not a hearth. The whole universe has turned upside down! Everything focused on one thing: the baby in the crib. Nothing is left of the old life. Everyone concentrated on this miracle, which lay on a small white, specially washed sheet and breathed softly. A gift from heaven! What a sad day it became when I could no longer give her milk, although I drank tea in liters, beer in gallons and followed any advice. After nine months, the milk ran out. God, I was jealous of her milk bottle! I had to cook everything myself, and I had to show my daughter how to drink from a bottle. She was as opposed as I was. But what to do? .. ”Soon Marlene went to work, but theater and cinema could never outshine her family: her daughter always remained in the first place. When Dietrich left for Hollywood, for some time she was forced to leave the child with her husband and was very bored. And she agreed that Maria would move in with her. Marlene's career was at its zenith, and in Hollywood she was asked not to advertise her motherhood, as this did not correspond to the created image. Marlene said she was not going to give up her daughter; von Sternberg supported her. The management had to come to terms.

Maria often visited the sets and grew up in a cinema atmosphere. Growing up, she also became an actress, but not as successful as her mother. The roles played by Maria Riva (under this name she entered the history of cinema) were not shocking, and a brilliant career Did not work out. True, in 1952 and 1953 she received an Emmy in the nomination for Best Actress. Marlene recalled her relationship with her daughter: “I must say that whenever I have difficulties, I call my daughter. She knows everything she wants or needs to know. In addition, she is a wonderful actress, she has a husband and four children. She cooks, keeps the house in order, but when I need her help, she can come, no matter how far away I am. She is a real "canteen", mother Courage junior, an adviser for everyone who needs advice. I am number one on her list, next is her father, whom she took care of when I worked. "

Marlene's life with Rudolf Zieber lasted five years, but they never officially divorced. After the actress moved to the United States, the couple maintained a relationship, Rudolph was her close friend, they were united by professional interests. Dietrich even consulted with Sieber about her relationship with her new lovers. Her husband also did not hide his long romance with dancer Tamara Matul. Marlene, who supported her husband financially, was not against this connection. No matter how the lovers persuaded Marlene to divorce Rudolph and remarry, she did not agree. Dietrich always considered Sieber a very close person, a member of her family - although they did not live together.In 1938, at the Venice Film Festival, the actress met the then famous writer Erich Maria Remarque. The author of the acclaimed book All Quiet on the Western Front approached the table at which Marlene and von Sternberg were sitting. Dietrich was amazed to see the living legend with her own eyes. Remarque even seemed too young to her: Marlene imagined the author of such a deep book much older. At that time, the writer, whose books enjoyed great success in the world and burned in bonfires in Germany, already long time lived abroad.

Remarque felt an interest and attraction to Dietrich the next morning, when, walking along the beach, he saw a new acquaintance with a volume of Rilke in her hands. And when Marlene offered to read the poems by heart, the writer was really surprised. Remarque first met a film actress who was fond of literature. They could walk for hours and talk ... Soon Marlene went to Paris for him. In the summer of 1939, Dietrich with his family and a writer spent in Antibes. Maren recalled that Remarque appreciated fast cars, and each time he kicked the wheel when he passed his Lancia. When Remarque began to write “ Arc de Triomphe”, Dietrich became the prototype of the main character - Joan Madou. “High eyebrows, wide-set eyes, a bright, mysterious face. It was open, and that was her secret, ”- such is the portrait of the heroine. Remarque wrote off the main character from himself. With the beginning of the war, Remarque took his daughter Dietrich to Paris along the road filled with refugees. There Rudolph Sieber and Maria boarded the last English ship from France to the United States. Marlene was filming in California at the time. After Remarque's arrival in America, Dietrich took him into care. Rumors of Dietrich's fleeting novels were everywhere, and, of course, the writer was very jealous of his beloved. He often expressed emotional pain in the pages of the novel, condemning the actress on behalf of his hero Rabbi. Marlene felt offended and wrote to Sieber: “Remarque portrays me worse than I am in order to present myself more interestingly, and achieves the desired effect. I am much more interesting than his heroine. "

This romance, full of moving, parting and meeting, lasted for many years. Finally, in 1953, Remarque decided to finally break the connection and hinted to Dietrich that he wanted to marry Paulet Goddard. Dietrich was sure that Goddard did not like Remarque, and she was getting married because of the famous art collection that the writer collected long years... There were works by El Greco, Van Gogh, Modigliani and rare books, as well as antiques. Marlene tried to dissuade Remarque from this marriage. Then he once again invited her to marry him. Dietrich again refused; the writer kept his promise and married Goddard. It was rumored that he did it in spite of Marlene ... Marlene Dietrich's romance with Jean Gabin was not just a hobby, it was a deep feeling born in hard years war. They met in Hollywood, where the actor came from occupied France. Dietrich and Gabena had a lot in common. They were both opponents of Nazism and were in exile. Gaben did not accept advances from the invaders; Marlene rejected the offer to return to her homeland and in every way helped her compatriots leave Europe. Both of them were about forty (Gabin was three years younger than Dietrich), a turning point came in their careers, as they were invited to play hero-lovers
already infrequently. Marlene invited Gabin to introduce him to Hollywood and teach him the American accent.

The actor dreamed of having his own home, and Marlene, in an effort to please her beloved, found for them a mansion in Brentwood, which once belonged to her constant rival, Greta Garbo. Furnishing a new home, the actress tried to create an atmosphere of comfort, so that even the smallest details would remind Gaben of his native France, for which he yearned very much. Dietrich was famous for her culinary skills: from now on, she cooked French dishes every day for Jean's compatriots, who often visited them.In the midst of World War II, Marlene entered the army. Gaben was offered to star in the film "The Pretender", which proclaimed the freedom of France. But the actor did not want to appear on the screen while his friends howl. He also joined the ranks of the armed forces, a tank division. In the spring of 1943 he was sent to Algeria. When Dietrich was in Bastogne a year later, rumors reached her that the front was being fortified by Free French troops. It was mainly the 2nd tank division where Gaben served. The actress managed to find her lover, although their meeting was very short.

After the war, Gabin rented a room in Paris. After demobilization with money, both actors were tight, and Dietrich came to the capital of France to star in the film "Martin Rumagnac" with her lover, but the film failed: critics and the public did not accept him. To make a living, Dietrich decided to return to Hollywood and persuaded Gabin to go with her. But the French actor did not like America and wanted to stay at home. “Either you stay with me, or it's all over between us,” was his condition. In addition, Gaben no longer believed that Dietrich would decide to break off the marriage with his legal husband. Their relationship cracked. Dietrich left for the USA, Gabin stayed in France. The actor's romance with Martin Karol was presented by the press as a real sensation. In the summer of 1947, Dietrich returned to Paris, but Gabin did everything so that they did not meet, although Marlene was still in love with him. In March 1949 he married a second time (the first marriage with the dancer Dorian ended in 1943). A few months later, Dietrich met Gabin and his wife in a cafe, but he pretended that they did not know each other. Thus ended the novel, which will remain in Marlene's heart forever.

The gorgeous blonde knew how to turn heads and drive crazy: the list of her fans is almost longer than the list of roles that she played in the movies. But who did the film star herself love? For the birthday of Marlene, who was born on December 27, 1901, we recall those men who made her heart beat faster. And there weren't so many of them! “Possessiveness is a magnificent, ruthless, deceitful feeling! It is so bright and radiant, almost like love! It is destructive, and it is the most villainous and dangerous of all the sparkling hooks that a man in the sea of ​​love can only fall for "- believed Marlene Dietrich and never betrayed ... her convictions

Rudolf Sieber: love at second sight

Marlene Dietrich with her husband Rudolf Sieber

Marlene Dietrich with her husband Rudolf Sieber and daughter Maria-Elisabeth

Marlene Dietrich with her husband Rudolf Sieber and daughter Maria-Elizabeth

Young Maria Magdalena (approx. Woman.ru: Marlene Dietrich invented a stage name for herself, adding the syllables of the first and second names) "madly in love" with a tall, blond handsome man right on the set (Sieber was an assistant director), as soon as he drew on her Attention. However, she was not allowed to immediately jump out to marry Rudi (note Woman.ru: Rudi is a diminutive version of the name Rudolph) (note that the times when Dietrich behaved the way her mother wanted were gone very quickly)! At the insistence of Josephine's mother, a probationary period was appointed, which, however, Rudy successfully passed. A year later, on May 17, 1923, the couple got married, on December 13, 1924, baby Maria-Elizabeth, the first and only child of the future star, was born.

“He was sweet, he was gentle, and he made me feel like I could trust him. And this feeling will remain unchanged all the years of our life together... Our trust was mutual and complete ”, - characterizes Marlene her first and only spouse, with whom she lived together for only five years, but never divorced. It was, as they would say now, an open marriage. Soon after the birth of his daughter, Dietrich stops sexual relations with husband. Rudi has a mistress Tami (approx. Woman.ru: a young ballerina of Russian origin Tamara Matul).

The relationship of this couple was far from being average! Marlene (as evidenced by the documents published by her daughter) invited her husband ... to read the letters that she received from her beloved, and also sent him copies of the letters that she wrote to them. Moreover, any, we will not be afraid of this word, a lover who dared to be jealous of Rudy because of his admission to the stellar body, Marlene immediately upset: “What have you got to do with it? It is my husband!".

Marlene Dietrich and Erich Maria Remarque

Erich Maria Remarque

Erich Maria Remarque: "Too much in the past, but no future"

“It was a thunderbolt and a flash of lightning,” - this is how Erich Maria will one day comment on her impressions of her meeting with Marlene in 1937. Take a look at her portraits - would you assume that this "Blue Angel" is read by Kant and adores Rilke's poetry? So Remarque could not. She struck him to the depths of her soul by reciting the poems of her favorite poet by heart - any poem, from any line!

The "sensual thunderstorm" was too damn long - the lightning blazed for three whole years, despite the fact that Dietrich did everything to stop it. Is it possible to name the whirlpool of feelings in which the 35-year-old actress, who was experiencing a creative crisis and a series of unsuccessful roles, plunged, and the 39-year-old writer, who, after the phenomenal success of his creation "All Quiet on the Western Front," could not take up his pen again? love? Rather yes than no.

His "heart, cherished dream, light over all forests "," little monkey "," angel of the annunciation "," madonna of his blood "," northern light "," flame over the snow "and even" a little melancholic blonde - partner in the zoo "drove Remarque crazy with unwillingness to get divorced with a spouse to marry him, and their views on the relationship between a man and a woman. He wrote her three hundred letters (not a word about politics, regime, problems), and she wrote him twenty. However, the point is not at all about the number of letters. It was at the suggestion of Dietrich Remarque that he was able to get an American visa and leave.

It was not boring! Here Marlene changes one lover to another - Remarque is beside himself with rage and drives his "Puma" away (at least, writes about this desire in his diary). Here they are together again - and in the same diary a new entry appears "No more misfortune, because you are with me." Despite all these circumstances, or, more precisely, thanks to them, Remarque again began to write. Reread the Arc de Triomphe substituting Erich Maria for Ravik and Marlene for Joan Madu.

Marlene Dietrich and Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway: "It doesn't matter how she breaks your heart, as long as she is there and heals it."

Marlene and Ernest met in 1934, on the French Island motor ship (even before Dietrich met Remarque). The writer was returning from a safari to East Africa through Paris to Key West, and the actress from Nazi Germany to Hollywood. Hemingway Dietrich "fell in love at first sight", with "pure, boundless" love, but the flared up feelings did not prevent both of them from arranging their personal lives with others. According to Marlene herself, they were tied ... by complete hopelessness. The novel (mostly epistolary) dragged on for a long time - until the writer's death, perhaps precisely because Dietrich and Hemingway never became lovers. Ernest will aptly call what happened between them "unsynchronized passion" - when he was free, she was in love with another (or others) and vice versa.

There were such feelings in their letters that one could be surprised as soon as the paper did not smoke. "You are so beautiful that your passport photos should have been three meters high", "I kiss you warmly!", "Falling in love with you, it's awful!" - Hemingway finishes his messages. "It is impossible to love you more than I love you", "I will love you forever and even longer!" - assures him Dietrich.

Marlene Dietrich and Jean Gabin

It is quite indicative that Remarque was jealous of Dietrich's colleague Hemingway more than of Gabin (and it seems to us that it was not in vain, if only because Marlene was the person who read Hemingway's manuscripts first).

And what about Ernest? It was he who showed Marlene a couple of boxing tricks, including a “sudden blow to the jaw,” so that she could defend herself at the moment when Gabin starts to open her hands (alas, no matter how wild it sounds, the temperamental actor liked to scandal and quarrels could hit a woman). Well, Marlene did not fail to put into practice the lessons learned from her "Rock of Gibraltar", but that's another story ...
Jean Gabin: “You were, are and will be my only true love. Unfortunately, I feel like I've lost you. "

The love story of two movie stars began in 1941 in Hollywood. They say that Marlene herself took the first step and invited Jean to a table in a cafe, where she met Ernest Hemingway. “I was his mother, his sister, his girlfriend and more. I loved him very much! " - once admits Marlene. So much so that she herself stood at the stove in a stylish apron from Hermes, preparing Jean's soups and stews that he adored, and spoke to her beloved exclusively in French (fortunately, thanks to her bonnet, she knew the language perfectly).

Marlene Dietrich and Jean Gabin

By the way, he, like Remarque, repeatedly offered the actress to divorce her husband and marry him. But Marlene never said yes to him. However, when Gaben went to war, joining de Gaulle's troops, Dietrich went to Algeria, where Jean served, to see her beloved. After the end of World War II, Gabin rented an apartment in Paris, Marlene came to him. And everything would be nice if not for one "but" - the film "Martin Rumanyak", in which the actors played together, the film critics smashed to smithereens. Ambitious (and providing for the whole family, including her husband and his mistress), Marlene immediately thought about returning to America, but Jean was against it. We do not know which of them made big mistake- Gabin, who decided to dot the i's and put forward an ultimatum: “If you leave Paris now, it's all over between us,” or Dietrich, who nevertheless packed her things and went to shoot in the States. Then all her life she waited for him to change his mind and return, but, alas, this never happened. Gabin got married once again, and once upon a time chance meeting and pretended not to recognize his ex-lover... In 1976, Gaben passed away, "taking half of his soul with him" Marlene. Dietrich, who did not want the public to remember her as an old woman, became a recluse in the last years of her life. She abandoned the company of living people, preferring to spend time in the company of a portrait of her "ideal man", which, as they say, hung on the wall in her room.

Marlene Dietrich and Jean Gabin