The Sheila Variations

That is the first time I have seen some of the directors. Not all looked as I thought they would. Leni especially was not what I would have imagined. She could have starred in some of her own films.

Riefenstahl in fact starred in 2 of her films, 'The Blue Light' (1932) and 'Tiefland' (1954), and prior to her directorial career made a mark as the heroine in a series of Alpine adventure pictures for UFA ('The Holy Mountain' and 'The White Hell of Piz Palu' to name but two).

In later life she claimed that Josef von Sternberg had offered her the role of Lola Lola in 'The Blue Angel' before giving it to Dietrich . . . but there's no evidence to support that.

I mean, she also claimed she barely knew Adolf Hitler.

Thanks for the link!

Tom - "Hitler?? I barely knew the guy!"

I have no idea where you all find the photos you do ... they are consistently extraordinary. Amazing.

Oh, how wonderful. Nice job, Tom!
Hitchcock standing in the window of Stewart's apartment in 'Rear Window'.
Griffith with his straw boater and the sun reflector.
Busby Berkley and the out of control set.
I will smile about this all day.

Sheila:

Most of them I find on safaris around the internet; though on this occasion I used this entry as a pretext to break in a new scanner (a couple of those images, such as the Hitchcock, Peter Watkins and Kenneth Anger photos, just aren't available anywhere on the 'net . . . nowhere I could find, anyway).

Side note on Riefenstahl: Have you read Steven Bach's 2007 biography of the woman, the myth, the legend? Probably as definitive (and as well-written) as anything you're likely to find on that subject. Highly recommended.

Sal:

Thanks for that; particularly when it's the kind of compliment I appreciate the most. I said this as a comment on the blog, but it bears repeating: When I was putting that entry together, I was convinced it was the weakest of the 'Miniseries' series to date. Swell instincts, huh.

That said, I'm glad you all liked it!