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The Blue Angel Overview:

The Blue Angel (1930) was a Drama - Musical Film directed by Josef von Sternberg and produced by Erich Pommer.

SYNOPSIS

With just one glimpse of her raw sexuality, a straitlaced professor falls into a mad passion for Lola-Lola (Dietrich), the main attraction at a smoky cabaret in Weimar Germany. Because of his obsession, he loses his position and then his dignity. This film launched Dietrich's career, and she set out for Hollywood with von Sternberg, who became her mentor (some would say her creator) even before its release, leaving behind her husband and daughter. The original English version is commonly available. Shot simultaneously in German and English, this version also contains some unexpected visual and plot variations from the German version. Features songs "Falling In Love Again" and "They Call Me Wicked Lola." Based on Heinrich Mann's novel Professor Unrat.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

The Blue Angel BlogHub Articles:

The Blue Angel (Musical Countdown #53)

By RBuccicone on Sep 11, 2011 From MacGuffin Movies

The Blue Angel (1930) The Marlene Dietrich of the German-made Der Blaue Engel is almost unrecognizable as the Dietrich that would reign supreme in Hollywood in the decades to come, and yet it was through this film that the prominent image of later years would begin to take shape. The deep speaki... Read full article

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The Blue Angel Quotes:

Lola Lola: They call me Lola.
[to stuffy Professor Immanuel Rath, who is dressed in a clown suit]
Lola Lola: Your boys should see you now.
[singing]
Lola Lola: Falling in love again/ Never wanted to/ What am I to do?/ I can't help it.
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The Blue Angel Facts
Marlene Dietrich (Lola Lola) was, contrary to common belief, not the "star" of the film. She was not even a known actress. She was one of several students at an acting academy who were auditioned by director Josef von Sternberg for the role. Each of the girls was told to bring with them "a naughty song" which they would perform. Dietrich was so nervous and so sure that she would not get the role that she showed up without a song.
Marlene Dietrich's screen test for this film survives. In it, she upbraids an unidentified piano player for his bad playing and sings two songs, the first of which is "You're the Cream In My Coffee."
This was Emil Jannings' final English-language film (it was released in both German and English versions - see Alternate Versions).
Many actresses from the stage and screen were considered for the role of Lola Lola. Early contenders were Gloria Swanson, Phyllis Haver, Louise Brooks, Brigitte Helm, Lya De Putti, Leni Riefenstahl, Lotte Lenya, and many young German starlets. Director Josef von Sternberg had originally chosen Helm for the part, but by the time shooting was to begin, she was no longer available, so von Sternberg gave the part to Marlene Dietrich.
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