"Dishonored" is one of Marlene Dietrich's earliest American-made films (done right after her first, "Morocco"). And, because it was early, she looked like she was in a transitional phase in her appearance. She was a bit more glamorous than she'd been in "The Blue Angel" but hadn't yet obtained the familiar and more blonde and extremely made-up appearance she'd soon adopt. It's a shame, really, as I think in "Dishonored" she was her loveliest...much more human and realistic looking. But that's neither here nor there....so on to the movie.
Marlene's most familiar early director, Josef von Sternberg, helmed this film. It finds lovely Marie (Dietrich) recruited for the Austrian secret service by a mysterious visitor (Gustav von Seyffertitz). He knows she loves her Austria-Hungary and lost her husband in the war...and wants her to spy for the country. She agrees and becomes a real seductress (much more realistic than Garbo in "Mata Hari"). What's to come of her and the men in her life--such as Sydney Toler and Victor McLaglen? See the film and find out for yourself!
This film is one of quite a few made in the States in the early to mid-1930s where the once hated enemy from WWI was seen now in a far more positive light. This is because by the 1930s, the American public's attitude about the war and why it occurred had changed. No longer were Germans and Austrians seen as the subhumans they were described as during the war and they were just seen as victims like everyone else. Try watching "All Quiet on the Western Front" or "Ever in My Heart" and you'll see the change as well.
So is it any good? Well, it certainly is a pretty film, which is no surprise considering von Sternberg directed the film. He did a great job in making Dietrich look good...and the studio pulled out the stops when it came to sets and costumes. The casting is good and bad. Dietrich and von Seyffertitz were excellent choices, as their German accents were pretty close to Austrian. As for her beau, however, I have no idea why McLaglen was cast as a Russian spy! He just seemed wrong for this part and would have been better cast as a Brit or Irishman.
As far as the rest of the movie goes, it's good though Marie's actions in the movie regarding her Russian friend....well, that makes little sense to me. It's still a good film...but flawed because of this.
By the way, I thought there was a mistake in the film. At one point, they play the Austria-Hungarian national anthem and it was the German national Anthem ('Deutschland über Alles'). But when I checked, apparently BOTH countries used the same tune by Hyden....but with different lyrics. The Austria-Hungarian version was called 'Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser'. I found this interesting.
Marlene's most familiar early director, Josef von Sternberg, helmed this film. It finds lovely Marie (Dietrich) recruited for the Austrian secret service by a mysterious visitor (Gustav von Seyffertitz). He knows she loves her Austria-Hungary and lost her husband in the war...and wants her to spy for the country. She agrees and becomes a real seductress (much more realistic than Garbo in "Mata Hari"). What's to come of her and the men in her life--such as Sydney Toler and Victor McLaglen? See the film and find out for yourself!
This film is one of quite a few made in the States in the early to mid-1930s where the once hated enemy from WWI was seen now in a far more positive light. This is because by the 1930s, the American public's attitude about the war and why it occurred had changed. No longer were Germans and Austrians seen as the subhumans they were described as during the war and they were just seen as victims like everyone else. Try watching "All Quiet on the Western Front" or "Ever in My Heart" and you'll see the change as well.
So is it any good? Well, it certainly is a pretty film, which is no surprise considering von Sternberg directed the film. He did a great job in making Dietrich look good...and the studio pulled out the stops when it came to sets and costumes. The casting is good and bad. Dietrich and von Seyffertitz were excellent choices, as their German accents were pretty close to Austrian. As for her beau, however, I have no idea why McLaglen was cast as a Russian spy! He just seemed wrong for this part and would have been better cast as a Brit or Irishman.
As far as the rest of the movie goes, it's good though Marie's actions in the movie regarding her Russian friend....well, that makes little sense to me. It's still a good film...but flawed because of this.
By the way, I thought there was a mistake in the film. At one point, they play the Austria-Hungarian national anthem and it was the German national Anthem ('Deutschland über Alles'). But when I checked, apparently BOTH countries used the same tune by Hyden....but with different lyrics. The Austria-Hungarian version was called 'Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser'. I found this interesting.