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The Blue Angel

Der blaue Engel (The Blue Angel)

1930

Josef von Sternberg

Marlene Dietrich, Emil Jannings, Kurt Gerron, Eduard von Winterstein ...

7.8

5,728

Drama Based on Heinrich Mann's novel "Professor Unrat". Immanuel Rath (Emil Jannings) is a provincial prep school teacher who becomes incensed when he learns his boys have become infatuated with Lola Lola (Marlene Dietrich), a cabaret singer. Heading to the Blue Angel, a nightclub, to catch his pupils, Rath instead becomes bewitched by the sensuous Lola himself, beginning an obsession that drives him to the depths of despair.

	Author	Review
United States	Roger Ebert rogerebert.com	"[It] is intriguing for its glimpses of backstage life in shabby German postwar vaudeville, and for Dietrich's performance (…) Rating: ★★★½ (out of 4)"	POS
United States	Mordaunt Hall The New York Times	"The story is cleverly told (...) It is a decidedly interesting picture with exceptionally fine performances contributed by Mr. Jannings and Miss Dietrich"	POS
United Kingdom	Philip French The Guardian	"Jannings gives an exquisitely detailed performance (...) Superbly designed and lit, 'The Blue Angel' is a modern tragedy and an erotic masterpiece"	POS
United States	Chuck Bowen Slant	"'The Blue Angel' remains a remarkably alive, cruel, and cold achievement (...) The film might be little more than a curio today if it weren’t, ironically, for Jannings (…) Rating: ★★½ (out of 5)"	NEU
United States	Don Druker Chicago Reader	"This reeks with decay and sexuality."	NEG
United Kingdom	Kim Newman Empire	"[Dietrich] is stunning on stage (...) A remarkable performance from Emil Jannings (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"	POS
United States	Beth Hanna IndieWire	"A crowning achievement of Weimar cinema (...) The last 30 minutes of 'Blue Angel' are the film’s best, with Von Sternberg playing with noise and visuals to communicate a dream turned sour."	POS
United Kingdom	Almar Haflidason BBC	"'The Blue Angel' was the film that launched the international career of Marlene Dietrich (…) Rating: ★★★★★ (out of 5)"	POS
United States	Scott Tobias AV Club	"'The Blue Angel' might have been more transfixing as a silent movie, which would have elided Jannings' excesses and the frequent drop-offs in sound. But (...) it's essential"	POS
United States	Variety	"It’s a standout picture (...) Emil Jannings gives a fine characterization"	POS

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