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.
Johnny
Marlene Dietrich Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bin ich bei dir zu Gast die ganze Nacht.
Johnny, ich träume soviel von dir,
Ach, komm doch mal zu mir
Nachmittags um halb vier.
Johnny, wenn du Geburtstag hast
Und mich dein Arm umfaßt die ganze Nacht,
Wenn du doch jeden Tag Geburtstag hätt'st.
The song "Johnny" by Marlene Dietrich is a love song about a woman expressing her undying love for a man named Johnny. The song begins by stating that whenever Johnny has a birthday, the woman will be there as his guest the whole night. The woman then professes that she dreams about Johnny and wishes he would come to her every afternoon at half past three. The song repeats the sentiment that the woman will be by Johnny's side whenever he has a birthday, and she wishes that he could have one every day so she could be with him always.
The lyrics of the song are simple and heartfelt, but they convey the complexity of the woman's emotions. She is deeply in love with Johnny and wants to be with him all the time. She is willing to be with him on his birthday so that she can be close to him, but she also wants him to come to her and be with her every day. The song is an expression of longing and desire, and it captures the deep emotions of a person in love.
Line by Line Meaning
Johnny, wenn du Geburtstag hast, bin ich bei dir zu Gast die ganze Nacht.
Johnny, whenever it's your birthday, I'll stay with you all night.
Johnny, ich träume soviel von dir, ach, komm doch mal zu mir nachmittags um halb vier.
Johnny, I dream so much about you, please come to me one day at half past three in the afternoon.
Johnny, wenn du Geburtstag hast und mich dein Arm umfaßt die ganze Nacht,
Johnny, whenever it's your birthday and you hold me in your arms all night.
Johnny, dann denke ich noch zuletzt, wenn du doch jeden Tag Geburtstag hätt'st.
Johnny, then I think at last, if only it was your birthday every day.
Writer(s): Frederick Hollander, Jeremy Lawrence
Contributed by Bentley P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@msgigirogers1559
lyrics from Google:
Johnny, wenn du Geburtstag hast,
Bin ich bei dir zu Gast die ganze Nacht.
Johnny, ich träume soviel von dir,
Ach, komm doch mal zu mir
Nachmittags um halb vier.
Johnny, wenn du Geburtstag hast
Und mich dein Arm umfaßt die ganze Nacht,
Johnny, dann denke ich noch zuletzt,
Wenn du doch jeden Tag Geburtstag hätt'st.
@jonk5628
Johnny, wenn du Geburtstag hast,
bin ich bei dir zu Gast die ganze Nacht.
Johnny, ich träume so viel von dir,
ach, komm doch mal zu mir
nachmittags um halb vier.
Johnny, wenn du Geburtstag hast
und mich dein Arm umfasst die ganze Nacht,
Johnny, dann denke ich noch zuletzt,
wenn du doch jeden Tag Geburtstag hätt'st.
@imanim4844
This is one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard. Omg she was perfect ❤
@Rudipolt
Fine Song Marlene
@XX-gy7ue
AMAZING SPECTACULAR
@premanadi
Nobody could "talk" a German lyric like Dietrich!
@BlakeJAskew
Es ist sehr schön. Danke.
@OlgaNovakauskiene
Marlene Dietrich Jonny-1931
Thank you . Wonderful
@XX-gy7ue
MASTERPIECE , GREAT , THANKS
@PavlosNexusgp
Absolutely Marlene.......!!!! Vielen Dank!!!!!!
@1966Hillman
Great quality recording you've uploaded. Thanks. She was better than good & this tango's become, for me, the song that defines Marlene.
@XX-gy7ue
MARVELOUS