As has been pointed out, "The Devil is a Woman" from 1935 is a feast for the eyes with its settings, costumes, and Marlene Dietrich.
The film is told in partial flashback and takes place at the beginning of the 20th Century.
During carnival in Spain, Antonio (Cesar Romero), a republican revolutionary, who has been exiled, arrives from Paris to participate in the festivities. He also visits with his friend Captain Don Costelar (Lionel Atwill), known to his friends as Pasqualito.
Antonio meets Concha, a nightclub singer, and arranges to meet her later. Pasqualito, however, tells him that he had a relationship with Concha, and she ruined his life. Thus begins the flashback, where he tells Antonio what happened and makes his friend promise that he will never approach the greedy, heartless, cold Concha.
This was the last von Sternberg-Dietrich collaboration. von Sternberg fills the screen with confetti, balloons, crowds, and people wearing outrageous masks. It's all very frenzied and filled with excitement.
This little story is from a novel called "The Puppet Woman." Which she is.
Dietrich is stunning as Concha, who flirts, cajoles, and indulges in dramatics in order to get who -- and what -- she wants. It's usually an older man with money, whom she corrals, takes up with a younger man, and leaves the older one. She is costumed in the most outlandish way tilted hats with brims that go out three feet, lace gowns. She's amazing.
Both Cesar Romero and Lionel Atwill as her suitors are wonderful - Romero, as Antonio, is wanted by the police so he walks around a lot of the time resembling Zorro.
Edward Everett Horton is the Mayor, also madly in love with Concha. He's hilarious as he yells at the police and is disgusted by the carnival.
This film is only 80 minutes and well worth seeing. If you have read Maria Riva's book about her mother, there was an incredible amount of time taken with closeups and lighting, and she could hold a position for an unheard of amount of time. You'll see how immaculately she is photographed in this film.
The film is told in partial flashback and takes place at the beginning of the 20th Century.
During carnival in Spain, Antonio (Cesar Romero), a republican revolutionary, who has been exiled, arrives from Paris to participate in the festivities. He also visits with his friend Captain Don Costelar (Lionel Atwill), known to his friends as Pasqualito.
Antonio meets Concha, a nightclub singer, and arranges to meet her later. Pasqualito, however, tells him that he had a relationship with Concha, and she ruined his life. Thus begins the flashback, where he tells Antonio what happened and makes his friend promise that he will never approach the greedy, heartless, cold Concha.
This was the last von Sternberg-Dietrich collaboration. von Sternberg fills the screen with confetti, balloons, crowds, and people wearing outrageous masks. It's all very frenzied and filled with excitement.
This little story is from a novel called "The Puppet Woman." Which she is.
Dietrich is stunning as Concha, who flirts, cajoles, and indulges in dramatics in order to get who -- and what -- she wants. It's usually an older man with money, whom she corrals, takes up with a younger man, and leaves the older one. She is costumed in the most outlandish way tilted hats with brims that go out three feet, lace gowns. She's amazing.
Both Cesar Romero and Lionel Atwill as her suitors are wonderful - Romero, as Antonio, is wanted by the police so he walks around a lot of the time resembling Zorro.
Edward Everett Horton is the Mayor, also madly in love with Concha. He's hilarious as he yells at the police and is disgusted by the carnival.
This film is only 80 minutes and well worth seeing. If you have read Maria Riva's book about her mother, there was an incredible amount of time taken with closeups and lighting, and she could hold a position for an unheard of amount of time. You'll see how immaculately she is photographed in this film.