Marie Magdelene Dietrich von Losch (aka Marlene) was born in Schöneberg bei… Read Full Bio ↴Marie Magdelene Dietrich von Losch (aka Marlene) was born in Schöneberg bei Berlin, Germany on December 27, 1901. Her father was an army officer who had served in the Franco-Prussian War. Because of his constant absences due to his army duties, Marlene and the family had to rely on themselves. After he died, while she was 11, Marlene's mother married Eduard von Losch and he adopted the Dietrich children.

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.

Illusions
Marlene Dietrich Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Want to buy some illusions,
Slightly used, just like new?
Such romantic illusions -
And they're all about you.
I sell them all for a penny,
They make pretty souvenirs.

Take my lovely illusions -
Some for laughs, some for tears

Overall Meaning

In Marlene Dietrich's song "Illusions," the lyrics suggest the singer is trying to sell illusions to someone who is searching for something to fill a void in their life. These illusions, specifically described as "slightly used" and "built on sand," were once lovely and enchanting, but ultimately proved to be temporary and unsustainable. The use of the phrase "crazy paradise" implies that the singer recognizes the absurdity of the illusions being offered, but the appeal of this world is inescapable.

The second verse continues to appeal to the potential buyer, describing the illusions as romantic and all about them. The singer promises to sell these illusions for a penny, describing them as pretty souvenirs that can be kept for laughs or tears. The last line suggests that these illusions, while ultimately flawed, still hold sentimental value and can provide a sense of comfort or nostalgia.

Overall, the song is a commentary on the fleeting nature of human desires and the allure of escapism. The illusions being sold represent a way to temporarily fill a void or satisfy a need for something more, but ultimately lack substance and can never fully satisfy. Marlene Dietrich's haunting vocals add to the eerie, dreamlike quality of the lyrics and create a sense of detachment from reality.

Line by Line Meaning

Want to buy some illusions,
Are you interested in purchasing illusions?

Slightly used, second hand?
They have been used before and are available at a discounted price.

They were lovely illusions,
They were attractive and compelling.

Reaching high, built on sand.
Although they seemed lofty and impressive, they had no real foundation to support them.

They had a touch of paradise,
They held a hint of something idyllic and perfect.

A spell you can't explain:
They had a mysterious quality that was difficult to articulate or understand.

For in this crazy paradise,
In this seemingly perfect world, there was something deeply troubling.

You are in love with pain.
You are experiencing a strange and unhealthy attachment to suffering.

Want to buy some illusions,
Are you still interested in purchasing illusions?

Slightly used, just like new?
Although they have been used before, they are still in excellent condition.

Such romantic illusions -
These illusions are particularly focused on love and romance.

And they're all about you.
They center around you and your desires, needs, and experiences.

I sell them all for a penny,
I am willing to part with these illusions for a very low cost.

They make pretty souvenirs.
They are aesthetically pleasing and can be kept as keepsakes and reminders.

Take my lovely illusions -
Please consider taking these illusions from me.

Some for laughs, some for tears
These illusions can evoke both joy and sadness.

Writer(s): Frederick K. Hollander

Contributed by Samuel N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Want to buy some illusions,
Slightly used, second hand?
They were lovely illusions,
Reaching high, built on sand.
They had a touch of paradise,
A spell you can't explain:
For in this crazy paradise,
You are in love with pain.
Want to buy some illusions,
Slightly used, just like new?
Such romantic illusions -
And they're all about you.
I sell them all for a penny,
They make pretty souvenirs.
Take my lovely illusions -
Some for laughs, some for tears
They had a touch of paradise,
A spell you can't explain:
For in this crazy paradise,
You are in love with pain.
Want to buy some illusions,
Slightly used, just like new?
Such romantic illusions -
And they're all about you.
I sell them all for a penny,
They make pretty souvenirs.
Take my lovely illusions -
Some for laughs, some for tears