MARLENE (Maximilian Schell, Futura Films, 1984)

In the age of reality television and complete accessibility to the lives of anyone, one of the things most lacking are intimate portraits of past celebrities or historical figures. We just don't have that insight and especially with regards to stars from Hollywood's golden era, that information was kept from us. It's how Rock Hudson was a huge star with America unaware of his sexuality and how Katherine Hepburn carried on an affair with a married Spencer Tracy for well over twenty years with no backlash from the public. So to see MARLENE (Maximilian Schell, Futura Films, 1984) give us such a revealing and insightful look into one of the stars of that era, and prior to the current state of reality 'everything' is amazing. The film provides us with an intimate portrait of Marlene Dietrich, one of our greatest early film stars and a lady who became iconic in her representations that remain with us. She comes across during the film as obstinate, slightly demented, out of touch and basically sad. She refused to be filmed (the film doesn't state this but I have read she had become a recluse by the time of filming) and only agreed to do the film because Schell was directing (they had worked together previously). But it is this steadfast attempt by Dietrich to refuse us access which gives us a much more intimate portrait of her. At one point Schell tricks her into watching clips of her old films (earlier she had refused). The day comes and Schell receives a message from her agent with a quote from Dante. "There is no greater sorrow than to recall happiness in times of misery" is the actual quote but the agent alters the words slightly. The point is we see the price of her life, the cost of what she was being paid by what she has become. It is a sad tale, a cautionary one for all those yearning for the trappings of fame. For me this intimacy and look into Dietrich as an older woman is fascinating. I watch old films and find myself constantly drawn to the figures that dominated this era. The Carole Lombard who died tragically and early, the Grace Kelly that gave it all up for love, the Dietrich who became an icon pushed to the fringes over time. I have always appreciated Dietrich not just for her beauty but for what she represented. A strong woman not afraid to do things her way, the way she wanted. No matter what was said about her or how society viewed her actions she held strong to herself and her identity and that is something to be admired and in a world bereft of such individuality something to be strived for. The world misses you Marlene Dietrich and all those like you.