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.
Je tire ma reverence
Marlene Dietrich Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Je m'en vais au hazard
Sur les routes de France,
De France et de Navarr'
Dites lui que je l'aime
Je l'aime, je l'aime quand même
Et dites lui trois fois bonjour,
Bonjour, bonjour pour moi.
Pourquoi faire entre nous de grands adieux ?
Partir sans un regard est beaucoup mieux !
J'avais sa préférence
J'étais son seul bonheur.
Hélas ! Les apparences
Et le sort sont trompeurs !
Un autre a pris ma place
Tout passe, tout lasse et casse.
Et dites lui trois fois bonjour,
Bonjour, bonjour pour moi.
On pense que j'ai beaucoup de chagrin
Au-jourd'hui pas, mais peut-être demain.
Je tir' ma reverence
Je m'en vais au hazard
Sur les routes des France,
De France et de Navarr'
Dites lui que je l'aime
Je l'aime, Je l'aime quand même
Et dites lui trois fois
Bonjour, bonjour, bonjour pour moi.
Dites lui voulez vous bonjour,
Bonjour, bonjour et voilà tout.
The song "Je tire ma reverence" by Marlene Dietrich expresses the emotions of a woman who is leaving her lover. The singer is bidding farewell to her lover and is venturing out on a journey on the roads of France and Navarré. She asks the listeners to tell her lover that she still loves him, and to say "Bonjour" to him three times for her. The lyrics suggest that the woman wanted to leave without making a scene or have a long emotional goodbye as it would be easier for her to depart without a forbidden gaze, which reveals the sentiments that lie within her.
As the song progresses, the woman hints at her heartbreak when confesses that she was the one who had her lover's preference and was his source of happiness. However, appearances and fate can be deceptive, and a different person has now taken her place. The lyrics convey the message that love can be unpredictable and fleeting, and what was once a source of happiness can turn into heartbreak in no time.
Line by Line Meaning
Je tir' ma reverence
I bow out with respect
Je m'en vais au hazard
I am leaving to fate
Sur les routes des France, De France et de Navarr'
On the roads of France, From France to Navarre
Dites lui que je l'aime
Tell him that I love him
Je l'aime, Je l'aime quand même
I love him, I love him all the same
Et dites lui trois fois bonjour, Bonjour, bonjour pour moi.
And tell him three times hello, Hello, hello from me.
Pourquoi faire entre nous de grands adieux?
Why make big goodbyes between us?
Partir sans un regard est beaucoup mieux!
Leaving without a look is much better!
J'avais sa préférence, J'étais son seul bonheur.
I had his preference, I was his only happiness.
Hélas! Les apparences Et le sort sont trompeurs!
Alas! Appearances and fate are deceiving!
Un autre a pris ma place Tout passe, tout lasse et casse.
Another has taken my place. Everything passes, everything tires and breaks.
On pense que j'ai beaucoup de chagrin
People think that I have a lot of sorrow
Au-jourd'hui pas, mais peut-être demain.
Today, no, but maybe tomorrow.
Dites lui voulez vous bonjour, Bonjour, bonjour et voilà tout.
Tell him do you want hello, Hello, hello and that's all.
Contributed by Molly N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.