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.
Allein in einer grossen stadt
Marlene Dietrich Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And tell them I'm having the same.
Go see what the boys in the backroom will have,
And give them the poison they name.
And when I die, don't spend my money
On flowers and my picture in a frame.
Just see what the boys in the backroom will have,
And tell them I sighed,
And tell them I died of the same.
And when I die, don't buy a casket
Of silver with the candles all aflame
Just see what the boys in the backroom will have,
And tell them I sighed,
And tell them I cried,
And tell them I died of the same.
And when I die, don't pay the preacher
For speaking of my glory and my fame
Just see what the boys in the backroom will have,
And tell them I sighed,
And tell them I cried,
And tell them I died of the same
The above lyrics are part of Marlene Dietrich's song 'The Boys in the Backroom', which featured in the 1957 film, 'Destry Rides Again'. The song was written by Frank Loesser and Frederick Hollander, and it portrays a woman's love for drinking and socializing with men in the backroom of a bar. The woman requests her friend to go and check what drinks the men in the backroom are having, so that she can join them and drink the same poison. The lyrics also reveal that the woman does not want a typical funeral or to be remembered with a picture or flowers. Instead, she requests her friend to inform the men in the backroom of her death, and that she died with a sigh and a cry of the same poison that they were drinking.
The song is both subtle and direct in its portrayal of female sexuality and desire in the 1950s. The woman portrayed in the song is independent and confident in her desires and is unapologetic about her love for drinking and socializing with men. In a time when women were expected to be modest and obedient, Marlene Dietrich's portrayal of this woman was unconventional and progressive.
Line by Line Meaning
See what the boys in the backroom will have,
Find out what the men in the bar want to drink.
And tell them I'm having the same.
Order the same drink for me.
Go see what the boys in the backroom will have,
Tell the bartender to check with the men in the bar.
And give them the poison they name.
Ask the men what they want to drink and order it.
And when I die, don't spend my money
When I pass away, do not spend money on funerary expenses.
On flowers and my picture in a frame.
Do not buy flowers or display my image to commemorate me.
Just see what the boys in the backroom will have,
Get the men in the bar to remember me.
And tell them I sighed,
Say that I was pensive and unfulfilled.
And tell them I cried,
Report that I wept before I passed away.
And tell them I died of the same.
Let the men in the bar know that I passed on in the same manner.
And when I die, don't buy a casket
When I pass away, do not purchase an ornate coffin.
Of silver with the candles all aflame
Avoid a casket decorated with silver or candles.
And when I die, don't pay the preacher
When I pass away, do not compensate a spiritual leader for memorializing me.
For speaking of my glory and my fame
Prevent any discussion of my achievements or legacy.
Just see what the boys in the backroom will have,
Instead, have the men in the bar remember me.
And tell them I sighed,
Inform them that I was discontented before I passed.
And tell them I cried,
Let them know that I wept before passing.
And tell them I died of the same.
Make sure they're aware that I passed away in identical fashion.
Writer(s): Hollaender Friedrich, Loesser Frank
Contributed by Caroline O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ulmalets
Які цудоўны і магічны голас!!! Проста таеш пад яе песні! Марлен і Цара - самыя цудоўныя нямецкія спявачкі!
@peterlarsen1000
One of my favorite songs by Marlene. Always looks fab on the stage. Rosa Larsen
@catherinebouville8714
Une mélodie magnifique qui a séduit les grandes Stars et qui nous séduira toujours, merci
@klausweber2889
Sie war und bleibt eine schöne Legende
@Carochoupi
Un seul mot: splendide!!
@MarleneDietrichVideo
Great vid! Love to see all these colour shots :)
@jesperrosengren-ye8zb
Stil og elegance, sorg og ensomhed, som vi alle kender til, elsker stille og roligt, at lytte til den skønne musik i lysets skær.
Bh Jesper
@LilyMarleneDietrich
@Elaguine81 Une chanson que Marlene aimait particulièrement, car elle l'a chantée pendant 40 ans... Merci beaucoup, Marcel-Paul.
@Elaguine81
Magnifiques photos: superbe chanson... Merci Fabrice. Marcel-Paul
@LilyMarleneDietrich
@cyrilconnection Une grande chanteuse, une actrice qui "joue" ses chansons. Merci Cyril ;-)