Description
Book SynopsisJosef von Sternberg's 1930 film The Blue Angel (Der blaue Engel) is among the best known films of the Weimar Republic (1919-1933). A significant landmark as one of Germany's first major sound films, it is known primarily for launching Marlene Dietrich into Hollywood stardom and for initiating the mythic pairing of the Austrian-born duo.
Trade Review “Kosta’s book not only adds new material…, but performs the invaluable tasks of synthesizing and building on the massive amounts of writing that has accrued around the film, its director, and stars. This makes the book ideal not only for the collections of German Studies and Film Studies scholars, but also as a text for undergraduate and graduate courses. Kosta writes with sophistication and with a secure grasp of a variety of theoretical registers.” · German Quarterly
“This interdisciplinary study will appeal to German and film studies scholars as well as readers interested in question s of gender, visuality, and the history of film.” · Monatshefte
“By setting the Blue Angel in its broader cultural context, Kosta captivates the reader and provides important insights into cultural debates during the Weimar Republic.” · European History Quarterly
Table of Contents List of Illustrations
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1. Mass Entertainment and “Serious” Culture
Chapter 2. Distraction, Deception, and Visuality
Chapter 3. Disillusionment and Esprit: Weimar’s Modern Woman
Chapter 4. The Seductions of Sound
Chapter 5. The Actuality of The Blue Angel: Dietrich, Germany, and Mass Culture
Fade Out: The Credits
Bibliography
Index
