Universal Hollywood Icons Collection: Marlene Dietrich (Blonde Venus / Desire / Angel / Seven Sinners) [DVD]

Great collection of some of Dietrich's greatest films. "Blonde Venus" with the famous "Hot VooDoo" number is also interesting because it's Cary Grant's first leading role and was also based on a story "Mother Love" Dietrich wrote herself and then charged the studio 4K to use. A bit rich since they paid her around 150K for to act in the movie. "Blonde Venus" represents the perfection of the cabaret singer persona von Sternberg created for her in "The Blue Angel" and "Morocco" (both NOT in this collection). "Desire" is a more fluffy comedy written to capitalize on the Gary Cooper/Marlene Dietrich affair which was common knowledge at the time. Unusually filmed on location in Spain and France it's also notable because Dietrich could not drive but appears to be "driving" in several scenes. "Desire" was also supposed to be John Gilbert's return to the movies until he dies suddenly of a heart attack. "Angel" is maybe the only Ernst Lubitsch comedy to bomb at the box office effectively killing the first phase of her career. Except for representing the kind of childish sexuality of the 1930s as well as a very strange pretend England manor house with giant picture windows in the breakfast room it's hard to watch. Dietrich is good but no one can rescue this script. "Seven Sinners" the first of 3 with Wayne, represents Dietrich at her comic and erotic best. Standby for a scene where Dietrich is sitting in a window seat and Wayne hops on right next to her. They're practically in bed together although they are fully dressed! Wayne does a standup job as a light comic foil in a movie shot before the release of "Stagecoach" made him a star. Dietrich herself approved Wayne for the part telling the director "Daddy, buy me that."

good to fair films decent prints good buy for the money

Enjoyed all the movies a breath of fresh air from seeing all these ugly satanic movies that Hollywood's putting out now

The quality of the product itself was excellent and it was wonderful to see Greta Garbo, but the story values are pretty weak these days…

Watched the first movie Marlene (and Josef) made in Hollywood. A great pointer to the future Marlene. To a modern audience the story drags. But it;'s a great period piece ands for a 1930 print it's pretty good.

Desire and Blonde Venus both very good

Great selection of Dietrich's films; it's amazing how good the images and sound are on these discs considering how old the originals of the films are. Highly recommend it for Dietrich fans, particularly for the curious but very good pairing of Dietrich and a very young John Wayne on Seven Sinners.

Great deal and I love Dietrich.

Amazing price for 4 🎬 where you can see her singing and acting with her own glamorous unique style, after watching Marlene Dietrich you will see that she has been an inspiration for Madonna through all her career