109, 930-935 Dietrich & von Sternberg in Hollywood

[kcota17]

I haven’t watched all of the extras yet so I don’t know if this is ever talked about but I can’t find an answer anywhere: does anyone know if there was anything between Dietrich and Von Sternberg or anything that contributed to them not working again ever?

It’s obvious that he was in love with her, but what caused their collaborations to end? Was it as simple as The Devil is a Woman just not doing well? Did they have a falling out? Was Dietrich not fond of his affection? Did the studios not want to work anymore?

It just seems like such a blunt end to such a long string of tight collaborations that seems so unanswered.

[knives]

If memory serves von Sternberg had burnt a lot of bridges by that point plus his films made no money. If you check his CV you'll see his career fell dormant not too long after their last collab.

[Drucker]

Yes, I got the impression (from the extras?) that Scarlett Empress and Devil Is A Woman both were money-losers, and then his contract was up?

[Werewolf by Night]

For me the value is in the transfers which are wonderful to have.

Same here, and I'm sure that's where most of the budget went.

[Lowry_Sam]

does anyone know if there was anything between Dietrich and Von Sternberg or anything that contributed to them not working again ever?

Can't recall which documentary or book presents the definitive take on their relationship, but I thought it was pretty well known that von Sternberg's obsession w/ Marlene was one way, as she had very little interest in him.....or any man, but only assumed the role to further her career...and The Devil Is A Woman basically sums up their relationship.

[domino harvey]

If one goes by the incredible and incredibly libelous softcore porn film adaptation of Hollywood Babylon from the 70s, they both were gay and brought home men and women for each other. This is not a reliable primary, secondary, or tertiary source though

[NABOB OF NOWHERE]

If one goes by the incredible and incredibly libelous softcore porn film adaptation of Hollywood Babylon from the 70s, they both were gay and brought home men and women for each other. This is not a reliable primary, secondary, or tertiary source though

Whilst most likely salacious gossip like the rest of the source material, albeit rather beguiling. I was wondering how might that work in practice?
Like you're a guy hit on by Marlene Dietrich no less but when you get back to the den there's Von Sternberg in his bathrobe waiting for you. What do you do? .... make the best of a bad job?

[whaleallright]

who wouldn't?

[zedz]

who wouldn't?

"Uh, Joe, do you mind if we turn the creepy clown picture towards the wall?"

[domino harvey]

Pretty sure that was taken in Kristen Bell's house on the Good Place

[david hare]

[NABOB OF NOWHERE]

Well now that you mention it...

[Michael Kerpan]

Why do I think ... Svengali....

[david hare]

It was Chaplin who was convinced by Jo's direction of Gloria Hale in Salvation Hunters to give her the lead female part in Gold Rush. Sternberg had an unerring eye for photogenic women, and men. He waas married (heterosexually) four times so even I would not put much cred into the Bi theory. Marlene was, relatively openly, bisexual. Jo was not blind to homosexuality or to male beuaty, and after one uprarious night with Eisenstein and others during 1930-31 where EIsie showed the group his pornographic Mexican doodles the reaction was such that he comments in the autobiog, "These could obviously only be circulated amongst a very '"understanding "company.... he had a prediliction for very well-built males." Jo never seemd interested in involving gay characters in his work, having likely seen Dreyer's superb MIchael, he probably decided ther ewas simply no improving on it. I woudl like to think given most of the material circualting then homosexuality itself wouold by default become the subject of any movie which inveitably made it pathological, or a "problem". Dreyer's film is one of the few movies in history to deal with a gay milieu and gay characters in such a (still) radically straitforward way. Michael could only have been made during the Weimar era and at UFA. IN fact itu still remains unique and revolutionary.

[Peter McM]

does anyone know if there was anything between Dietrich and Von Sternberg or anything that contributed to them not working again ever?

Can't recall which documentary or book presents the definitive take on their relationship, but I thought it was pretty well known that von Sternberg's obsession w/ Marlene was one way, as she had very little interest in him.....or any man, but only assumed the role to further her career...and The Devil Is A Woman basically sums up their relationship.

The biography Von Sternberg, written by John Baxter, pub. 2010. Excellent book, very authoritative.

[david hare]

I would take just about everything in Baxter’s book with several tablespoons of salt. His “fatal flaw” theory has s not only crap but a distraction from the very legitimate question of WHY his career basically ended in substance in 1941.