Line #11 Film/TheBlueAngel


1	[[quoteright:200:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/DerblaueEngel_5831.jpg]]
2
3	''The Blue Angel'' (''Der blaue Engel'') is a 1930 film from Germany's Ufa (''Universum Film Aktiengesellschaft'') studio, directed by Creator/JosefVonSternberg, loosely based on Heinrich Mann's novel ''Literature/ProfessorUnrat'', and starring Emil Jannings. The film is considered to be the first major German sound film and it brought world fame to actress Creator/MarleneDietrich.
4
5	The plot follows Emmanuel Rath (Jannings) through a transformation from esteemed educator at the local Gymnasium to a destitute vagrant in [[UsefulNotes/WeimarRepublic Weimar Germany]]. Rath's descent begins when he punishes several of his students for circulating photographs of the beautiful Lola Lola (Dietrich), the headliner for the local cabaret, "The Blue Angel." Hoping to catch the boys at the club, Professor Rath goes to the club later that evening and meets Lola herself. He soon becomes enthralled with the girl and begins to woo her, slowly being overcome by lust and jealousy regarding the others who watch her act. Tragedy ensues.
6
7	Notable also for introducing the song ', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xntJCG8oL2s Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuß auf Liebe eingestellt]]''‟ (usually translated as "Falling in Love Again") which became Dietrich's SignatureSong. Those familiar with Dietrich's later deep vocal growl are often surprised by her thin soprano in this film.
8
9	''The Blue Angel'' received an English-language remake by Creator/EdwardDmytryk in 1959, starring Creator/CurdJurgens and May Britt. The remake followed the original closely, except for changing the ending. It was not well-received by critics.
10	----
11	!!Tropes in ''The Blue Angel'':
12
13	* AdaptationalAttractiveness: The Professor as played by Emil Jannings is an old gentleman of plain appearance. The character in the book is described as very ugly, dirty and slovenly.
14	* AdaptationNameChange: Lola Lola is called Rosa Fröhlich in the novel.
15	* AdaptationalHeroism: The Professor is a far more sympathetic character in the film than in the novel. In the film, he's merely a SternTeacher while in the book he's a SadistTeacher who hates all of his students, and delights in punishing them. In the film, after he's fired from his school, he's reduced to performing as a clown in in Lola's troupe; in the novel, he starts a gambling ring. [[spoiler: The film ends with his tragic DeathByDespair, while the novel ends with his arrest.]]
16
17	* AnimalMotif: The professor crows like a rooster in two different parts of the film: at his wedding reception when Lola is making chicken noises, and when he's humiliated on-stage at The Blue Angel.
18	* BreakTheHaughty: Rath.
19	* ComeToGawk: The students and later the professor.
20	* DeathByDespair: [[spoiler:Rath at the end. When he lost everything, he returns to his old classroom, and dies clutching the desk.]]
21	* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:Lola kisses the strongman and Rath, destitute and humiliated, dies at the desk where he once taught.]]
22	* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: For Marlene Dietrich, whose singing voice is much higher than it was in her subsequent career.
23	* ExplodingCalendar: Literally burning page after page on screen, as Rath tears them off with Lola's hot curling iron. One of the most powerful and heartbreaking examples of the trope.
24	* FemmeFatale: Lola Lola
25	* {{Foreshadowing}}:
26	** The silent clown that appears when the professor first arrives at The Blue Angel? He's going to be succeeded by the professor in five years.
27	** The bird at the beginning foreshadows [[spoiler:the fate of the professor. Much like the professor, he dies after years of being caged. Both of them have outlived their usefulness]]; as she burns it in the furnace, the housekeeper notes that the bird hasn't sang in years anyway.
28	* HandsomeLech: Hans Albers' strongman, who becomes Rath's rival for Lola's affections.
29	* {{Leitmotif}}: The opening notes of Mozart's ''„[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVd7HM0UJZQ Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen]]''‟ (as played on the town-clock) become symbolic of the respectable life that Rath loses; Lola's „''Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuß''‟ symbolizes her faithlessness.
30	* MeaningfulName: The main character's name, Rath (which means "advice, counsel, good sense"); his students call him "Unrath," which (now spelled without the "h") is German for "something worthless, garbage, dross" -- "a bad idea."
31	* SadClown: The professor, becoming a clown in Lola's troupe to support them. His first performance in full clown make-up, where he is continuously debased and forced to crow like a cock, is the climax of the movie and shows just how pathetic the once proud man has become.
32	* StageMagician: The Master of Ceremonies Kiepert (Kurt Gerron, who would later die in Auschwitz) makes Rath a stooge in his magic act.
33	* StockingFiller
34	* TeensAreMonsters: Rath's pupils aren't the most grateful bunch, calling him "Rat-Shit" before he even finds out about the club and mocking his clown act like he's a chained-up animal.
35	** And then there's them ganging up on the ''one'' boy among them who ''does'' respect the Professor--they frame him for carrying photos of Lola, and later [[NoHoldsBarredBeatDown pound him to a bloody pulp]] for no discernible reason.

Context Film / TheBlueAngel