Superbly acted remake of the Dietrich/Von Sternberg drama that created a new America superstar and brought attention to an artistic director who guided five years of her career. They waited nearly 30 years to remake it, and the vivid color photography really made it seem like a new story. May Britt may not have the star quality of Dietrich, but she does a fine job in exploring all of the aspects of this Sally Bowels like character, surrounded by chorus girls that really look like the rough and tough females singing background in "Cabaret".
In fact, around the same time of the original Broadway musical of "Cabaret", there was a stage version of this, "Pousse Cafe", that flopped. Theodore Bikel who played the role that Curd Jergens plays here in that musical, and here, he plays May Britt's manager. Jergens really pounds on the grease paint to change his appearance as the very strict high School professor, upset that his students are spending their evenings at the Blue Angel rather than studying.
He goes there to catch them and instead is caught himself by Britt In her dressing room, having chased a student, and not having had much of a life, he falls instantly in love with her and soon proposes. But even though she accepts the proposal, she knows the marriage will be doomed and he degrades himself by taking on the job of a clown in her act. Not doing what he wants to do, Jergens begins to regret his decision, but can he really give up Lola and live happily ever after? The presence of an old lover of hers makes it clear that is not to be.
The direction of Edward Dmytryk is superb as this flows without boredom, and every physical detail is glorious. You'll be surprised to see John Banner of "Hogan's Heroes" fame as the principal, completely serious and knowing everything (to paraphrase Sergeant Schultz's famous line), maybe not an initial site but once he starts speaking, it becomes perfectly clear who he is. Of course, Britt gets to sing Dietrich's famous song, "Falling in Love Again", and even sounds like her. I would actually prefer this over the 1930 film, more famous for the German language version then the English language version which wasn't as well regarded.
In fact, around the same time of the original Broadway musical of "Cabaret", there was a stage version of this, "Pousse Cafe", that flopped. Theodore Bikel who played the role that Curd Jergens plays here in that musical, and here, he plays May Britt's manager. Jergens really pounds on the grease paint to change his appearance as the very strict high School professor, upset that his students are spending their evenings at the Blue Angel rather than studying.
He goes there to catch them and instead is caught himself by Britt In her dressing room, having chased a student, and not having had much of a life, he falls instantly in love with her and soon proposes. But even though she accepts the proposal, she knows the marriage will be doomed and he degrades himself by taking on the job of a clown in her act. Not doing what he wants to do, Jergens begins to regret his decision, but can he really give up Lola and live happily ever after? The presence of an old lover of hers makes it clear that is not to be.
The direction of Edward Dmytryk is superb as this flows without boredom, and every physical detail is glorious. You'll be surprised to see John Banner of "Hogan's Heroes" fame as the principal, completely serious and knowing everything (to paraphrase Sergeant Schultz's famous line), maybe not an initial site but once he starts speaking, it becomes perfectly clear who he is. Of course, Britt gets to sing Dietrich's famous song, "Falling in Love Again", and even sounds like her. I would actually prefer this over the 1930 film, more famous for the German language version then the English language version which wasn't as well regarded.