Eureka! … Since 1981

Eureka! Classics | The crowning achievement of Weimar cinema

The Blue Angel is an exquisite parable of one man’s fall from respectability, presented in both the newly-restored German and English-language versions.

Emil Jannings, the quintessential German expressionist actor, stars as Professor Immanuel Rath, the sexually-repressed instructor of a boys prep school. After learning of the pupils’ infatuation with French postcards depicting a local nightclub songstress, he decides to personally investigate the source of such indecency. But as soon as he enters the shadowy Blue Angel nightclub and steals one glimpse of the smoldering Lola-Lola (Marlene Dietrich), commanding the stage in a top hat, stockings and bare thighs, Rath’s self-righteous piety is crushed.

He finds himself fatefully seduced by the throaty voice of the vulgar siren, singing, “Falling In Love Again.” Consumed by desire and tormented by his rigid propriety, Professor Rath allows himself to be dragged down a path of personal degradation.

Lola’s unrestrained sexuality was a revelation to turn-of-the-decade moviegoers, thrusting Dietrich to the forefront of the sultry international leading ladies, such as Greta Garbo, who were challenging the limits of screen sexuality.

—————

This special two disc set includes original German and English versions, is newly remastered from the 35mm negative. and contains rare archival material.

Running time:
Disc one (German version w/Eng. subtitles) – 105 minutes
Disc two (English version) – 94 min

Directed by Josef von Sternberg
Screenplay by Robert Liebmann, Karl Vollmoller and Carl Zuckmayer
Based on the novel “Professor Unrath” by Heinrich Mann
Photographed by Gunther Rittau and Hans Schneeberger
With Emil Jannings, Marlene Dietrich