We watch, quietly sitting in our sofa, the slow forfeiture of a man, ready to loose everything for a women.
Let's say it: the film hasn't an astonishing realization. "der letzte Mann" tells a similar story but looks much more modern and dynamic, six years before "das Blaue Engel". Murnau's silent movie (also starring
Emil Jannings) stays sober and deep, but J. von Sternberg just annoys a little bit the viewer, at least during the first part. Besides, the acting of M.Dietrich is simply common.
Besides those negative considerations, I really enjoyed the global atmosphere of the film (mostly confined spaces).
**SPOILER**
At the opposite, the big final, can be considered as an almost total success. The mix of despair, shame, broken heart feeling and humiliation that Prof.Rath undergoes is thrown at the viewer during ten breathtaking minutes. The contrast Between a boring beginning and this astonishing end increases the impact.
**SPOILER**
Overall, it is a film that is interesting to see, but not necessarily twice.
Let's say it: the film hasn't an astonishing realization. "der letzte Mann" tells a similar story but looks much more modern and dynamic, six years before "das Blaue Engel". Murnau's silent movie (also starring
Emil Jannings) stays sober and deep, but J. von Sternberg just annoys a little bit the viewer, at least during the first part. Besides, the acting of M.Dietrich is simply common.
Besides those negative considerations, I really enjoyed the global atmosphere of the film (mostly confined spaces).
**SPOILER**
At the opposite, the big final, can be considered as an almost total success. The mix of despair, shame, broken heart feeling and humiliation that Prof.Rath undergoes is thrown at the viewer during ten breathtaking minutes. The contrast Between a boring beginning and this astonishing end increases the impact.
**SPOILER**
Overall, it is a film that is interesting to see, but not necessarily twice.