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.
Lazy Afternoon
Marlene Dietrich Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the beetle bugs are zoomin'
And the tulip trees are bloomin'
And there's not another human in view
But us two.
It's a lazy afternoon
And the farmer leaves his reapin'
And the speckled trout stop leapin' up stream
As we dream.
A fat pink cloud hangs over the hill
Unfoldin' like a rose
If you hold my hand and sit real still
You can hear the grass as it grows.
It's a hazy afternoon
And I know a place that's quiet, 'cept for daisies running riot
And there's no one passing by it to see
Come spend this lazy afternoon with me
The lyrics of Marlene Dietrich's song "Lazy Afternoon" paint a vivid picture of a peaceful afternoon spent in the countryside, away from the hustle and bustle of city life. The first stanza sets the scene: there are no other human beings in sight except for the two people in question. It seems that nature is taking centre stage, with beetle bugs zooming and tulip trees blooming. The slow pace of the afternoon is emphasised by the melody, which is dreamy and mellow.
The second stanza continues to describe the idyllic setting. A farmer is leaving his work behind to take a nap in the meadow, while the trout have stopped leaping up the stream. The two people in the song are free to dream as they please. The mention of the "speckled trout" and the "meadow cows" conjure up images of a peaceful rural landscape that is untouched by the complexities of modern life.
The bridge of the song introduces a new element to the scene: a "fat pink cloud" that hangs over the hill. The image of the cloud unfolding like a rose is particularly striking, and highlights the beauty and serenity of the natural world. The final lines of the song invite the listener to join the two people on this lazy afternoon, away from prying eyes and the demands of the world. It's an invitation to take a break from busy lives and simply enjoy the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a lazy afternoon
The day is relaxed and unhurried
And the beetle bugs are zoomin'
Insects are moving about energetically
And the tulip trees are bloomin'
The trees are in full blossom
And there's not another human in view
The area is free of people
But us two.
Only the two of us are present
And the farmer leaves his reapin'
The farmer takes a break from his work
In the meadow cows are sleepin'
The cows are resting in the field
And the speckled trout stop leapin' up stream
The fish are no longer jumping in the water
As we dream.
We enter into a dreamlike state
A fat pink cloud hangs over the hill
A large pink cloud is visible in the sky
Unfoldin' like a rose
The cloud appears to be opening up
If you hold my hand and sit real still
If we sit quietly and hold hands
You can hear the grass as it grows.
We can hear the sound of the grass growing
It's a hazy afternoon
The day is slightly foggy
And I know a place that's quiet, 'cept for daisies running riot
I have knowledge of a peaceful location where only energetic daisies disturb the silence
And there's no one passing by it to see
There are no people walking by who might disturb us
Come spend this lazy afternoon with me
Join me in enjoying this relaxed day together
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Latouche, Jerome Moross
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind