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.
Ich Bin Von Kopf Bis Fuß Auf Liebe Eingestellts
Marlene Dietrich Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ein „je ne sais-pas-quoi“
Liegt in den Augen immer
Bei einer schönen Frau
Doch wenn sich meine Augen
Bei einem vis-à-vis
Ganz tief in seine saugen
Was sprechen dann sie?
Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuß
Auf Liebe eingestellt
Denn das ist meine Welt
Und sonst gar nichts
Das ist, was soll ich machen
Meine Natur
Ich kann halt lieben nur
Und sonst gar nichts
Männer umschwirren mich
Wie Motten um das Licht
Und wenn sie verbrennen
Ja, dafür kann ich nicht
Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuß
Auf Liebe eingestellt
Ich kann halt lieben nur
Und sonst gar nichts
Was bebt in meinen Händen
In ihrem heißen Druck?
Sie möchten sich verschwenden
Sie haben nie genug
Ihr werdet mir verzeihen
Ihr müsst' es halt verstehen
Es lockt mich stets von neuem
Ich find' es so schön
Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuß
Auf Liebe eingestellt
Denn das ist meine Welt
Und sonst gar nichts
Das ist, was soll ich machen
Meine Natur
Ich kann halt lieben nur
Und sonst gar nichts
Männer umschwirren mich
Wie Motten um das Licht
Und wenn sie verbrennen
Ja, dafür kann ich nichts
Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuß
Auf Liebe eingestellt
Ich kann halt lieben nur
Und sonst gar nichts
The lyrics to Marlene Dietrich's song "Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuss auf Liebe eingestellt" (translated to "I am completely equipped for love from head to toe") describe the singer's attitude towards love and how it encompasses her entire being. The first verse describes the mysterious allure of a beautiful woman, and the second verse describes how men are drawn to the singer like moths to a flame, even if it means they might get hurt in the process. The chorus repeats several times, emphasizing the singer's unwavering dedication to love and her nature to love fully and completely. The final verse describes the sensations she feels when she is with someone she loves, and how she is constantly drawn to the feeling of love and its beauty.
The lyrics suggest a sense of vulnerability and danger when it comes to love. The singer acknowledges the risks and the potential for hurt, but ultimately decides that the beauty and joy of love is worth it. The repeated emphasis on "und sonst gar nichts" (translated to "and nothing else") reinforces the idea that love is the most important thing in the singer's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Ein rätselhafter Schimmer
There's a mysterious glimmer
Ein „je ne sais-pas-quoi“
A certain something that's hard to know
Liegt in den Augen immer
In the eyes of a beautiful woman
Bei einer schönen Frau
This glimmer always shows
Doch wenn sich meine Augen
But when my eyes
Bei einem vis-à-vis
Are looking deeply into the eyes
Ganz tief in seine saugen
Of someone I'm face to face with
Was sprechen dann sie?
What are they saying to me?
Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuß
I am from head to toe
Auf Liebe eingestellt
Set towards love
Denn das ist meine Welt
For that is my world
Und sonst gar nichts
And nothing else
Das ist, was soll ich machen
That's just what I am
Meine Natur
My nature
Ich kann halt lieben nur
I can only love
Und sonst gar nichts
And nothing else
Männer umschwirren mich
Men swarm around me
Wie Motten um das Licht
Like moths drawn to a flame
Und wenn sie verbrennen
And if they get burned
Ja, dafür kann ich nicht
Well, I can't help that
Was bebt in meinen Händen
What trembles in my hands
In ihrem heißen Druck?
Under their hot pressure?
Sie möchten sich verschwenden
They want to indulge themselves
Sie haben nie genug
They never have enough
Ihr werdet mir verzeihen
You'll have to forgive me
Ihr müsst' es halt verstehen
You just have to understand
Es lockt mich stets von neuem
It always lures me again
Ich find' es so schön
I find it so beautiful
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Friedrich Hollaender
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind