Dietrich Photographs

The two photographs below, taken by Andrew Davidhazy appear with kind permission.

www.rit.edu/~andpph

Gunnars and I wanted to bring some "culture" to our school and decided that
an interview with Marlene Dietrich might just do the trick. So after her
performance we went backstage and asked the doorman if he would relay to Marlene
Dietrich a request from us two high school "kids" for a brief interview. He
disappeared backstage and we waited in the dingy room for good news. After a
few minutes he returned and said that Ms. Dietrich was too busy and would not
be available. We were disheartened but once back outside noticed that across the
street there was a flower shop. We pooled our money together (about $40) and
proceeded to buy a dozen red long stem roses and returned backstage. We asked
the doorman if he would deliver the flowers to Miss Dietrich and ask again
on our behalf is she might have just a few minutes to spare for us.

He disappeared into the maze that was backstage. After maybe 5 minutes this
time he returned with a smile on his face and said: "Miss Dietrich will
meet with you". We were obviously elated and excited that out "trick" had
worked like a charm! She was most gracious and spent a good 1/2 hour with
us after I made a quick photo of her with a twin-lens reflex camera while
she was still in costume and then I listened in during the interview. When
this was over we left and we then spent a little time with the rest of her
troupe.

Finally, as we were leaving through the backstage area I noticed that she
had changed into a white knitted outfit and was sitting on some boxes under the
light from a solitary lightbulb hanging from the ceiling. I "saw" the
potential of the situation and immediately made two exposures with my Leica
IIg camera guessing at the exposure I am sure. Of the two exposures this one
is the better and I think it conveys the "essence" of Marlene who "glows"
even in the dreariest of surroundings.
Andrew Davidhazy.

See 'Dietrich Articles & Miscellany'page.

The three photographs below were taken by Elliott Landy and appear with kind permission.

'It was the opening night party for her one woman Broadway show, but I don't know which one it was, the first or the second one. There were so many photographers there and they all kept shooting and shooting with intense flashbulbs popping off. She put up her arms, asking them to stop. I stopped, but most others did not. So she just got down and crawled under the table for a while. Then when she came out, we started again, but I only took one photo out of respect to her wishes'.

'I was surprised when no one, or barely no one listened to her asking them to stop. But then I wasn't used to doing that kind of photography so I expected humane responses'. -Elliott Landy 2008

www.landyvision.com