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Marlene
A fascinating self-portrait of one of the greatest entertainers of Hollywood’s golden age Film star. Cabaret sensation. Recording artist. Writer. Marlene Dietrich was nothing short of enchanting—and remains so as she chronicles her fabulous rise to stardom in Marlene. From her early career in Germany as a chorus girl to her breakout role as Lola in The Blue Angel to her courageous wartime tours, Dietrich recounts a life that captivates on the page just as she smoldered on the screen. She writes passionately of her friends—including Charlie Chaplin, Orson Welles, and Edith Piaf, among many others—and she shares memories of what she calls her greatest entertaining the Allied troops during World War II. A sustained expression of her bold, sophisticated style, Marlene reminds us why Dietrich remains an international icon and a true Hollywood legend.
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 1989
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About the author
Marlene Dietrich
66 books58 followersMarlene Dietrich (1901-1992) was a German-born actress and singer.
Dietrich remained popular throughout her long career by continually re-inventing herself. In 1920s Berlin, she acted on the stage and in silent films. Her performance as Lola-Lola in The Blue Angel, directed by Josef von Sternberg, brought her international fame and a contract with Paramount Pictures in the US. Hollywood films such as Shanghai Express and Desire capitalised on her glamour and exotic looks, cementing her stardom and making her one of the highest paid actresses of the era. Dietrich became a US citizen in 1937; during World War II, she was a high-profile frontline entertainer. Although she still made occasional films in the post-war years, Dietrich spent most of the 1950s to the 1970s touring the world as a successful show performer. She died in Paris, aged 90 years.
In 1999 the American Film Institute named Dietrich the ninth greatest female star of all time.
Dietrich remained popular throughout her long career by continually re-inventing herself. In 1920s Berlin, she acted on the stage and in silent films. Her performance as Lola-Lola in The Blue Angel, directed by Josef von Sternberg, brought her international fame and a contract with Paramount Pictures in the US. Hollywood films such as Shanghai Express and Desire capitalised on her glamour and exotic looks, cementing her stardom and making her one of the highest paid actresses of the era. Dietrich became a US citizen in 1937; during World War II, she was a high-profile frontline entertainer. Although she still made occasional films in the post-war years, Dietrich spent most of the 1950s to the 1970s touring the world as a successful show performer. She died in Paris, aged 90 years.
In 1999 the American Film Institute named Dietrich the ninth greatest female star of all time.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 13, 2018
I'm feeling totally let down by this book. I love Marlene Dietrich. Love her to pieces. Love her poise, her discipline, her work ethic. She was one of a kind. I was really hoping to get some insight into her approach to life by reading her autobiography, but was seriously disappointed. Sure, she skims over her early years in a bit of detail, but once she gets into her acting years she turns the book into a critique of other people she has worked with, and her take on these people ranges from downright vitriolic to sycophancy. It seems that she lost sight of what the reader would be looking for when reading her biography.
To begin with, it's not like she was an unknown quantity: her many affairs with co-stars are certainly common knowledge and have been for years. I'm not saying that she should chronicle every slap and tickle, but some involvement should be acknowledged. It would also have been nice to get some insight into the making of the movies, but she disappoints here, as well. For example, my favourite Dietrich movie is "Destry Rides Again". She is brilliant, and I can't take my eyes off of her when she is in the frame. Young Jimmy Stewart, in the first of many westerns, is very good as well and the chemistry between them didn't stop when they walked off the set, if you know what I mean. This film saved Dietrich from obscurity, yet this is all she says about it(p.183):
It was fun to make the film, and we were all delighted with its great success. Joe Pasternak was especially happy, since he had challenged the film industry and saw that his efforts had been rewarded."
She has a little more to say about Stewart(p.109):That was before the "What's happened to my other shoe?" period. James Stewart was the inventor of this original style. even when he visibly made an effort to play a love scene, he always gave the impression he was wearing only one shoe and was looking for the other while he slowly droned his lines."
Marlene really crossed over the line when she started on John Wayne! She and The Duke were knocking boots for years after making "Seven Sinners" together. By all accounts, they were mutually smitten and the relationship may have been one of the main reasons Duke's first marriage ended up on the rocks! She says this about him on ppg 183-184:
First of all, John Wayne. Unknown, penniless, he begged me to help him. I did so. I phoned my agent, Charlie Feldman, who told me that he wasn't interested in beginners. But finally, he gave in to my arguments.
At that time, John Wayne earned about four hundred dollars a week, on which he had to live with his wife and child. I did my best to interest Feldman, inventing the most incredible "talents"for my protégé. John Wayne wasn't exactly brilliant, but neither was he bad, and he needed money. Through Charlie Feldman he got a contract with Universal, and I made some films with him. I can't really say he was my "partner", since his performance was kept within very strict bounds - he spoke his lines and that was all. I helped as best I could. Wayne was not a bright or exciting type. He confessed to me that he never read books. But that didn't stop him from accumulating a nice pile of money over the years. It proves that you don't have to be terribly brilliant to become a great film star."
Ouch! That hurt! And after The Duke had baptized her with his boomstick! But her book is peppered with negative comments: "I didn't particularly like Rene Clair..." or "In order to be able to work with Lang, I had to repress all the hatred and aversion he aroused in me." My lovely Marlene comes across, at times, as spiteful and cynical.
But there are those she cares for. Orson Welles, for example. Richard Burton was idolized. It is Hemingway, however, who gets the highest mention here. She loved him...a platonic love, she is careful to add...but seems to be contemptuous of the way he checked out early by his own hand. She has very definite feelings on friendship which are worth replicating here from page 142:
For me, friendship is the most precious possession.
Anyone who renounces a friendship sees himself or herself excluded, forgotten, forever pushed out of the circle of friends. That's how simple it is. Friends who deceive each other are condemned to death, if I may say so, and they will always wonder why they no longer find any acceptance. I despise them. They are the lowest of the low. The moment you experience the blessing of a friendship you have the sacred duty to obey its laws. Regardless of the consequences that may ensue. The rules of friendship must always be observed in silence or in words."
I wonder if that was targeted? It almost feels like she wanted a specific individual to read those lines.
Marlene read a lot, and she writes very well. The book has some insight into the life and times of various luminaries of the day, and she has included some nice glossy photos for us to sigh over. The overall tone of the book is mean-spirited, however, and important details are ignored or glossed over. I was left with the impression that the book was intended more for the criticism of others than it was meant to inform us about Marlene.
To begin with, it's not like she was an unknown quantity: her many affairs with co-stars are certainly common knowledge and have been for years. I'm not saying that she should chronicle every slap and tickle, but some involvement should be acknowledged. It would also have been nice to get some insight into the making of the movies, but she disappoints here, as well. For example, my favourite Dietrich movie is "Destry Rides Again". She is brilliant, and I can't take my eyes off of her when she is in the frame. Young Jimmy Stewart, in the first of many westerns, is very good as well and the chemistry between them didn't stop when they walked off the set, if you know what I mean. This film saved Dietrich from obscurity, yet this is all she says about it(p.183):
It was fun to make the film, and we were all delighted with its great success. Joe Pasternak was especially happy, since he had challenged the film industry and saw that his efforts had been rewarded."
She has a little more to say about Stewart(p.109):That was before the "What's happened to my other shoe?" period. James Stewart was the inventor of this original style. even when he visibly made an effort to play a love scene, he always gave the impression he was wearing only one shoe and was looking for the other while he slowly droned his lines."
Marlene really crossed over the line when she started on John Wayne! She and The Duke were knocking boots for years after making "Seven Sinners" together. By all accounts, they were mutually smitten and the relationship may have been one of the main reasons Duke's first marriage ended up on the rocks! She says this about him on ppg 183-184:
First of all, John Wayne. Unknown, penniless, he begged me to help him. I did so. I phoned my agent, Charlie Feldman, who told me that he wasn't interested in beginners. But finally, he gave in to my arguments.
At that time, John Wayne earned about four hundred dollars a week, on which he had to live with his wife and child. I did my best to interest Feldman, inventing the most incredible "talents"for my protégé. John Wayne wasn't exactly brilliant, but neither was he bad, and he needed money. Through Charlie Feldman he got a contract with Universal, and I made some films with him. I can't really say he was my "partner", since his performance was kept within very strict bounds - he spoke his lines and that was all. I helped as best I could. Wayne was not a bright or exciting type. He confessed to me that he never read books. But that didn't stop him from accumulating a nice pile of money over the years. It proves that you don't have to be terribly brilliant to become a great film star."
Ouch! That hurt! And after The Duke had baptized her with his boomstick! But her book is peppered with negative comments: "I didn't particularly like Rene Clair..." or "In order to be able to work with Lang, I had to repress all the hatred and aversion he aroused in me." My lovely Marlene comes across, at times, as spiteful and cynical.
But there are those she cares for. Orson Welles, for example. Richard Burton was idolized. It is Hemingway, however, who gets the highest mention here. She loved him...a platonic love, she is careful to add...but seems to be contemptuous of the way he checked out early by his own hand. She has very definite feelings on friendship which are worth replicating here from page 142:
For me, friendship is the most precious possession.
Anyone who renounces a friendship sees himself or herself excluded, forgotten, forever pushed out of the circle of friends. That's how simple it is. Friends who deceive each other are condemned to death, if I may say so, and they will always wonder why they no longer find any acceptance. I despise them. They are the lowest of the low. The moment you experience the blessing of a friendship you have the sacred duty to obey its laws. Regardless of the consequences that may ensue. The rules of friendship must always be observed in silence or in words."
I wonder if that was targeted? It almost feels like she wanted a specific individual to read those lines.
Marlene read a lot, and she writes very well. The book has some insight into the life and times of various luminaries of the day, and she has included some nice glossy photos for us to sigh over. The overall tone of the book is mean-spirited, however, and important details are ignored or glossed over. I was left with the impression that the book was intended more for the criticism of others than it was meant to inform us about Marlene.
November 3, 2012
I really wanted to like this book. I'm not a huge fan of Dietrich, and beyond being a muse for the wonderful Josef von Sternberg, she hasn't interested me as a performer. Even so, golden age Hollywood is always interesting, and there's something about Dietrich that parallels Garbo. And the people she met or worked with! Hemingway! Noel Coward! Sternberg! Edith Piaf! Wayne! Her war contribution! The possibilities were endless. The book falls just short of attaining those possibilities, however.
As always, the positives. She was very knowledgeable about the technical side of movie making, and that she takes some time to explain. I especially enjoyed her insight about color choices and B&W photography. I loved her chapters about the war. Anyone who hated Hitler and actually did something about it is a major hero in my book. She went way beyond just renouncing her citizenship, she went with the American troops into Germany, even when expressly advised not to do so. I have nothing but respect for that. I'm only a little disappointed that that part came so late in the book. Her descriptions of her movies are pretty early on, and those are very interesting as well. As far as the language goes, it's solid. I don't think any less can be expected of someone who had the intelligence to read and suggest corrections to Hemingway. But, even if it wasn't, it could be forgiven because her talents lay elsewhere.
What cannot be forgiven is the half-hearted nature of the book. She talks about her work at some length, but barely skims the surface of her relationships (even professional ones). I wasn't expecting a sordid tell-all. But, the book doesn't give me anything. She does pepper the book with people we recognize were linked to her, but she dedicates very short chapters, barely a couple of anecdotes. And at the end of those chapters, I couldn't figure out if the person she's describing was an acquaintance, a friend, a lover or a foe. She obviously doesn't treat everyone that way - Sternberg, Hemingway, Coward and later Bacharach, are all devoted some flowery chapters. But her involvement with them remains obscure. It's also rather curious that she mentions so many of her acquaintances with so much affection that it is highly doubtful that they were, as she says, only platonic friends, especially when her husband Rudi Seiber barely manages a weak guest appearance. I know they had an arrangement (not from reading this book), but while she leaves it unspoken, she also doesn't manage to convey any great love for her husband. And, if I'm not mistaken, she doesn't mention her mother's death at all.
This makes it a bit hard to actually relate to the book as anything but a series of sometimes amusing anecdotes about famous people Dietrich knew. She also comes across as incredibly arrogant in places. She describes American actors as having "a peanut where other humans have a brain". She obviously preferred acting with Europeans, but, that's such a wrong thing to say. She thought of her fellow Hollywood actresses as superficial creatures. She attributes this thought to another actor, but it is quite obvious throughout the book that this is exactly what she thought, or worse. She states that she's never jealous, but she doesn't make the same claim about condescension. And she disses Jimmy Stewart. I mean, who disses Jimmy Stewart? (Possibly a lot of people, but I will happily keep up the delusion that everyone needs to and does like him as much as I do.) She tries to be sarcastic, but there are no Betty Davis style catty quotable quotes here to keep things exciting.
tl;dr; Review: It's a nicely written book about topics Dietrich cannot help but acknowledge, but doesn't really want to talk about. In that sense, it's a highly censored and extremely tame account of her life. But, there are some really nice bits about the early days of cinema, about Sternberg and about WWII. And between this and her daughter Maria Riva's gossipy tell-all, there might be some approximation to who Marlene Dietrich really was. 3 stars.
I got a copy of this book via NetGalley for review
As always, the positives. She was very knowledgeable about the technical side of movie making, and that she takes some time to explain. I especially enjoyed her insight about color choices and B&W photography. I loved her chapters about the war. Anyone who hated Hitler and actually did something about it is a major hero in my book. She went way beyond just renouncing her citizenship, she went with the American troops into Germany, even when expressly advised not to do so. I have nothing but respect for that. I'm only a little disappointed that that part came so late in the book. Her descriptions of her movies are pretty early on, and those are very interesting as well. As far as the language goes, it's solid. I don't think any less can be expected of someone who had the intelligence to read and suggest corrections to Hemingway. But, even if it wasn't, it could be forgiven because her talents lay elsewhere.
What cannot be forgiven is the half-hearted nature of the book. She talks about her work at some length, but barely skims the surface of her relationships (even professional ones). I wasn't expecting a sordid tell-all. But, the book doesn't give me anything. She does pepper the book with people we recognize were linked to her, but she dedicates very short chapters, barely a couple of anecdotes. And at the end of those chapters, I couldn't figure out if the person she's describing was an acquaintance, a friend, a lover or a foe. She obviously doesn't treat everyone that way - Sternberg, Hemingway, Coward and later Bacharach, are all devoted some flowery chapters. But her involvement with them remains obscure. It's also rather curious that she mentions so many of her acquaintances with so much affection that it is highly doubtful that they were, as she says, only platonic friends, especially when her husband Rudi Seiber barely manages a weak guest appearance. I know they had an arrangement (not from reading this book), but while she leaves it unspoken, she also doesn't manage to convey any great love for her husband. And, if I'm not mistaken, she doesn't mention her mother's death at all.
This makes it a bit hard to actually relate to the book as anything but a series of sometimes amusing anecdotes about famous people Dietrich knew. She also comes across as incredibly arrogant in places. She describes American actors as having "a peanut where other humans have a brain". She obviously preferred acting with Europeans, but, that's such a wrong thing to say. She thought of her fellow Hollywood actresses as superficial creatures. She attributes this thought to another actor, but it is quite obvious throughout the book that this is exactly what she thought, or worse. She states that she's never jealous, but she doesn't make the same claim about condescension. And she disses Jimmy Stewart. I mean, who disses Jimmy Stewart? (Possibly a lot of people, but I will happily keep up the delusion that everyone needs to and does like him as much as I do.) She tries to be sarcastic, but there are no Betty Davis style catty quotable quotes here to keep things exciting.
tl;dr; Review: It's a nicely written book about topics Dietrich cannot help but acknowledge, but doesn't really want to talk about. In that sense, it's a highly censored and extremely tame account of her life. But, there are some really nice bits about the early days of cinema, about Sternberg and about WWII. And between this and her daughter Maria Riva's gossipy tell-all, there might be some approximation to who Marlene Dietrich really was. 3 stars.
I got a copy of this book via NetGalley for review
October 22, 2012
Marlene Dietrich was an artist and an icon.
Her looks are familiar even with those that never saw one of her movies, even with those that normally avoid black & white cinema.
Dietrich was in landmark movies, directed by giants among directors.
Together with Garbo, she has come to represent all that was sensual about an era.
And she’s been the subject of uncounted biographies.
It is therefore highly refreshing to find a Dietrich biography which cuts through the legend and gets up close and personal with the woman and the artist.
Unsurprisingly, such a biography is in fact an autobiography, penned by Dietrich herself with the open purpose of defusing and setting straights a lot of dubious myths about her career, her life, her choices.
What Marlene (fresh from Open Road Media) gives us is a self-portrait by a highly intelligent, refined lady – someone that almost by chance happened to lend her face and her body to some of the raciest, most seductive and risqué women in movie history.
We discover a woman with a passion for life and a somewhat bemused detachment from her job, not so much insecure about her beauty as dismissive of it. In a pleasant, ironic tone, Dietrich shares details of her life, her opinions on art and literature, her strong political stance, and her reminiscences about the people she worked with.
Joseph von Sternberg stands out as Dietrich’s main influence and mentor, and reading about Marlene’s experiences allows us to peek behind the scenes during the filming of such masterworks as The Blue Angel or Morocco.
An extraordinary treat for the film buff, and a highly entertaining, moving experience for anyone interested in the true woman behind the glitter of the legend.
Highly recommended.
Her looks are familiar even with those that never saw one of her movies, even with those that normally avoid black & white cinema.
Dietrich was in landmark movies, directed by giants among directors.
Together with Garbo, she has come to represent all that was sensual about an era.
And she’s been the subject of uncounted biographies.
It is therefore highly refreshing to find a Dietrich biography which cuts through the legend and gets up close and personal with the woman and the artist.
Unsurprisingly, such a biography is in fact an autobiography, penned by Dietrich herself with the open purpose of defusing and setting straights a lot of dubious myths about her career, her life, her choices.
What Marlene (fresh from Open Road Media) gives us is a self-portrait by a highly intelligent, refined lady – someone that almost by chance happened to lend her face and her body to some of the raciest, most seductive and risqué women in movie history.
We discover a woman with a passion for life and a somewhat bemused detachment from her job, not so much insecure about her beauty as dismissive of it. In a pleasant, ironic tone, Dietrich shares details of her life, her opinions on art and literature, her strong political stance, and her reminiscences about the people she worked with.
Joseph von Sternberg stands out as Dietrich’s main influence and mentor, and reading about Marlene’s experiences allows us to peek behind the scenes during the filming of such masterworks as The Blue Angel or Morocco.
An extraordinary treat for the film buff, and a highly entertaining, moving experience for anyone interested in the true woman behind the glitter of the legend.
Highly recommended.
February 22, 2022
This book is a frank, honest and courageous autobiography.
You get to know her friends and her loyalty to them (Chaplin, Alexander Fleming, Josef von Sternberg, Erich Maria Remarque, Ernest Hemingway, Noel Coward, Burt Bacharach, Orson Welles, Jean Gabin, Richard Burton, Harold Arlen, Billy Wilder...)
She hated mainstream media and its lies (and I agree with her), arrogant actors and tyrannical directors.
She was, believe it or not, a humble woman who knew her limits as an actress and singer.
But she never gave up fighting for her principles.
She was the antithesis of today's celebrities.
She has always been an enigma to me but if you really want to understand this unique woman, don't miss this book.
You get to know her friends and her loyalty to them (Chaplin, Alexander Fleming, Josef von Sternberg, Erich Maria Remarque, Ernest Hemingway, Noel Coward, Burt Bacharach, Orson Welles, Jean Gabin, Richard Burton, Harold Arlen, Billy Wilder...)
She hated mainstream media and its lies (and I agree with her), arrogant actors and tyrannical directors.
She was, believe it or not, a humble woman who knew her limits as an actress and singer.
But she never gave up fighting for her principles.
She was the antithesis of today's celebrities.
She has always been an enigma to me but if you really want to understand this unique woman, don't miss this book.
January 18, 2021
One of the worst films I've ever seen was Maximilian Schell's useless documentary on Marlene Dietrich, where she remains off-camera and insists she's not angry, and then proceeds to put down all her films and Schell himself. An utter waste of ninety minutes. What if she wrote her own memoirs?
Marlene Dietrich's autobiography is as unorthodox as her lifestyle, so rather than conform to a linear narrative as many memoirs go, there is no "I made this film, then I toured with the USO, then I made love to Blah Blah Blah..."
What you get instead, for example, is her impressions on Josef Von Sternberg and then free associating about cooking for exiled Frenchmen, the folly of the Oscars, and her memories of celebrities past. Some of them are very odd; her recollections on Igor Stravinsky are pointless and her long exposition on Jean Gabin rambles endlessly like a lost puppy.
The book loses points for an endless account about her valuable work during the Second World War, a selfless act of courage but doesn't necessarily make for exciting reading, unfortunately. But it's Dietrich, let her say whatever she wants, her image remains immortal on celluloid.
Marlene Dietrich's autobiography is as unorthodox as her lifestyle, so rather than conform to a linear narrative as many memoirs go, there is no "I made this film, then I toured with the USO, then I made love to Blah Blah Blah..."
What you get instead, for example, is her impressions on Josef Von Sternberg and then free associating about cooking for exiled Frenchmen, the folly of the Oscars, and her memories of celebrities past. Some of them are very odd; her recollections on Igor Stravinsky are pointless and her long exposition on Jean Gabin rambles endlessly like a lost puppy.
The book loses points for an endless account about her valuable work during the Second World War, a selfless act of courage but doesn't necessarily make for exciting reading, unfortunately. But it's Dietrich, let her say whatever she wants, her image remains immortal on celluloid.
September 1, 2012
Marlene Dietrich was a fascinating woman and this is a fascinating book. I found this book in a goodwill store. After I read her biography by Ean Wood a couple of years ago, I really became very interested about Marlene. I think she was way beyond her time. Now that I had found her own memoires I had to read it. This is a definite musthave if you are as fascinated by Marlene Dietrich as I am.
July 28, 2014
I have always been intrigued by Marlene Dietrich. After all the stories and rumors I had to read for myself. She comes across well read and smart and funny. I found myself looking for her movies, which TMC does not seem to show a lot of recently. What a life she had, I am glad she took the time to write it all down.
October 9, 2022
Absolutely beautiful book. I think a lot of people who dislike this are people who wanted Marlene to write some “tell all” book. It’s a book that feels very emotionally true and was a beautiful read. There are so many lines and passages I will see myself reading over and over.
May 9, 2011
A fascinating, nonlinear memoir of a fascinating and intelligent woman of very strong opinions.
October 7, 2019
The subtitle could be "Odes to Great Men I Have Known". The greater part of the book consists of effusive eulogies to great men Marlene Dietrich has known or worked with - starting, of course, with Von Sternberg who directed her in Blue Angel. Dietrich has an amazing ability to make even the most interesting subject matter boring. Witness her description, if you could call it that, of the kidnap threats against her daughter during her early years in Hollywood. The book comes alive only when she describes some of her experiences during the war. She toured the front lines, performing for the troops under sometimes horrendous conditions.
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May 9, 2025To be honest I’m not sure this book was written by Marlene herself. I read a book issued by ImWerdenVerlag and translated into Russian. The part where she tells us about her upbringing was good but not exceptional. Later the book turns into a list of men she has known. Which is questionable...
I think I’m going to reread that book though.
Marlene seems direct and honest, which to me is a virtue.
I think I’m going to reread that book though.
Marlene seems direct and honest, which to me is a virtue.
February 7, 2020
I read very few biographies, and even fewer celebrity biographies. I selected this book because I was interested in Dietrich’s activities in World War II. In this I was disappointed. There were interesting parts, but the book has a lack of flow. The best section is her early years in Hollywood, but the back half is fragmented and uninteresting.
November 8, 2018
Marlene’s recounting of her experiences in World War 1 during her childhood and later as an adult in World War 2 were the most stand-out parts to me. However, I was disappointed by this autobiography overall because more than half of it was dedicated to talking about men she knew or worked with.
April 1, 2023
I understand the reviews, because I was expecting more. However, I believe Marlene just felt some things were better left unsaid. Nevertheless I’m just glad she has a book, as she is dead now and it is wonderful to hear her story and not just what others say about her.
June 20, 2017
There was just something missing. The book appeared to be self-censored.
December 6, 2019
Fantastic book
July 21, 2024
THE QUEEN.
May 11, 2013
Read less for truth, more for the image that she wanted to project. It's interesting that what she stresses in her collaboration with von Sternberg is this very patriarchy pleasing Galatea narrative that Paramount fed people, rather than the actual work, which was consistently disgusted with heterosexual norms, using interesting as a synonym for disappointing I guess. But her tone in remembering that episode is great, not at all nostalgic or mournful or in any way degraded, like that of a successful queen reflecting on her dead husband. In no small way reminds me of Maria Riva recalling that Dietrich was apparently really fond of saying "...said the widow."
May 13, 2013
An interesting read. Would have preferred to read in the original German as the English translation was hard to follow. Probably feels more linear in the original language. Lots of interesting behind the scenes stories, lots about her time in the army, but all very confused. Always good to read an autobiography because, even of the author isn't remembering exactly the truth , it's usually entertaining.
January 26, 2015
Dietrich writes with a compelling voice that kept me interested for the most part, despite the fact that she doesn't really address any of the more controversial aspects of her life. However, I didn't find her to be particularly likable - she came off as a bit superior. Some comments she made (examples: her some of her opinions on American actors, psychology, and females) were extremely off-putting. Some I'm glad I read the book, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you're a big fan.
April 6, 2020
Love Dietrich! Who could not be but fascinated by this enigmatic woman. I was particularly drawn to her earlier life before she became the Hollywood star. However, there is much she skims over and it is very much about what she wants the reader to know as opposed to what we want to know.
July 27, 2012
Always interesting to read about some of film-doms greats. I was amused by Marlene's pride in how modest she was.
March 3, 2018
I expected a lot but found it a bit dry and chalky.
December 15, 2020
Marlene describing every single woman she ever met as beautiful has huge bisexual energy
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews