The Blue Angel

The Blue Angel
Name	The Blue Angel
Director	Josef von Sternberg
Producer	Erich Pommer
Writer	Carl Zuckmayer, Karl Vollmoeller, Robert Liebmann
Starring	Marlene Dietrich, Emil Jannings, Kurt Gerron
Music	Friedrich Hollaender
Cinematography	Gunther Rittau, Hans Schneeberger

The Blue Angel. The Blue Angel is a 1930 German film directed by Josef von Sternberg, starring Marlene Dietrich and Emil Jannings. The film was a major success and launched the career of Marlene Dietrich, who went on to star in films such as Shanghai Express and Blonde Venus. The Blue Angel was also a critical success, with Béla Balázs and Siegfried Kracauer praising its cinematography and direction.

Introduction

The Blue Angel is a classic example of a Weimar Republic film, with its themes of Berlin nightlife and the decline of German society. The film was shot on location in Berlin and Stettin, and features a range of German actors, including Marlene Dietrich, Emil Jannings, and Kurt Gerron. The film's success can be attributed to the direction of Josef von Sternberg, who went on to direct films such as Morocco and The Scarlet Empress. The Blue Angel has been compared to other classic films of the era, such as Metropolis and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, which were also directed by German film directors like Fritz Lang and Robert Wiene.

History

The Blue Angel was produced by UFA, a major German film studio that also produced films such as Die Nibelungen and Faust. The film was shot in both German and English, with Marlene Dietrich and Emil Jannings performing in both languages. The film's production was overseen by Erich Pommer, a prominent German film producer who also worked on films such as The Last Laugh and Variety. The Blue Angel was released in 1930, the same year as other classic films such as All Quiet on the Western Front and City Girl, which were directed by Lewis Milestone and F.W. Murnau.

Plot

The Blue Angel tells the story of a German professor who becomes infatuated with a cabaret singer, played by Marlene Dietrich. The film's plot is a classic example of a tragic love story, with the professor's obsession with the singer ultimately leading to his downfall. The film features a range of musical numbers, including the famous song "Falling in Love Again", which was written by Friedrich Hollaender and has since been covered by Billie Holiday and Diana Krall. The Blue Angel's plot has been compared to other classic films such as Casablanca and Roman Holiday, which feature similar themes of love and sacrifice.

Cast_and_Crew

The Blue Angel features a range of German actors, including Marlene Dietrich, Emil Jannings, and Kurt Gerron. The film was directed by Josef von Sternberg, who also directed films such as The Devil is a Woman and An American Tragedy. The film's cinematography was handled by Gunther Rittau and Hans Schneeberger, who also worked on films such as The Golem and Pandora's Box. The Blue Angel's cast and crew have been praised for their work on the film, with Marlene Dietrich and Emil Jannings receiving particular acclaim for their performances.

Reception

The Blue Angel was a major success upon its release, with critics such as Béla Balázs and Siegfried Kracauer praising its cinematography and direction. The film was also a commercial success, with audiences flocking to see Marlene Dietrich and Emil Jannings on the big screen. The Blue Angel has since been recognized as a classic of German cinema, with film historians such as Lotte Eisner and Thomas Elsaesser praising its influence on the development of film noir and New Wave cinema. The film has been compared to other classic films such as The 400 Blows and Breathless, which were directed by François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard.

Legacy

The Blue Angel has had a lasting impact on the development of film, with its influence visible in films such as Sunset Boulevard and The Apartment. The film's cinematography and direction have been praised by film directors such as Billy Wilder and Federico Fellini, who have cited Josef von Sternberg as an influence. The Blue Angel has also been recognized as a classic of German culture, with Marlene Dietrich and Emil Jannings becoming icons of German cinema. The film has been preserved by the National Film Registry and has been named as one of the greatest films of all time by film critics such as Roger Ebert and Pauline Kael. The Blue Angel continues to be celebrated as a masterpiece of world cinema, with its themes and motifs remaining relevant to audiences today, much like the works of Alfred Hitchcock and Orson Welles.

Category:German films