Rating: 
Summary: Photographs of Beauty
Review: A delicacy! The best book of photographs I have seen on Dietrich and a compendium of beauty, not only hers but all that was created through and with her. A must have book.
Rating:
Summary: A vulnerable, more open Marlene
Review: Caution: This volume contains some images that may offend some readers including one of Ms. Dietrich and her sister in the nude as children, Ms. Dietrich in a "see through" top, and another with Ms. Dietrich's skirt askew. None of these images are presented in a lascivious way. Ms. Marlene Dietrich saved everything she ever came into contact with. While she was alive, her belongings were stored in six locations and many of them found their way to the FilmMuseum Berlin, which is the source for this book. As a result, the book contains many studio stills; snapshots taken by friends; images of costumes, dresses, and memorabilia; and many personal belongings. I have never seen an illustrated book about a movie star with more kinds of images than this book has. Ms. Dietrich's daughter, Ms. Maria Riva, wrote the captions for the photographs along with Mr. Werner Sudendorf. But the book is primarily done to give you a flavor of Ms. Dietrich, both as a private person and as a movie star. Marlene Dietrich begins with a series of commentaries about what famous people had to say about her. Some of these have great historical significance such as Mr. Josef von Sternberg's description of how he came to cast her for The Blue Angel. Others focus on her persona and its impact on others (she was "Lorelei" to M. Jean Cocteau). Mr. John Engstead focuses on her physical side (how she fought to keep her weight off, and her patience with painful poses in take after take). Others describe what a kind person she was, in welcoming others and helping sick colleagues. I enjoyed these reminiscences very much. The studio stills are fascinating for the intense efforts by Mr. von Sternberg to capture just the right "look" for Ms. Dietrich. The captions do a fine job of describing the errors that caused some images to be rejected. If you are like me, you will be struck by how strong an image Ms. Dietrich presented, whether dressed in women's clothes or in men's. I ended up wondering how much of our changed views towards equality were helped along in the early days by much admired women like Ms. Dietrich who would appear attractively in nontraditional clothing. The snapshots are especially interesting for showing Ms. Dietrich "roughing it" for the USO in North Africa and Europe during World War II. My favorite photographs of Ms. Dietrich include: Berlin, 1930, during the filming of The Blue Angel 1932 in Shanghai Express outfit Pose she struck on her own during shooting for Life cover in 1950 Snapshot with Groucho Marx Mother-daughter hula snapshot Posing with daughter in Dior's "New Look" Face with fur hat from The Scarlett Empress Destry Rides Again shot with curly hair If you are wondering why I used these descriptions, be aware that the photographic captions here do not follow the conventions of photography books. The costume, clothing, and memorabilia sections are produced in brilliant color while the shots of Ms. Dietrich are all in duotone. The reproduction quality is high in all cases. The end of the book includes lists of all her film, stage, and concert appearances, and her recordings. These will be very useful if this book piques your interest about her career. I, for one, hope to see many more of her films after having read the book. I had always been curious about the derivation of the name, Marlene, and was fascinated to learn that it is a contraction of "Maria Magdalene." What will people say about you when you are no longer with us? What story will your photographs tell? How will your work reveal you? What will your possessions express to coming generations? Who should be your biographer? Live each day as though it will be documented forever!
Rating: 
Summary: She Saved It All!
Review: Caution: This volume contains some images that may offend some readers including one of Ms. Dietrich and her sister in the nude as children, Ms. Dietrich in a "see through" top, and another with Ms. Dietrich's skirt askew. None of these images are presented in a lascivious way.
Ms. Marlene Dietrich saved everything she ever came into contact with. While she was alive, her belongings were stored in six locations and many of them found their way to the FilmMuseum Berlin, which is the source for this book. As a result, the book contains many studio stills; snapshots taken by friends; images of costumes, dresses, and memorabilia; and many personal belongings. I have never seen an illustrated book about a movie star with more kinds of images than this book has. Ms. Dietrich's daughter, Ms. Maria Riva, wrote the captions for the photographs along with Mr. Werner Sudendorf. But the book is primarily done to give you a flavor of Ms. Dietrich, both as a private person and as a movie star. Marlene Dietrich begins with a series of commentaries about what famous people had to say about her. Some of these have great historical significance such as Mr. Josef von Sternberg's description of how he came to cast her for The Blue Angel. Others focus on her persona and its impact on others (she was "Lorelei" to M. Jean Cocteau). Mr. John Engstead focuses on her physical side (how she fought to keep her weight off, and her patience with painful poses in take after take). Others describe what a kind person she was, in welcoming others and helping sick colleagues. I enjoyed these reminiscences very much. The studio stills are fascinating for the intense efforts by Mr. von Sternberg to capture just the right "look" for Ms. Dietrich. The captions do a fine job of describing the errors that caused some images to be rejected. If you are like me, you will be struck by how strong an image Ms. Dietrich presented, whether dressed in women's clothes or in men's. I ended up wondering how much of our changed views towards equality were helped along in the early days by much admired women like Ms. Dietrich who would appear attractively in nontraditional clothing. The snapshots are especially interesting for showing Ms. Dietrich "roughing it" for the USO in North Africa and Europe during World War II. My favorite photographs of Ms. Dietrich include: Berlin, 1930, during the filming of The Blue Angel 1932 in Shanghai Express outfit Pose she struck on her own during shooting for Life cover in 1950 Snapshot with Groucho Marx Mother-daughter hula snapshot Posing with daughter in Dior's "New Look" Face with fur hat from The Scarlett Empress Destry Rides Again shot with curly hair If you are wondering why I used these descriptions, be aware that the photographic captions here do not follow the conventions of photography books. The costume, clothing, and memorabilia sections are produced in brilliant color while the shots of Ms. Dietrich are all in duotone. The reproduction quality is high in all cases. The end of the book includes lists of all her film, stage, and concert appearances, and her recordings. These will be very useful if this book piques your interest about her career. I, for one, hope to see many more of her films after having read the book. I had always been curious about the derivation of the name, Marlene, and was fascinated to learn that it is a contraction of "Maria Magdalene." What will people say about you when you are no longer with us? What story will your photographs tell? How will your work reveal you? What will your possessions express to coming generations? Who should be your biographer? Live each day as though it will be documented forever!
Rating:
Summary: A vulnerable, more open Marlene
Review: Here are images we've never seen before. The ones of her life on the front in W.W. II are amazing. Brave woman fighting for the US soldiers. And the picture of her in the bathtub is worth the book alone. The private dresses, her lingerie, her jewels -- these are amazing.
Rating:
Summary: wonderful glimpse of a star
Review: I simply had to have this book when I first heard about it, being the huge Dietrich fan that I am. I couldn't wait for it to arrive, and when it did come in, I ripped the box open. The book was truly worth the wait! Filled with photos of incredible costumes, rare "in-life" moments, private letters from lovers, this book helps create an understanding of "Dietrich", the person. No book, no film, no insight could ever truly capture all the many mysteries that exist in each and every person. In Dietrich, there seemed to be many more than usual. While not going into great depth as to why she had all those lovers, or how she learned to create and control her incredible image, the book does offer an amazing trip down Dietrich Lane, which any Marlene fan will absolutely adore. The book is well worth the price, as it fills 260 pages with 289 photos, many not seen before. A must-have for Dietrich fans!
Rating:
Summary: La Dietrich
Review: If you were a fan of Dietrich and were allowed to own only ONE book about this woman, then this should be the book to own. To reiterate another reviewer's thought -- it is EXQUISITE.
Rating:
Summary: La Dietrich
Review: If you were a fan of Dietrich and were allowed to own only ONE book about this woman, then this should be the book to own. To reiterate another reviewer's thought -- it is EXQUISITE.
Rating:
Summary: STUNNING LOOK AT A BLONDE VENUS
Review: Maria Riva's pictorial homage to her Mama, Marlene Dietrich, is simply stunning. Nearly 300 photos shed insight into the woman who was a mom, wife, lover, star. Dietrich never threw anything away; she stored every letter, dress, show, scarf and what-not in one of several storage units. Upon her death, Riva gathered everything....sending some to Sotheby's for auction, sending most to FilmMuseum Berlin. Here, Riva gathers many items that are incredibly photographed in detail...you can actually read love letters that mark (and end) affairs! Riva writes witty, pithy extended captions. Simply stunning! Worth every cent!
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating Look at the Keepsakes of a True STAR!
Review: Marlene Dietrich was every inch a movie star and this look insider her personal keepsakes is truly fascinating. This book boasts 289 photographs from the stars collection with captions written by her daughter, Maria Riva, as well as looks at some of the gorgeous gowns she wore in films and on stage throughout the years, letters sent to her by her lovers and friends, and other objects she kept through her whole life (including a gold bracelet she gave to Ernest Hemingway during WWII that was inscribed "Think of me, Papa, and be safe" that somehow made its way back to Marlene). The amount of material featured in this 261 page book is amazing! Some of the highlights include: letters and cards received from John Gilbert (p.14), a favorite photo of hers that she called her "American face" because of the profile of her false eyelashes (p. 33), pictures of Marlene as a child (p.61), Marlene and daughter Maria playing (p.67), a telegram sent to Marlene from Maurice Chevalier written in French ending their affair (p.81), a photograph of Marlene and her husband (whom she never divorced) with daughter and husband's mistress cropped out where Marlene has handwritten "My beloved husband" (p.99), and, the final photo in the book, appropriately her farewell onstage gesture captured on film by the late Roddy McDowell from the wings. These are just a few of many treasures found in this book. I highly recommend it to any Marlene fan!
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating Look at the Keepsakes of a True STAR!
Review: Marlene Dietrich was every inch a movie star and this look insider her personal keepsakes is truly fascinating. This book boasts 289 photographs from the stars collection with captions written by her daughter, Maria Riva, as well as looks at some of the gorgeous gowns she wore in films and on stage throughout the years, letters sent to her by her lovers and friends, and other objects she kept through her whole life (including a gold bracelet she gave to Ernest Hemingway during WWII that was inscribed "Think of me, Papa, and be safe" that somehow made its way back to Marlene). The amount of material featured in this 261 page book is amazing! Some of the highlights include: letters and cards received from John Gilbert (p.14), a favorite photo of hers that she called her "American face" because of the profile of her false eyelashes (p. 33), pictures of Marlene as a child (p.61), Marlene and daughter Maria playing (p.67), a telegram sent to Marlene from Maurice Chevalier written in French ending their affair (p.81), a photograph of Marlene and her husband (whom she never divorced) with daughter and husband's mistress cropped out where Marlene has handwritten "My beloved husband" (p.99), and, the final photo in the book, appropriately her farewell onstage gesture captured on film by the late Roddy McDowell from the wings. These are just a few of many treasures found in this book. I highly recommend it to any Marlene fan!
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