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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Another Dietrich-von Sternberg film which continues unspooling in the mind long after the final credits. Ditch any 21st century expectations of what makes a great movie - in 'Morocco'. there's no plot to speak of, no tricksy editing and no action sequences. Although the story involves a alleyway mugging by knife-wielding assassins, and an attack on an enemy machine-gun post, these are dealt with in a casual, languid, distant manner, and never allowed to get in the way of von Sternberg's expressionist play of manners.
To contemporary audiences the film is almost laughable. The actors take whole minutes to cross rooms and exchange clipped, enigmatic dialogue; Gary Cooper's Legionnaire Tom Brown seems to be forever arriving and leaving; while Dietrich's Amy is alternately cool as a cucumber or dizzy with pent-up distress. Cooper and Dietrich never ever say what they feel, instead they hide their emotions behind wry smiles, cigarette smoke and banter. Everything is unspoken. And nothing's filmed on location; von Sternerg's Morocco is a country of the imagination, all light and shade, whose shadowy turbaned residents are mostly seen and not heard, and only provide a exotic alien backdrop to the unfulfilled love affair at centre-stage.
The movie contains some classic movie moments - Dietrich in tux and topper, kissing a woman on the lips; the love-scene in the bedroom with Cooper's fan foreplay; the polite dinner party where Dietrich scatters pearls in all directions when she hears the distant drums of the returning army; her distraught and frantic search through the ranks of the wounded soldiers; and the truly astonishing and surreal climax in the wind-whipped sands of the Sahara.
To contemporary audiences the film is almost laughable. The actors take whole minutes to cross rooms and exchange clipped, enigmatic dialogue; Gary Cooper's Legionnaire Tom Brown seems to be forever arriving and leaving; while Dietrich's Amy is alternately cool as a cucumber or dizzy with pent-up distress. Cooper and Dietrich never ever say what they feel, instead they hide their emotions behind wry smiles, cigarette smoke and banter. Everything is unspoken. And nothing's filmed on location; von Sternerg's Morocco is a country of the imagination, all light and shade, whose shadowy turbaned residents are mostly seen and not heard, and only provide a exotic alien backdrop to the unfulfilled love affair at centre-stage.
The movie contains some classic movie moments - Dietrich in tux and topper, kissing a woman on the lips; the love-scene in the bedroom with Cooper's fan foreplay; the polite dinner party where Dietrich scatters pearls in all directions when she hears the distant drums of the returning army; her distraught and frantic search through the ranks of the wounded soldiers; and the truly astonishing and surreal climax in the wind-whipped sands of the Sahara.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a 1930 movie when film industry was just transitioning from silent movies into sound films, and it was at this time when Marlene Dietrich made her way into Hollywood working with some of the best directors like, Josef von Sternberg and Billy Wilder. Although this is not her best, but she went on to make other great movies in collaboration with Sternberg; The Blue Angel (1930) and Blonde Venus (1932), The Scarlet Empress (1934), The Devil Is a Woman (1935); and "A Foreign Affair" directed Billy Wilder.
The French foreign Legion marches into Morocco as singer Amy Jolly (Marlene Dietrich) arrives from Paris to work at Lo Tinto's cabaret. Legionnaire Tom Brown (Gary Cooper) who happens to be at the club catches her seductive tuxedo-clad act. Both become attracted to each other but bruised by their past lives, they walk cautiously into a romantic relationship while being pursued by others. A wealthy French businessman Monsieur La Bessiere (Adolph Menjou) loves Amy dearly but she couldn't careless for him. Tom Brown has on going affair with Madame Caesar (Eve Southern), wife of one of the officers at his post. The two lovers fight incessantly and make up, but when Brown is sent to a dangerous mission, everyone at the post including Amy and Monsieur La Bessiere concludes that he will never return. Amy decides to follow him like a teenage girl smitten by love and tracks him down at a tavern near the front. Then she starts following him, non-stop, first on high heels, then on naked feet, with a handful of native women, donkeys and goats through the deserts of Spanish Sahara. She never looks back. It is a stunning ending, but nevertheless beautiful. Anyone who is a fan of Marlene Dietrich loves her films. She is adorable, elegant, graceful, poised in rendering her intense sexuality.
1. The Blue Angel - - Two Disc Special Edition [DVD] [1930]
2. Angel [DVD] [1937]
3. Scarlet Empress [DVD] [1934]
The French foreign Legion marches into Morocco as singer Amy Jolly (Marlene Dietrich) arrives from Paris to work at Lo Tinto's cabaret. Legionnaire Tom Brown (Gary Cooper) who happens to be at the club catches her seductive tuxedo-clad act. Both become attracted to each other but bruised by their past lives, they walk cautiously into a romantic relationship while being pursued by others. A wealthy French businessman Monsieur La Bessiere (Adolph Menjou) loves Amy dearly but she couldn't careless for him. Tom Brown has on going affair with Madame Caesar (Eve Southern), wife of one of the officers at his post. The two lovers fight incessantly and make up, but when Brown is sent to a dangerous mission, everyone at the post including Amy and Monsieur La Bessiere concludes that he will never return. Amy decides to follow him like a teenage girl smitten by love and tracks him down at a tavern near the front. Then she starts following him, non-stop, first on high heels, then on naked feet, with a handful of native women, donkeys and goats through the deserts of Spanish Sahara. She never looks back. It is a stunning ending, but nevertheless beautiful. Anyone who is a fan of Marlene Dietrich loves her films. She is adorable, elegant, graceful, poised in rendering her intense sexuality.
1. The Blue Angel - - Two Disc Special Edition [DVD] [1930]
2. Angel [DVD] [1937]
3. Scarlet Empress [DVD] [1934]
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
On the way to perform as a singer in Morocco, Amy (Marlene Dietrich) meets with Monsieur La Bessiere (Adolphe Menjou) on the boat. He falls in love with her but she seems disinterested. That evening she performs in a club and their paths cross once again. Also at the club is Tom (Gary Cooper) who is part of a Foreign Legion troop that is temporarily staying there. Tom and Amy are clearly destined to come together - and they do. The film follows Tom's dalliances with different women and shows the love triangle between Bessier, Amy and Tom. When Tom does not return after the Legion comes back from battle, Amy takes things into her own hands.....
The film is well acted, and both Cooper and Dietrich have star quality. The story is about Cooper's nomadic lifestyle with the Foreign Legion and the effect this has on Dietrich who has the choice of going with him or settling with Menjou. Dietrich has some excellent scenes, eg, her first appearance on stage which includes the kiss she gives to a female audience member and ends with her throwing a flower to Cooper. The songs aren't very good but Dietrich is compelling to watch as she delivers them.
The film is a love story so it strives for atmosphere more than action.
The film is well acted, and both Cooper and Dietrich have star quality. The story is about Cooper's nomadic lifestyle with the Foreign Legion and the effect this has on Dietrich who has the choice of going with him or settling with Menjou. Dietrich has some excellent scenes, eg, her first appearance on stage which includes the kiss she gives to a female audience member and ends with her throwing a flower to Cooper. The songs aren't very good but Dietrich is compelling to watch as she delivers them.
The film is a love story so it strives for atmosphere more than action.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A little dated as to style, but historically interesting
I was aware when I decided to buy this DVD that the style of playacting might feel a little dated, but I was curious to see what it was like - partly for that reason. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Berit Storset
Moroco 1930
I can see why Gary Cooper had the part of Beau Geste in 1939, in Moroco he is a Legionair as well.The teaming with Marlene Deitrich was right. Read more
Published on 10 Oct 2009 by A. R. Ricketts
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