User Profile

So you want a biography of me, do you? I'm not in the habit of telling, why do strangers need to know about my personal things anyway? Well if you must know I will tell you but just this once...

My full birth name is Maria Magdalene Dietrich but I changed it long ago when I was still in school. Those in my family refer to me by the last half of my middle name and call me Lena, when I was in school I took the first half of my first name and combined it with the last half of my middle name, and that is how my name became Marlene. I was born on December 27th 1901, I mean, 1904 (those awful biographers try to make people think I'm older than I really am!)...in Schoneberg, a city that would later be incorporated into Berlin to make the capital larger. My family is Prussian, before the First World War Prussia was a major part of Germany, after the war most of that land became a part of Poland but as Prussians we are a higher order than regular Germans, we are a part of German aristocracy. Prussians are soldiers, dating as far back as the Teutonic Knights of the 1600's, and because of that I was brought up on discipline and order. My father was an army officer who had served in the Franco-Prussian War but he died when I was 11. I adored him as well as my step-father, Eduard von Losch, though he too would die during World War I. For the most part I was brought up by my mother, Wilhelmina. Mutti is very set in her ways and didnt like the idea of my becoming an actress but she doesnt complain. I also have a sister, Elisabeth, whom we all call Liesel, she is nice but sometimes tooo emotional and overreacting.

I can speak 3 languages; German, French, and English. I also love to cook! I will cook for anyone, whether they ask me too or not! I also have been a romantic ever since I can remember, love means more to me than sex ever will, but it seems that is all these vulgar men want! I am married and have been since 1923, my husband's name is Rudolf Sieber, we have a daughter, my dear Maria, the child means the world to me. Though I am married I am in a European marriage, many of you American's might not understand it because your system is so strictly set, but in Europe being married does not mean you cannot love somebody else. Rudi and I care for each other dearly but we both see other people romantically. He has found love with Tamara, one of our friends whom we refer to as Tami most of the time...*sigh* sadly...I have yet to find one true love, it is awful that no man or woman has been able to truly be that special one for me...but perhaps one day someone will be the one, until then I just have to keep searching. I also enjoy wearing men's clothing...does that...shock you? I hear that many Americans are surprised by the idea of a person wearing the clothing of another sex, but in Germany there was nothing wrong with it so why should I change now?
There are really only a few things I hate, the main two are unintelligent people...and germs...it is disgusting how much of both are around these days.

Growing up in Berlin during and after the First World War has shaped by views and my personality greatly. In the 20's Berlin was a wonderful place, the melting pot of civilization completely free and open to do as you please. You could drink, party, wear anything you wanted and love anyone you wanted! But sadly that has started to change as the 20's end.



I used to play the violin very well and wanted to become a concert violinist but after the war there was little enthusiasm for classical playing, eventually I sprang my wrist and had to give it up and instead got involved in the cabaret's of Berlin for a time, soon I was featured on stage every night, apparently they say my legs had something to do with that. After that I began to take a step into German theater, I tried for Max Reinhart's school of drama but was rejected while I was accepted I preferred not to attend much.

I also starred in was NEVER in Any of those early silent films that my so called biographers like to say I was in, to think they would confuse that fat potato for me!! ...I did do some theater shows, eventually after one performance a man who was in the audience met me later and asked if I would like to test for a part in a film, I obviously didnt think I'd get the role and I told him so but went anyway. He told me his name was Josef Von Sternberg and that he was going to direct a film for UFA (Germany's largest Studio) and that for my screen test I was to bring along a dirty song, can you believe that? well I was not the only person auditioning for this part, many actresses where being considered, among them were Phyllis Haver, Sybille Schmitz, and Leni Riefenstahl. Because of this I was sure I wasnt going to get the part and didn’t bring the song, so he had me just sing any song that I knew, I sang "You're the Cream in my Coffee" and did the acting part of the screen test and later Mr. Von Sternberg said I had the part! He said the film was to be titled "Der Blaue Engel", it was to be Germany’s first all-sound film, and that my part was going to be that of a waterfront tart, at first I was put off by playing such a cheap character but decided to do it. I had seen the prostitutes on the streets and the female impersonators in the Berlin nightclubs and was not a naive person...so I took care of putting together the costume myself, garter belt and all.



Everyone thinks I was the star of “Der Blaue Engel” but I was not! Emil Jannings was and he got the main billing, I was his co-star. Throughout filming Von Sternberg, who was only in Germany to direct this one film, was urging me to go to Hollywood. He had told Paramount, his Studio over there, about me and they sent me a telegram saying they were going to employ me; they even congratulated me on it!! The audacity! I hadn’t even said I’d accept!
But eventually Rudi and Jo talked me into going, UFA had the option of picking up my contract during filming but they declined and so I took the Hollywood offer. “Der Blaue Engel” was released on April 1st, 1930 and became a big success, they all say that I stole the film from Emil Jannings, I think he knew it during production, in that scene where he is supposed to choke me he really was trying to!! I attended the premier that night and left immediately after on a train to sail aboard the S.S. Bremen to the United States.



I’m not sure what will be awaiting me when I get to New York and then on the train to Hollywood but Jo seems to know what he is doing, we’ll just have to see...

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This is Journal is a part of the Role Playing Game classicstarcafe

As such this is not the journal of the real Marlene Dietrich, nor is it affiliated with the Dietrich or Riva estate.
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Out of Character note: Marlene Dietrich’s daughter, Maria Riva, wrote a book on her mother in the 90’s titled “Marlene Dietrich By Her Daughter”. I have noticed certain facts from that book that are off, which leads me to question the validity of some of Miss Riva’s claims about her mother, because of this the speaking style will be based on the book’s interpretation but personality-wise it will only be loosely taken from the book, the rest will be filled in from other books and sources I have read and seen on Miss Dietrich.

Also, in the beginning Marlene will be speaking German in her entry's with an English translation at the bottom to represent her lack of full English when she first arrived in the U.S., and even after there will still be certain German entry's because of course she still spoke German even after she learned English. There might also be some French ones because she also spoke French. All will have an English tanslation at the bottom, now I used to know some German but have forgotten most of it, so I will be using the help of a translator program to fill in the spots I forget, I think the majority of people who will be reading this wont know German and will be reading the English translation anyway (which is the main part, so even if you do know German, read the translation) but if you do happen to know German and read that part and notice grammer, spelling, or completely off errors then those are probably the area's I had forgotten and had to use the program on. The same thing shall apply for French as well.

-A.

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