Marlene was known in school for her "bedroom eyes" and her first affairs were at this stage in her life - a professor at the school was terminated.
Marlene enjoyed music and attended concerts. She was adept at playing the violin and piano. By the time she was in her mid-teens, Marlene had discovered the stage. Acting was to be her vocation. In 1921, Marlene applied for an acting school run by Max Reinhardt. She was accepted. She appeared in several stage productions, but never had more than a couple of spoken lines. In short, she wasn't setting the stage world on fire.
She attempted films for the first time in 1922 Her first film was So sind die Männer (The Little Napoleon) (1923) which was followed by Tragödie der Liebe (Love Tragedy) (1923). On this last project, she met Rudolf Sieber and married him in 1924. The union lasted until his death in 1976 although they didn't live together the whole time.
The remainder of her early film career was generally filled with bit roles. After being seen in the German production of Der blaue Engel (The Blue Angel) (1930) in 1930, Marlene was given a crack at Hollywood. Her first US film was Morocco (1930) with Gary Cooper, which was followed by Dishonored (1931). This latter movie had her cast as a street walker who is appointed a spy. The film was rather boring but was a success because of Marlene's presence. In 1932, Marlene filmed Shanghai Express (1932) which proved to be immensely popular, grossing $3 million. Once again, she was cast as a prostitute. The next film was Blonde Venus (1932) which turned out to be a horrible production. Her co-star was Cary Grant and once again she was cast as a prostitute.
During this period Dietrich had been typecast as a woman of low morals and she wanted different parts. Her chance came in 1939 in Destry Rides Again (1939) when she was cast as "Frenchy", a Western saloon hostess. This began a new direction for Marlene since it shed the previous typecasting. All through the 1940s, she appeared in well-produced, well-directed films such as Manpower (1942), The Spoilers (1942), The Lady Is Willing (1942) and Pittsburgh (1942).
Afterwards the roles came less frequently, perhaps one to two films every year. In 1945, Marlene didn't appear in any. She only made seven productions in the 1950's. Her last role of any substance was Judgment at Nuremberg (1961). Despite the lack of theatrical roles, Marlene still made appearances on the stage. However, by 1979, she was a shell of her former self. After breaking her leg in one performance, she never made a go of it in show business again.
Spending the last 12 years of her life bed-ridden, Marlene died on May 6, 1992 in Paris, France of kidney failure at the age of 90.
1. Falling in love again
Marlene Dietrich Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never wanted to
What am I to do?
I can't help it
Love's always been my game
Play it how I may
I was made that way
Men cluster to me like moths around a flame
And if their wings burn, I know I'm not to blame
Falling in love again
Never wanted to
What am I to do?
I can't help it
Men cluster to me like moths around a flame
And if their wings burn, I know I'm not to blame
Falling in love again
Never wanted to
What am I to do?
I can't help it
Marlene Dietrich's song "Falling in Love Again" is a tale of a woman who is resigned to the fact that she falls in love too easily, despite not trying to. The repeating chorus of "never wanted to, what am I to do? I can't help it" sets up the theme of the song. Through the rest of the lyrics, she acknowledges that love has always been her game, but that she can't help the effect she has on men who are drawn to her like moths to a flame. She accepts that she is not to blame for the men who get hurt because of their attraction to her.
The chorus is an expression of her exasperation at her own emotions, and her sense of inevitability that she will always fall in love again. The line "What am I to do?" is a rhetorical question, as she knows that she cannot change herself or her habits. The song speaks to the universal human experience of not being able to control our own emotions and impulses, even if we know that they will lead us to heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Falling in love again
I find myself falling in love again, despite my reluctance.
Never wanted to
I never intended to fall in love again.
What am I to do?
I am at a loss as to what I should do about these feelings.
I can't help it
I have no control over my emotions and falling in love again.
Love's always been my game
Love has always been something that I enjoy and am familiar with.
Play it how I may
No matter how I approach love, I always seem to end up falling for someone.
I was made that way
My nature seems to be drawn to love and the feelings that come with it.
Men cluster to me like moths around a flame
Men are inexplicably drawn to me, regardless of my intentions or efforts to avoid them.
And if their wings burn, I know I'm not to blame
If the men who are drawn to me end up getting hurt or burned, it is not my fault, as they are the ones who choose to pursue me.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: F. HOLLANDER, REG CONNELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mohamedalaa5431
Falling in love again
Never wanted to
What am I to do?
Can't help it
Love's always been my game
Play it how I may
I was made that way
Can't help it
Men cluster to me like moths around a flame
And if their wings burn, I know I'm not to blame
Falling in love again
Never wanted to
What am I to do?
Can't help it
Fallin' in love again
Never wanted to
What am I to do?
Can't help it
@cerrinoart
I remember years ago I was behind a beautiful, sophisticated and elegantly dressed woman in her forties travelling up a long escalator in the London Underground, her perfume was intoxicating, I hummed this tune, I couldn’t help it. At the top she turned around smiled and said “you have made my day” A brief encounter, a moment in time, then she was gone, but memories are made of this. Thank you Marlene.
@joeyhadley6244
was it Yootha Joyce ?
@afropaintshaman4713
Who was it?!
@conniefoster9733
cerrinoart Who was it? Was it anyone we'd know?
@mickeyhodge6078
cerrinoart Nice!
@josephbarclayross6216
Great story. How exciting to brush against an icon!
@deemancrumpton6663
Been looking for this song for decades. Glad I finally found it.
@dnbaker721
Just heard this song on rerun of Northern Exposure -so googled it. Beautiful song-beautiful lady!
@jaykellett2327
Fun to go searching "back in time" and hear what people of past times liked. You stumble across some real gems.
@user-zz1ko4ud5r
Божественная женщина. Самая лучшая из лучших