How did Josef von Sternberg help create Marlene Dietrich's femme fatale image?

Josef von Sternberg was instrumental in crafting Marlene Dietrich’s iconic femme fatale persona, a collaboration that began when he cast her as the sultry nightclub singer Lola Lola in The Blue Angel (1930).12

After bringing Dietrich to the United States and signing her to Paramount Pictures, von Sternberg carefully cultivated this image through a series of films, including Morocco (1930), Shanghai Express (1932), and The Devil Is a Woman (1935). In these roles, he directed her as a dominant, taunting manipulator of men, often utilizing exotic settings and ornate art direction to enhance her aura of sophistication and languid sensuality.12

Beyond the screen, von Sternberg’s guidance helped establish her legendary status, which was further defined by her adoption of androgynous fashion, such as trousers, and her ability to project a magnetism that transcended traditional gender roles. This carefully managed image transformed Dietrich into one of the world’s most glamorous film stars.2