Marlene Dietrich–Believed In America

“A Woman at War: Marlene Dietrich Remembered,” by J. David Riva & Guy Stern is now available. The book is one in a series of tributes from her grandson filmmaker and writer J. David Riva. When we think of Marlene we automatically think of her in movies like Morocco (1930 her only Oscar nomination), Desire (1936), Destry Rides Again (1939), Witness for the Prosecution (1957), but this book remembers her as “glamour in a G.I. uniform.”

Soon after filming the scandalous, but successful movie “The Blue Angel,” (1929) in Germany, Marlene moved to Hollywood and became the highest paid actress of the 30′s. While here in America, the Nazis came into power in Germany. The Nazis were working on creating a racial utopia. Marlene was an individualist and spoke her mind. She knew there was no gray line when it came to an evil regime. From the first she heard of this regime she opposed it. She spoke against it and its atrocities without reservation and this despite her mother and other family still living there. Undoubtedly she worried for her family, but couldn’t compromise her principles. She realized Hitler wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon, so she became an American citizen in 1937.

When America entered WWII Marlene’s movie career was in a slump so she decided to give herself wholeheartedly to the work of the U.S.O. While in the U.S.O. her life was in danger many times. She’d entertain troops on the front lines. Several times she rode with General George S. Patton when he led American troops. But she didn’t just hang with the big wigs; she hung around the enlisted men and even danced with them. Her work there wasn’t at all glamorous, work like mess details and food delivery. But I couldn’t imagine Marlene looking bad even when doing “dirty” work. She visited the wounded and many times assisted nurses. She made over 500 personal appearances, boosting moral, making a lasting impression on the Allied soldiers.

Her grandson J. David Riva said in an article “She detested, couldn’t believe what the Germans were doing.” “And here she was, raising money to bomb her homeland, where her mother and much of her family were still living.” “A Woman at War” is not only a book about Dietrich, but it also talks about the world during WWII and how one woman had a “huge impact on popular culture.” She did not sit on the sidelines or complain about America’s leaders and their policies. She didn’t censure the military, but rather she inspired them, and in her way helped them accomplish the mission. “She believed in America beyond belief…” Something to think about.