Marlene Dietrich - 'Where Have All the Flowers Gone?'
As a kid, I was extraordinarily lucky to meet Marlene Dietrich. It was in London in 1972, and through a family friend, Dorothy Cole, an administrator at Covent Garden Opera House.
It was at a post-concert 'party' in the Green Room of the Queen's Theatre - one of those affairs where the famous are required to 'press the flesh' when I'm sure (now) they'd much have preferred to have been at home in slippers with a cup of hot chocolate in hand. Still have the program!
This clip is of Dietrich performing a great anti-war protest song by Pete Seeger. In a Royal Command Performance in 1963. A great musical choice for Dietrich.
I love the way she subtly builds the expression anger over the circular journey of the song - through the repeated asking of a (rephrased) question - 'Where have all the flowers/the young girls/the young men/the soldiers/the graveyards gone?'. With the answer leading and linking into the next question - 'Young girls pick them every one. When will they ever learn?' and so 'Where have all the young girls gone?'. The final question and answer being 'Where have all the graveyards gone? Gone to flower every one'. Taking us back to the beginning! With the powerful symbolism.
I remember thinking at the time that the Dietrich persona had a synergic effect on the meanings in the song.
![C18 Bronze Buddha [Southern China]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLkgVKuhDoIHQgM1X6Oe2hGn75yqaj4OJXPmNpumXmQPKxB22S57YS5DVrl1P7zl7BS6EFpAtaNZPze7gzVCRiQI54bwdHhVa4fGr7NOChZwTZoo92gUen6tC5U8gWIy_pv92U0FB38M/s1600/Buddha+%255BBronze%252C+C18%252C+China%255D+1.jpg)
+1998+Cropped.jpg)
I've never met Marlene Dietrich but I do have a film called "The Blue Angel" [Der Blaue Angel] on vhs which stars Dietrich. Hans Albers (from Hamburg) and others. I believe that's from the days before the "talkies."
ReplyDeleteand with the great Emil Jannings - the film was in fact a talkie (Dietrich famously sang 'Falling in Love Again') - talkies came in with The Jazz Singer in 1927. the sound track makes her speaking voice sound high-pitched and tinny but this would have been due to the inadequacies of recording at the time. still a powerful film - it was very avant guard at the time - the fall of a respected teacher when he falls for a nightclub singer/'prostitute'. good you have the film! Dietrich was not lucky with good roles over her career.
ReplyDeletethanks for posting this, I was just wondering if you happen to have or know of any records of her pre-1930. I am particulary interested in songs like "Mein Blondes Baby" (for obvious reasons, yes) and "Moi, Je M'Ennui" (which is most likely not spelled properly) and also "Peter" (german version). I have the Ute Lemper cover, but I suspect Dietrich's take on it to be exactly what I'm looking for, and sorry ro keep pestering you in public ;-)
ReplyDeletethanks for making my day a little brighter
ReplyDeletehey antipodeanpt. dietrich appeared in musicals and revues in vienna and berlin in the 20's but i'd guess they were 'of the moment' and recording were probably not made of any of this material. as far as i'm aware but i really don't know. my guess is that there is sheet music of the songs you mention but probably no recordings. but i really don't know - a guess! i saw Ute Lemper when she was in sydney a few years back and became an instant fan. and then saw another performance/show with her in Paris in 2003 at Theatre du Chatelais. i love the way she does not just present german cabaret materila as museum pieces but reconstructs them in modern terms - in ways that are powerful NOW. by the way, i like your pestering in public and would be very sorry if you stopped!
ReplyDeleteglad to help bill - there's a really good book on dietrich's life by her daughter maria riva, just called 'marlene dietrich'. from behind the scenes at the studio. and elsewhere. there are so many dull and star-mad books about with little or nothing to say. this one is a must read.
ReplyDeleteI've started collecting early German films and started with "M" with Peter Lore directed by Fritz Lang before he and a number of actors went on to Holywood before Hitler rose to power in Germany. I have also heard Becht's "Three Penny Opera" in German though this was on radio. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletehey volker, it was a very interesting period in theatre and film in berlin in the 1920's and 1930's. i often wonder how things would have developed there if the war hadn;t occurred. saw a stage version of three penny opera as a kid in london with vanessa redgrave as polly. i like his 'Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny' or 'Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny' and in particular the 'Mandelay' song. sticks in the mind. glad we have such similar interests to talk about!
ReplyDeletemahaony
Wonderful!! Very moving! Gave me goosebumps. Also reminded me to search for a poem from my youth that was also very moving. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteglad you liked it greg - it's a timeless song timelessly sung - it's moves me even now.
ReplyDelete