marlene dietrichs significance as a movie star

"Marlene Dietrich" the name alone makes a statement. However, every legend has a beginning.
She was born Marie Magdalene Dietrich, but by the end of WW 1 Dietrich´s first name was
shortened to "Marlene". Marlene Dietrich always was much more than simply a "star", more than
only an actress or singer - since the beginnings of her amazing career she was an icon, a
trendsetter who created style and fashion, and - most important - she lives on as a cultural symbol.
A symbol of decadence during the 1930, a symbol of glamour and beauty, a symbol of
anti-fascism, a symbol of survival and - a symbol of sexual freedom.
Dietrich was both gay and straight, masculine and feminine. She was nicknamed "the best dressed
man in Hollywood", and her extraordinary style appealed to men and women of all sexuality's. She
crossed the borders of the genders like no other star before her. In 1928, when she already was the
"toast of Berlin", she had her greatest stage success yet with a duet with Margo Lion in the revue
Es liegt in der Luft (It´s in the Air). Two years later, in her US debut film Morocco, she
introduced herself to American audiences as a completely independent woman from nowhere who
dresses like a man, kisses a woman and makes Gary Cooper her "girlfriend". This is the image of
Dietrich everybody knows. This androgyny remained one of the most important parts of her
everlasting myth.
Coming directly from Berlin, where homosexuality and bisexuality were completely accepted and
respected in the 1920s, Marlene brought a charming freshness to Hollywood. Morocco was not
her only gender-crossing appearance during her sensational Hollywood career. Her androgyny was
accentuated in many of her films: She is seen in a very mannish leather suit in Dishonored, and in
Shanghai Express she dons her male co-star´s military cap which makes her seem even more
powerful than usual. An other highlight in this series of gender-bending appearances is the
so-called "lesbian night-club scene" from Blonde Venus where Marlene - again dressed like a
man, wearing white tails and a top hat - flirts with the chorus girl before she performs the song "I
Couldn't Be Annoyed". An other remarkable film scene which shows Dietrich in pants is the final
scene from The Scarlet Empress, where she rides to her victory in a white cossack uniform,
becoming Catherine the Great, Russia's most powerful woman.
Aside from Marlene's legendary movie roles, it is important to mention her as a significant aspect
that is captured in the Deitrich aura due to her position in the 1930's fight against Nazi Germany.
Being that she was born in Germany, Marlene witnessed Hitler's uprising and was fortunate
enough to leave to begin her legacy in Hollywood and later become an American citizen in 1939.

After this event, she was constantly labeled a "traitor" by the German press. Joseph Goebbels, the
Nazi Propaganda Chief, shockingly begged for her to return to her home country, but she
continually rejected the offer. Shortly following, all Dietrich memorabilia and films were banned
in Germany under Nazi direction. Due to Marlene's German descent however, she always felt
guilty for what Hitler did to the world. Therefore, she decided to help to fight against Hitler.
Although such involvement's happened in the latter section of the 1930's, her actions should still
be recognized. For example, her work with the USO brought her to North Africa, Italy and to
many other scenes of this cruel war (WW II). Always feeling comfortable in a suit, she hopped on
the bandwagon to join the war effort by entertaining the American and Allied troops, stayed with
them at the front and risked her life. She also helped in the hospitals and made radio broadcasts.
At that time she picked up her famous song "Lili Marleen" that would accompany her for the rest
of her life. For her bravery during her work with the USO, the U.S., the French and the Israeli
governments awarded her medals.
In closing, Marlene Dietrich truly embodied the title of an icon. Her era was a time like no other;
just ten years prior to her Hollywood debuts women gained the right to vote. Yet, Dietrich like no
other woman in show business demanded the respect that a woman should have, challenged
conventional moralities with her gender-bending roles, and still somehow gained affection from
all the American public. More so, very few women could compare to Deitrich for this alone, yet
the list goes on. She spoke denounced the actions of her homeland, Hitler being her main target.
With this in mind, Marlene Deitrich should not only be remembered for the imprint she left on
showbiz, but for impact she made in culture as a great American icon.