Don't Believe the Hype

Boring, long, and too preachy.

an ambitious but ultimately ineffective debut endeavor.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Despite Marlene Dietrich actually appearing in several silent films in her native Germany, it was 'The Blue Angel' that made her a star and rose her to international fame. It was also the film that started the famous and iconic 7-film collaboration of Dietrich and director Josef Von Sternberg.'The Blue Angel' may not be the best film of theirs, but is still very good and a knockout first collaboration for them. Of the German and English language versions, there is no doubt in my mind that the German version is the superior one being better paced and more natural. 'The Blue Angel's' only real drawback is to do with pacing, taking a little too long to get going and then later on parts feel rushed, abruptly introduced and not quite developed enough.Most memorable about 'The Blue Angel' is Dietrich on cruel and seductive form while singing her songs with sincerity, standing out especially being her iconic rendition of "Falling in Love Again" with her in a top hat and black stockings perched on the bar stool. Her character may not be likable but it's a complex one and Dietrich succeeds in making her real.It is easy to overlook Emil Jannings, in his first talking picture, however, the story of 'The Blue Angel' really being his, detailing of an enamoured man led to his downfall. It is a performance however underserving of overlooking, for it is a great performance full of wonderful moments (like his facial expression in the mirror and at the end), succeeding in making a real character in a way that's eccentric and poignant.Kurt Gerrer, who met a tragic end just over a decade later, is also good.Sternberg directs as sumptuously as to be expected and with adroit atmosphere. 'The Blue Angel' looks good, aside from occasional choppy editing, especially in the clever and luminous use of light and shadow lighting and cinematography that's atmospheric and classy. The music fits beautifully and enhances the mood, "Falling in Love Again" being a signature song of Dietrich's for very good reason.Further good things are a script that has a good balance of the comedic and the tragic, done amusingly and movingly, and a story that's disturbing and emotional, especially the heart-wrenching ending.Overall, very good film and more than just historical interest. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Der blaue Engel is the story about a totally dysfunctional marriage. When I saw the film for the first time, many years ago, I found it a depressing and nasty sight. For professor Rath, the spindle in the plot, is attached to love in the same way as an addict to hard drugs. He may not be the brightest person in the room, but at first he is a well respected member of his small community, and reasonably happy. But at the end, a few years later, he is just a wreck, and probably dead. My love for you, it came and went, so your feet are now in wet cement. I found it hard to believe that passion could completely destroy a sound character. It looked like a melodrama - which I detest. Nevertheless, Der blaue Engel deserves a second chance. For recently I saw the film again, and this time the narrative impressed me. The events are quite symbolic. In the first scene Rath whistles for his parakeet, but it has died. Rath is socially less clever than his pupils, with the exception of one, who is therefore nagged by his comrades. It is a tough school, they have their own coroner (joking). Rath is myopic and can not control his pupils. Later Rath meets the singer Lola, when he tries to withdraw his pupils from her bad influence. Lola makes cluck-cluck sounds, and Rat crows, indicating that there is an immediate and intuitive understanding. Naturally they marry. But Rath can not find his place in this troupe of performers. He ends as an unsound clown, who is only funny when eggs are smashed on his scull. It is understandable that Rat is soon a broken man. With a last effort he stumbles back to his school, and collapses into his old chair. His hand seize the writing desk, with such a strength, that the passing janitor is unable to remove Rath. Is he dead? Has he joined his parakeet? So, on second thoughts, Der blaue Engel has funny and comic elements. Rath is a born loser, with a resemblance with Laurel and Hardy, or Chaplin. If you are able to abstract from the melodrama, then Der blaue Engel is definitely recommendable. Don't forget to leave comments. I love it.

This is a play on words that you will only be able to understand if you understand the German language. "Der blaue Engel" or "The Blue Angel" is a German black-and-white film from over 85 years ago that is considered one of the early sound classics. This was written and directed 3 years before the Nazis' rise to power by filmmaker Josef von Sternberg, briefly before he directed "Morocco", the movie that brought him and lead actress Marlene Dietrich also their first/only Oscar nominations. Emil Janning, however, was already an Academy Award winner when "The Blue Angel" was made. And looking at this film, it is not difficult to believe that he was one of the finest actors of this era. Of course, his character is not as epic and memorable as Dietrich's, but in my opinion he gives the better performance. Lola Lola profits a lot from how perfect Dietrich is for the part and also from how she is written. Today she is considered among the most significant femmes fatales in film history. Poor professor.There exist quite a few versions of this film, but the one I saw runs for 107 minutes roughly and thus is neither among the shortest nor the longest existing. Apart from the famous lead duo, this film also includes a supporting performance by Hans Albers, who later became a star in his own right. I must say there are not that many early films that I liked or even loved, but this one here made for a good watch mostly for Jannings' great portrayal. It is interesting to see how skeptical Dietrich was about her probably most iconic performance when she was considerably older and also how skeptical she was about herself for accepting to play the character, even if it was her big breakthrough role. And finally there is also Kurt Gerron playing a magician in here, an actor and filmmaker who faced a tragic fate a decade later and his film "Theresienstadt" tells us a unique story about his later years.But back to this film here. People who don't mind old black-and-white films with subtitles (unless they are German of course) will have a good time watching this one here, of course they could also go for the English-language version, even if that one is probably more difficult to get a hand on. Some really memorable scenes in this under-2-hour film and I recommend checking it out. It also reminded me of a "real" version of Bob Fosse's "Cabaret" and I would not be too surprised if Minnelli's character was inspired by Dietrich's and both male protagonists are teachers. Can't be a coincidence, even if this one here takes place before the Nazi years. I cannot say I enjoyed "Der blaue Engel" as much as "Cabaret", but this is only because I really love the latter and there's no denying "Der blaue Engel" has a couple truly memorable music sequences too from start to finish. However, it starts as a comedy, but becomes pretty dramatic and dark the longer it runs. I recommend checking it out. Thumbs up.

The Blue Angel is essentially about a cuckolded relationship and how it leads to one man's ruin.This movie put Dietrich on the map and was filmed simultaneously in both German and English. But there isn't a lot of dialog. Sound was still new and it's made almost as a silent movie would be made. It only runs 60 minutes.One of the funny things in this movie is that the students all look like they are 30 years old. Nothing has changed in nearly 100 years!Very well filmed and even tho it is clearly set a long time ago, the movie doesn't feel overly dated, although the story itself is. I guess that's the sign of a classic. I cannot say it's a great movie. But the cinematography and direction make it really compelling to watch. Within the movie, you can also realize why Sternberg had such problems in Hollywood. The pacing is rather slow and the 60 minutes feels much longer.The Plot Immanuel Rath, an old bachelor, is a professor at the town's university. When he discovers that some of his pupils often go into a speakeasy, The Blue Angel, to visit a dancer, Lola Lola, he comes there to confront them. But he is attracted to Lola. The next night he comes again--and does not sleep at home. This causes trouble at work and his life takes a downward spiral.