- Marlene Dietrich, Der Blau Engle/The Blue Angel, Germany, 1930. After all the Berlin starlets traipsed through his office, imperious director Josef von Sternberg was most impresssed by Mannheim (already into talkies) but felt he should still test the “untalented cow.” And Marlene’s insolent apathy won her Lola Lola (Rosa in the novel). The film was almost cancelled when the UFA boss discovered the book was by Heinrich and not Thomas Mann.
Birth year: 1899Death year: 1976Other name: Casting Calls: 1