Tag Archives: Marlene Dietrich

January 2025 Viewing Diary

Posted on February 2, 2025 by sheila

Glengarry Glen Ross (1992; d. James Foley) I saw this one in the theatre back in the day. There’s a revival coming up on Broadway and Bill Burr is going to be in it. It’s kind of perfect! He’ll be … Continue reading →

Posted in Monthly Viewing Diary, Movies, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Shadow and pools of light

Posted on January 15, 2025 by sheila

Look at this stunning shot from Desire (1936), directed by the swooningly romantic Frank Borzage. The specificity of where the light falls, there’s full-on head-on light, and then there are little pools of light, surrounded by deep shadows … Marlene … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged | Leave a comment

Mirrors #24

Posted on January 13, 2025 by sheila

A couple of great ones from Desire, starring Marlene Dietrich and Gary Cooper, with John Halliday as third lead, and Akim Tamiroff in one scene as a suspicious police inspector. A heist movie, and I love heist movies! Dietrich plays … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“In America, sex is an obsession, in other parts of the world it’s a fact.” — Marlene Dietrich

Posted on December 27, 2024 by sheila

It’s her birthday today. When I interviewed Dan Callahan about his book The Art of American Screen Acting, we discussed Marlene Dietrich. He has been obsessed since college, and also obsessed with trying to put her into words. What exactly … Continue reading →

Posted in Actors, Movies, On This Day | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Dynamic Duo #38

Posted on October 4, 2023 by sheila

Marlene Dietrich and Konstantin Paustovsky. This moment occurred after a concert she gave in Moscow, 1964. She had been blabbing to the press about the revered (and sometimes suppressed) author Konstantin Paustovsky from the moment she arrived in Russia, declaring … Continue reading →

Posted in Actors, writers | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

October 2022 Viewing Diary

Posted on November 1, 2022 by sheila

Truman & Tennessee: An Intimate Conversation (2020; d. Lisa Immordino Vreeland) Fascinating dual portraits. No “talking heads”. The entire thing is made up of their own voices, told in talk shows, or interviews. Amazing footage I’ve never seen before. Christine … Continue reading →

Posted in Monthly Viewing Diary, Movies, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

June 2021 Viewing Diary

Posted on July 3, 2021 by sheila

La Notte (1961; d. Michelangelo Antonioni) Pauline Kael included La Notte in her infamous essay titled “The Come-Dressed-As-the-Sick-Soul-of-Europe Parties”. Now you can debate her on this opinion – and I think she’s off (although I think it’s a hilarious title). … Continue reading →

Posted in Monthly Viewing Diary, Movies, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Dynamic Duo #21

Posted on July 3, 2020 by sheila

Marlene Dietrich and John Wayne Yeahhhhh, they just stumbled out of bed. They look wrecked. In a good way.

Posted in Actors | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

July 2018 Viewing Diary

Posted on August 1, 2018 by sheila

Supernatural, Season 4, episode 5 “Monster Movie” (2008; d. Robert Singer) A movie-mad feast. Plus, my favorite one-night-stand-girl. (Piper is a close tie.) Supernatural, Season 4, episode 6 “Yellow Fever” (2008; d. Philip Sgriccia) An example of what the show … Continue reading →

Posted in Monthly Viewing Diary, Movies, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

From Lillian Gish to James Dean: My Interview with Dan Callahan

Posted on May 9, 2018 by sheila

I had a lot of fun interviewing Dan Callahan about his new book The Art of American Screen Acting, 1912-1960. It’s now up at Slant Magazine: Mystery of Screen Acting: An Interview with Dan Callahan.

Posted in Actors, Books, Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments