The bilingual parrying between the withholding diva and her frustrated chronicler often seems like Sunset Boulevard re-imagined as a radio play, with sex removed from the equation but marlenus interruptus aplenty.
Marlene (1987)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:5
Fresh:5
Rotten:0
Average Rating:8/10
Runtime: 1 hr 37 mins
Genre: Education/General Interest
Synopsis: Actor/director Maximilian Schell's award-winning homage to one of Hollywood's most seductive and enigmatic stars: Marlene Dietrich. Despite her vehement protests about being the subject of his... Actor/director Maximilian Schell's award-winning homage to one of Hollywood's most seductive and enigmatic stars: Marlene Dietrich. Despite her vehement protests about being the subject of his documentary, Schell has managed to weave an interesting biographical portrait, using film clips from the over 50-year span of her work, such as the early German silent, "Nights of Love," to "Just a Gigolo" made in 1978, as well as concert footage with her conductor, Burt Bacharach, extracts from American talk shows, and stills. Their interviews together, three days conducted in German and three days in English, are revealing, humorous, and extremely argumentative. [More]
Starring: Marlene Dietrich
Starring: Marlene Dietrich
Director: Maximilian Schell
Director: Maximilian Schell
Get This Movie
Rent DVD
Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.
Buy DVD
Release:
Sep 14, 1999
Reviews for Marlene
Schell uses the limiting conditions-Dietrich did't let him photograph her-to an advantage, resulting in a revelatory work that's more interesting because of the combative relationship with his subject, a star wishing to keep control to the bitter end
The result is a fascinating document, not only of the star herself, but also of the documentary as personal process.
At once enigmatic, deliberately obfuscating in nature and extremely revealing.
I think we learn much more about Dietrich than we would have if she had submitted to the usual paint-by-numbers, fawning Biography Channel type of film.
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 66% 66% | Public Enemies |
| 83% 83% | Harry Potter and the H… |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 75% 75% | Julie & Julia |
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 88% 88% | Inglourious Basterds |
| 78% 78% | The Hangover |
| 49% 49% | Taking Woodstock |
| 26% 26% | The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard |
| 47% 47% | The Girl From Monaco |
RT On Current TV
DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
CloseSponsored Links
Around The Network
- Marlene at Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh Links
Featured

Take a look at MSN's choices for the Top 10 films of 2009.

Last week, Moviefone offered us their worst films of the 2000s. Now see their 40 best!

Hollywood.com explores why QT's characters resonate so well with audiences.

TIME chimes in with their own list of the best films released this year.

Click through to see which movies BuzzSugar placed in their Best-of-Decade list!
Promos

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!






