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.
Wenn der Sommer wieder einzieht
Marlene Dietrich Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dann bau′n wir uns ein kleines Haus.
Wenn der Bauer wieder Wein zieht,
Schaut alles wieder anders aus.
Dann kaufst du mir ein rotes Kleid
Mit silberweissen Tressen.
Dann wollen wir die schlimme Zeit
So ganz und gar vergessen.
Wenn abends sie spazieren geh'n;
Junge Augen können schon den Morgen seh′n.
Noch dieses Jahr, im nächsten Jahr
Einmal wird doch was draus
Und im Sommer bau'n wir uns ein kleines Haus.
Wenn die Schwalbe wieder auszieht,
Dann bau'n wir auf die Winterzeit;
Wenn der Winter in sein Haus zieht,
Dann warte eben, bis es schneit.
Da küsst du mich im ersten Schnee
Und fängst mir Silbersterne;
Da bin ich froh, weil ich es seh′
Das kleine Haus von Ferne.
Junge Leute haben Träume,
Die manchmal in Erfüllung geh′n;
Junge Herzen können in die Zukunft seh'n.
Die bessere Zeit, die bessere Welt -
Einmal wird doch was draus
Und im Sommer bau′n wir uns ein kleines Haus.
The lyrics to Marlene Dietrich's song "Wenn der Sommer wieder einzieht" ("When Summer Moves In Again") are a hopeful and optimistic ode to the possibilities of the future, particularly for young people in love. The first verse speaks to the idea of building a small house when summer returns, with the changing of the seasons bringing a new perspective and renewed hope. The singer then goes on to describe how a red dress with silver and white trim will be bought for them, symbolizing a new beginning and the ability to forget the past. The second verse speaks to the idea of waiting out the winter and then being kissed in the first snow, with silver stars falling around them, as they look toward the small house in the distance.
The song's verses are all centered around the idea of waiting for a new season or a new moment in time for things to change, with the idea that these changes will bring better days and a brighter future. The repetition of the line "einmal wird doch was draus" ("once something will come of this") reinforces this idea of hope and optimism, while the descriptions of nature changing and the promise of a new house make the song deeply romantic and aspirational.
Overall, "Wenn der Sommer wieder einzieht" is a song that speaks to the power of love and the hope that things will eventually get better, even in the face of difficult circumstances. It is a reminder that time can be a great healer and that there is always the possibility of a better tomorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
Wenn der Sommer wieder einzieht,
When the summer returns,
Dann bau′n wir uns ein kleines Haus.
We will build a small house.
Wenn der Bauer wieder Wein zieht,
When the farmer harvests grapes for wine,
Schaut alles wieder anders aus.
Everything looks different again.
Dann kaufst du mir ein rotes Kleid
Then you will buy me a red dress
Mit silberweissen Tressen.
With silver-white trimmings.
Dann wollen wir die schlimme Zeit
Then we will forget the bad times
So ganz und gar vergessen.
Completely forgotten.
Junge Leute träumen gerne,
Young people like to dream
Wenn abends sie spazieren geh'n;
When they take an evening walk;
Junge Augen können schon den Morgen seh′n.
Young eyes can see the morning already.
Noch dieses Jahr, im nächsten Jahr
This year or next year,
Einmal wird doch was draus
We will make it work eventually
Und im Sommer bau'n wir uns ein kleines Haus.
And in the summer, we will build ourselves a small house.
Wenn die Schwalbe wieder auszieht,
When the swallow migrates south,
Dann bau'n wir auf die Winterzeit;
We will prepare for the winter;
Wenn der Winter in sein Haus zieht,
When the winter arrives,
Dann warte eben, bis es schneit.
We will wait until it snows.
Da küsst du mich im ersten Schnee
Then you will kiss me in the first snow
Und fängst mir Silbersterne;
And catch silver stars for me;
Da bin ich froh, weil ich es seh′
I am happy because I see it
Das kleine Haus von Ferne.
The small house from afar.
Junge Leute haben Träume,
Young people have dreams,
Die manchmal in Erfüllung geh′n;
Which sometimes come true;
Junge Herzen können in die Zukunft seh'n.
Young hearts can see into the future.
Die bessere Zeit, die bessere Welt -
The better time, the better world -
Einmal wird doch was draus
We will make it work eventually
Und im Sommer bau′n wir uns ein kleines Haus.
And in the summer, we will build ourselves a small house.
Writer(s): Frank Weldon, Dick Robertson, James Cavanaugh
Contributed by Caroline R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.