Marlene Dietrich by Maria Riva Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Marlene Dietrich
Book Review: 5 stars for Marlene - but zero for peevish Riva
Summary: 5 Stars
JEAN COCTEAU: "Marlene Dietrich. Her name begins with a caress and ends with a whiplash." The whiplash of Dietrich's life could be this book. In many ways it is fabulous - in many more, it is utter tripe. he accounts of Dietrich's life, loves - and above all her films with von Sternberg, both in pictorial and written account, are stunning and unique. They surpass Marlene's own autobiography far and away. The book, however,implodes upon one vital factor - its spirit. There is none. Riva attempts to paint a vcicious picture of her "Mommie Dearest" but comes off as a petulant child who has been sent to her room for misbehaving, and decides to rain abuse on her (unhearing) parents. Riva paints a portrait of herself as the "Perfect American" - waxing lyrical about the statue of liberty, hamburgers and mustard when she enjoyed one of the most priviledged upbringings of the 20th century. She attempts to endear herself to all - animal rights activists, Americans, French, English - all except her mother. And falls flat on her face. This is a biography of DIETRICH, not Riva, although Maria seems to forget that often. Which is a shame.The overwhelming feeling one gets after reading this book is not the bitchiness of Marlene, but the snide griping of her daughter. Riva is the least likable thing in the book. Her compulsive need to disagree constantly with her mother (except the beautiful passages she writes about costuming and direction upon the von Sternberg films and Dietrich's stage shows) on matters as diverse as film premiers, paramount stars and flower arrangements, borders on obsession - and grinds against the back teeth by the end of the book.
That said - without the self-aggrandising prose, derogetory sniping and idle bitchiness, MARLENE is an engrossing and - yes - extremely good biography. Perhaps, with a little less Maria and a little more Marlene, it could have been great.
Book Review: A star biography you can't put down
Summary: 5 Stars
The litany of shocking, incredibly tawdry and abusive things Marlene did do not dull the luster of Marlene's magnificent screen presence. That is a tribute to Maria Riva's extraordinary ability to look clearly at her mother's good side as well as her bad. This was a thoroughly entrancing book, full of insights and gossip about Marlene's friends and colleagues (and lovers.) Especially wonderful were the memories of the old days of movie-making, in the 30's, when von Sternberg beautifully photographed her face.Book Review: A treat for any biography lover...
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't know how many times I've read this book, but each time I find something new. No "Mommy Dearest" biography here (though many would argue), it is in fact a surprisingly objective look at the life of an screen idol and her impact on her only child. Maria Riva takes apart the image of Dietrich and scatters the pieces for all to see: the dreamy-eyed daughter of war, the struggling stage actress, the faithful wife and mother, the awestruck protogeé of a tyrannical yet dependant director, the sexual manipulator of men and women, the screen seductress, the box office poison, the war veteran, the Las Vegas star, the alcoholic, the senile shut-in, the legend that lives on after her death...
...but I digress.
I find this book to be a bittersweet memoir of a mother who was a star to all and only all-too-human to few. Definitely worth at least one or two read-throughs.
Book Review: An 80 Year saga -- seen as it happened
Summary: 5 Stars
Dietrich was a great star -- a legend. Her daughter captures it all, the Hollywood of the 30's, the people, lovers and, yes, the sad moments. The truth and adventure are so readable. The pages just fly by! This book was written while Marlene was alive -- she approved her daughter writing it! I can see why -- the truth always illuminates. Bravo.Book Review: Another Bitter Daughter...
Summary: 1 Stars
Loretta Young, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, now poor Marlene. This is just another sad example of what happens when a star's daughter tries to become Mommy, cannot, and takes out her revenge in book form. Riva, lacking her mother's talent, dedication and smarts, instead penned this often self-contradictory memoir, full of mean-spirited attacks on her mother. Oddly, one comes out admiring Dietrich all the more. She was a nice person, a hard-nosed businesswoman, a brillant and versatile actress. But she certainly cannot have been much of a mother, as her daughter is a sad and sorry piece of work. Get this, if you must, for the photos, but take the "facts" with a grain of salt.