Marlene

In creating his Academy Award-nominated 1984 profile of the reclusive 81-year-old silent screen star Marlene Dietrich, director Maximilian Schell (the Oscar-award winning actor) faced a serious challenge: the actress refused to appear on camera (or even allow shots of her apartment). But Dietrich did agree to audiotaped recordings, providing sharp commentary in which no person or production is spared her withering opinions. Unlike many stars who wax nostalgic in their career-highlight retrospectives, Dietrich refused to engage in sentimental reminiscences. She dismisses her films as kitsch and speaks frankly, even rudely, about the larger-than-life personalities she encountered as she rose to the top of the tumultuous entertainment worlds in both pre-Nazi Berlin and Golden Age Hollywood. Dietrich's elderly and frequently crotchety voice is in striking contrast to the ageless, emotionally cool icon that illuminated the big screen and the concert halls for decades with her smoky, seductive command of suggestive dialogue and sophisticated lyrics. Schell mixes classic film clips with behind-the-scenes footage of his team commenting on the curious nature of their project. Like its subject, Marlene remains utterly original. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)