Series Site
January 3–10
In conjunction with the International Center of Photography’s exhibit, “Play the Part: Marlene Dietrich”, which is on view through January 8, 2024, we offer a brief selection of films that feature the iconic actress, with a focus on some of the more rarely screened, underappreciated, or just plain strange items in her oeuvre.
Dietrich is best known for her starring roles in films including THE BLUE ANGEL (1930), the first feature-length German talkie, and for her long collaboration with the filmmaker Josef von Sternberg. Born in Berlin, she emigrated to the U.S. in 1930, vocally opposing the rising Nazi regime, and ultimately renounced her German citizenship. She became an active supporter of U.S. troops in WWII, raising funds for refugees, and toured with the USO. On-screen and off, she challenged the gender and sexual norms of her time, making her a core figure in feminist and queer film history.
Featuring 250 photographs taken from 1905 to 1978, “Play the Part: Marlene Dietrich” examines the multifaceted evolution of Dietrich’s public persona. Rarely seen and previously unpublished images, snapshots, some of the last photos of Marlene Dietrich, and other works complement the formal portraits and studio images that have come to represent Dietrich, illustrating the true complexity of her life. Drawn from the collection of Pierre Passebon, and organized by Haley Kane, Exhibitions and Collections Coordinator at ICP, this exhibition marks the first time his noted collection will be shown in the U.S.