A New Star

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 95, 23 April 1931, Page 18

A New Star

A new personality, possessed of unusual charm, has come to,the screen' this year. She is Marlene Dietrich, famous in Germany and the Continent, recently gone t» the United States under contract, playing her first American moving picture rol« in "Morocco." "Discovered" in Berlin by the Paramount director, Josef yon Sternberg, while he was working in Germany with Emil Jannings, Miss Dietrich was persuaded to forsake a brilliant stage and screen career abroad.

Miss Dietrich has a complete command of English. Yon Sternberg saw her in. George Kaiser's review, a reigning success at the Berliner Theatre. He engaged her for the leading feminine role in "The Blua Angel," in which he was directing Jarinings. ■ She sailed from Germany: on th« Bremen. .■*...-

Born in Berlin, tbe daughter of Captain yon Losch, of the cavalry, much of her professional career was spent at th« German capital, working with Mas Reinhardt. It was music, rather than the stage, that first attracted her, and, after studying at the College of Music, she went to Weimar to coniuue her musical studies. Then she decided that the theatre was her medium, and enrolled in the dramatis school of the Deutscbes Theatre in Berlin,, headed by Reinhardt. Six weeks of study and she obtained her first engagement, a role in a Shakespearian, production, "The Taming of the Shrew." Then she played a role in the German production of "Broadway" at the Berlin Konioedienhaus. Two years ago she had her. first film experience. This picture, under the title of "Three Loves," ran for six weeks at the 55th Street Theatre, NewYork City. Turning to the stage, she played the leading role in Bernard Shaw's "Meisalliance" in Berlin, and then more screen work, under contract to Mauric* Tourneur, once a leading producer in the United States.

Marlene Deitrich has fair hair with a tinge of red. . She has blue-green eyes, and a supple figure developed by devotion to sports. She is an enthusiastic, devotee of motoring, tennis, and water sports, and ail ardent lover of music. .

First Dramatic Role. Joan Crawford plays her first, straight dramatic role in "Within the Law," her new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer starring • production. Ever since she found herself labelled "America's Dancing Daughter," •Joan has been determined to play straight drama, and the public acceptance of her emotional work in "Our Blushing Brides" paved the way to this new role, which is ■based on the Bayard Veiller play "Within the Law." Constance Bennett "The Easiest Way," starring Constancs Bennett, has been completed at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios. Based on tha Eugene Walters stage drama of the eaine name, the all-talking version includes Robert Montgomery, Adolphe Menjou, and other favourites in the cast. Jack Oonwajr directed. "Daddy Long Lefis." Janet Gaynor's next screen appearanc* will be made in "Daddy Long Legß," with Thomas Meighan in the title role. This announcement was made by Fox Films studio officials following the decision t» postpone for three months the filming of "Merely Mary Ann," upon which Miss Gaynor was to have started work. Charles Farrell originally was cast for the role of young composer in Israel Zangwill's story, but when he embarked upon- a three months' European vacation recently, the studio began looking for a player to replace him in the picture. The _ right player was not found, and'the decisioiSjift await Farrell's return was made.