Early German Cinema

 Marlene Dietrich

                                                           Weimar Cinema 

Though the Weimar Cinema era didn't last long, it produced some classic movies, not only of its era, but movies that stood the test of time.

One of my favourite horror movies, Nosferatu, was made at the time, though its star, Max Schreck, hated his role as the orignal vampire. Other great films include Fritz Lang's Metropolis, which is scarier with the knowledege that machines are taking over now. Peter Lorre is still scary as the murder in M. It was at this time, a young lady called Marlene Dietrich would rise to fame too.

A not too well-known movie called Pandora's Box starring Louise Brooks also came otu at this time. Ms. Brooks played a role which came to haunt her in life, she was a Hollywood Icon of the "flapper era," at the end of the silent movies, and going into sound. She was told to voice her character in the film, The Canary Murder Case,  with William Powell,but refused, months later her speaking was part was dubbed by another actress. Her refusal caused Paramount to halt her contract, and blacklist her in Hollywood. So she went to Germany, and became an Icon of the Weimar Cinema,

The director of her film told her to change her lifestyle of parties, and long hours of drinking, or she'd end her life like her character Lulu, destitute, and forgotten. Sadly, Louise ignored the warning, and died destitute.

The Diary of a Lost Girl

Louise Brooks

The Diary of a Lost Girl is the second movie Louise Brooks made after leaving Hollywood for the Weimar Cinema of 1920's Germany. It is regarded as a classic of early German cinema. The story is about a young girl who gets pregnant after being raped, but won't name the father. However, a friend finds her diary, in which she names the father, her father, who dismissed a maid for being pregnant by him, tells her to save face she must marry the child's father, but she says she has no feelings for him.

She is thrown out of the house, and ends up in a reform school. After escaping, she is taken in as "a lady of liesure,"  deciding this is not right she decides to teach dance lessons, Louise was a dancer in earlier times. 

The story ends with her marrying the man she loves, inheriting her father's money, and giving it to her sister. She later becomes a govenor on the board of the reform school she was in.

She was told by the film's director, if she returned to Hollywood, she would be like her role, and for many years she was a "kept lady."

Pandora's box

Louise Brooks's first silent movie for the Weimar Cinema, could have been written about her. The main character is a lady who has several lovers, even if she only plays with their affections. When the film finished, the director warned her, if she didn't embrace "talkies," she would end up like her character, a "kept woman." 

This warning was ignored as Louise turned roles down, one was being the voice of her character being dubbed to the film of "The Canary Murder case," with William Powell. Another role that damaged her career was the role later played by Jean Harlow in "Public Enemy," a role that made Ms. Harlow a star.