Marlene Dietrich’s audition for the 1930 film The Blue Angel is the stuff of legend. Cigarette and eyes alike are her props, and the capricious nature of her audition is absolutely mesmerising, even after all these years. Star quality is that rare thing and she simply oozed it.
Josef Von Sternberg, the director, fell in love with Dietrich on the spot, and knew then she was perfect as Lola Lola, the seductive cabaret star of the Weimar Republic. Her iconic look has inspired everyone from Bob Fosse to Camille O’ Sullivan. It was banned for degeneracy by the Nazis, so you know it had some sass. See the original audition below.
