Review of The Blue Angel (1930) by Adrian B — 23 Jan 2011

"The Blue Angel" is a highly odd film, but very interesting to watch, due to its ambitiousness and unusual filming techniques. As the viewer can see, the camera moves quite awkwardly from shot to shot and definately indicates the changing of filming from the late 1920's to the early 1930's. The story, which is also quite interesting, follows the life a school teacher (Emil Janning) who falls in love with a nightclub singer, of course played by Marlene Dietrich (I would personally call the nightclub a stripper). The irony is, he was appalled by his students when the played with the bizarre photo of Dietrich's character, with the playful skirt she has on which is often showed throughout the movie, and yet he started dating her. It's silly, but has quite of bit of entertainment value and worth the watch just to see the transition process of silent to sound. Much of the film does lack sound at times.

Now the question is if its better to watch in English or German. I am afraid to say I watched it in English. This might have taken away from the entertainment, though I am not certain. You have the option, and I think it worth trying it in German more than English, especially since the film originated out of Germany.