Battle of the Blondes: Marlene Dietrich VS Ursula Andress.

Marlene Dietrich (27 December 1901 – 6 May 1992,) remained popular throughout her amazing career by continually re-inventing herself, as an actress. Her performance as Lola-Lola in The Blue Angel, brought her international fame and provided her a contract with Paramount Pictures in the film Shanghai Express, showcasing her glamour and exotic looks.

The Blue Angel (1930). Directed by Josef von Sternberg in 1930, based on Heinrich Mann's novel Professor Unrat. The film is considered to be the first major German sound film and it brought world fame to actress Marlene Dietrich. It also introduced her signature song, Friedrich Hollaender's "Falling in Love Again ".

Shanghai Express(1932). The pre-Code film stars Marlene Dietrich, Clive Brook, Anna May Wong, and Warner Oland. It was written by Jules Furthman, based on a story by Harry Hervey. It was the fourth of seven teaming of Sternberg and Dietrich.

Ursula Andress (born 19 March 1936) is a Swiss actress and a sex symbol of the 1960s. She is known for her roles as Bond girl Honey Ryder in, Dr. No, for which she won a Golden Globe, and as Vesper Lynd in the 1967 James Bond parody Casino Royale. Ursula Andress first sought out film work while on a holiday to Rome. After a string of films, Andress was brought to the U.S. as the New Dietrich, although the only things she actually had in common with Marlene Dietrich were German heritage and a magnificent legs. She became an international sensation through her bikini-clad appearance as Honey Rider in the first James Bond movie Dr. No (1962). Within a year, Andress was sharing billings with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin in Four for Texas, and Elvis Presley in Fun in Acapulco (both 1963). After this her burst of super-celebrity, Andress settled into a series of films. During the making of 1981's Clash of the Titans, she linked up with the film's much younger leading man Harry Hamlin, who became the father of her child. Although Andress continued to make movies in the 1980s and '90s.

She(1965). Is based on the novel by H. Rider Haggard. It was directed by Robert Day and stars Sandahl Bergman, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.

After, receiving honorable discharges from the British Army, Professor Holly, Leo Vincey and their servant Job, go on expedition to north-east Africa.



They find themselves in the lost city of Kuma, ruled by Ayesha, the immortal queen and former high priestess, who sees Leo as the reincarnation of her former lover, the priest Kallikrat.

Ayesha, tries to convince Leo, to walk into a bonfire after it has turned blue, which happens during special astronomical conditions. By entering the fire, Leo will become immortal.

Ayesha's army is attacked by Amahagger tribesmen, because Ayesha had the beautiful, Ustane executed. A young woman, who had fallen in love with Leo. Ustane's father Haumeid, had also befriended Leo, Holly and Job.

Leo, battles Bilali, Ayesha's priest, who wants immortality for himself. After battling Leo and giving him up for dead, Bilali enters the blue flames when he is killed by Ayesha.

Ayesha takes Leo's hand and leads him into the fire. The same fire destroys Ayesha's immortality, and she dies as the centuries catch up with her and she ages in a few seconds.

Andress gives one of her best acting performance in this film. The settings look amazing and the score by composer James Barnard, creates wonderful music which enhances the action and romance in this film.

Fun Fact:

For the final stage of Ayesha's disintegration, makeup was not applied to Ursula Andress, but to an uncredited elderly actress who doubled for the star.

Clash of the Titans (1981). Fantasy/adventure film involving the Greek hero Perseus.

Please click here to read Clash of Ttitans(1981) movie review.

Documentary: Marlene Dietrich.

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Marlene Dietrich.

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The Lady Is Willing (1942). Directed by Mitchell Leisen. Cast: Marlene Dietrich, Fred MacMurray, Aline MacMahon and Stanley Ridges.

When famous Broadway actress Liza, finds an abandoned baby, she decides to take it home. The first thing she does, is call pediatrician Corey T. McBain, to examine the the baby. Liza, then announces her wish to adopt the baby, who she names "Corey". Her business manager, Kenneth Hanline, wants her to return the baby, because he thinks that the courts, will not give custody, to a unmarried woman. Ken, is also worried that Liza, could be arrested for kidnapping. It is not long, before Sgt. Barnes of the New York police department and the child welfare bureau, come knocking on Liza's door, looking for a woman who took a baby from a apartment building. Liza's, building manager accidentally lets the cat out of the bag, when he comes to inform Liza, that she has been given permission to build a nursery. Mrs. Cummings from the welfare bureau, allows her to keep the baby until the next morning.

Liza, decides on a marriage of convenience so she can adopt Corey. That evening, when the baby develops a rash, Liza, once again calls for the pediatrician. While the pediatrician, is looking over the baby, he shares with her that his true passion is research and that he only became a baby doctor, to make a living. Liza, shares with him her problem of wanting to keep the baby and proposes to him, a marriage of convenience. Liza, then promises the pediatrician, that he can use her renovated apartment to raise rabbits for his research, and he accepts. The pediatrician, leaves his medical practice to raise rabbits and things are going as planned, until one day, Joe and Nellie Quig and their lawyer, K. K. Miller, claim that they are child's real parents and offer to give them custody for $25,000, but pediatrician exposes the Quigs as frauds.

The marriage of convenience turns into a real marriage of love. When the pediatrician's ex-wife, also comes hanging around looking for money. Lisa, suspects that they are having an affair and leaves New York. The baby becomes seriously ill, will the illness bring the couple back together?

Fun Fact:

Early in the shooting, Marlene Dietrich severely injured her right ankle in a fall, and her entire right leg had to be placed in a cast. That's why in this film she is always shown in full-length outfits (gowns, slacks, etc.) and just one shot of her unclothed leg is seen, and that is in shadow.

Fred MacMurray, plays a very charming pediatrician and Dietrich showed how wonderful she was at comedy. Aline MacMahon, co-stars as a wise-cracking assistant to Dietrich.

Full Movie:

Morocco (1930).

Morocco (1930). Directed by Josef von Sternberg. Cast: Gary Cooper, Marlene Dietrich and Adolphe Menjou. The story is from the novel Amy Jolly by Benno Vigny. The film is probably most famous today for a scene in which Dietrich performs a song dressed in a man's tuxedo.



It was nominated for four Academy Awards in the categories of: Best Actress in a Leading Role (Marlene Dietrich, who knew little English, and spoke her lines phonetically), Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography and Best Director: Josef von Sternberg.

The movie begins when American Legionnaire Tom Brown, who is just out looking for a good time, catches the eye of cabaret singer Amy Jolly, who has many suitors, including the debonair Kennington.

Meeting up with her at her apartment, Tom finds her embittered with life and soon becomes tired of her. He decides to keep his date with an officer's wife. Amy, follows and the officer's wife tries to talk beggars into attacking Amy, but.. Tom defends her and is arrested and is sent on a dangerous mission.

Learning that she has been seeing Kennington while he was gone, Tom decides to stay at a desert outpost after his mission is completed. Amy hears that he is wounded and goes to the post, with Kennington not far behind. Realizing that they are in love, Kennington offers to help Tom, desert the Legion. Will Tom decide to stay with his men ?

I think this film helped Dietrich create the image that we now know her for.. standing by her man when all else fails. One thing about the film Morocco, that is different from most of other Dietrich films, is that she's not in control of the situation.

Eve Southern (October 24, 1898 – November 28, 1972). She in 38 films between 1916 and 1936, before breaking her back in a car accident.