JOSEF VON STERNBERG

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BB. 

USA, 1931.  Paramount Pictures.  Screenplay by Daniel Nathan Rubin, Josef von Sternberg, from the story X-27 by Josef von Sternberg.  Cinematography by Lee Garmes.  Music by Henry Binstok.  Production Design by Hans Dreier.  Costume Design by Travis Banton.  Film Editing by Josef von Sternberg.

Fans of Greta Garbo in Mata Hari will not enjoy seeing the exact plot revisited in this boring thriller that stars Marlene Dietrich as a female spy who fudges up the biggest job of her life because she falls in love (oh bully, what a surprise). One would hope that as a spy she could be nearly as cool as she is when she dons a man’s tux in her other films, but instead we’re forced to watch Dietrich do silly comedic scenes dressed as a ridiculous milkmaid, among others. For diehard fans of Dietrich’s only.

The Criterion Collection:  #932