Review of The Blue Angel (1930) by Rainer K — 29 Dec 2011
A film of historical value. Not only Marlene Dietrich's breakthrough performance but also starring Emil Jannings fresh from his first ever Best Actor Oscar. Also the first major German talkie and directed by legend Josef von Sternberg. And, oh yes, it's an adaptation of a Heinrich Mann story. That's the trivia about it that makes it a worthy experience itself.
It's about a school professor who falls for a variete dancer in the bar "Der Blaue Engel".
Although that may sound like a love story it's nothing like that. No love story would have ever been so dark and cruel to his main character. Emil Jannings' professor is tore down by Lola (the very dancer he even marries) and finds himself ripped off of both his money and his bourgeois attitude.
What's left is a broken man and Jannings is so good at it that he even overshadows Dietrich's performance in my opinion.
Der Blaue Engel is at its best when the two share scenes as in the beginning when the strict and well-educated professor is twisted around her little finger by her sheer beauty and unexpected toughness.
It's a nice flick that I saw incidentally on TV this afternoon, especially the performances and the mood are great although the plot was a bit rushed and disjointed sometimes.
This review of The Blue Angel (1930) was written by Rainer K on 29 Dec 2011.
The Blue Angel has generally received very positive reviews.
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