Manpower, l'entraineuse fatale

Marlene Dietrich's second American career began at Universal in 1939. At the time she made her first appearance as the star of A Warner Brost/First National Picture, followed by Columbia and a return to Universal. The original script was provided by Richard Macaulay and Jerry Wald, whose biggest hit up to that point was The Roaring Twenties. As the title suggests, Manpower is a man's film full of friendship, action, and, of course, the battle for the fateful woman. Edward G. Robinson and George Raft were true friends of Marlene and it was therefore not difficult to succumb to her immortal charms on screen. Although Marlene's main occupation as Fay Duval is surviving in a nightclub as a companion and occasional singer (she is indeed accompanied by Friedrich Hollaendr for "He Lied and I Listened"), the film has no shortage of settings such as a delightful modern kitchen straight out of the latest catalog. In contrast, there is a muddy road under a sizzling powerline, in the structure of which the finale takes place. Indeed, Marlene's proverbial civilian "role" as the cook who won't put down her cigarette even in a perfectly fitting apron is magnificent. How many pages have been written about her famous soups? In this film, however, she bakes American cookies. Yet as it happens, nothing ideal lasts forever and the shadow of a penitentiary, violence, and senseless forgiveness of violent criminals is present everywhere. The similar drama Pittsburgh, which Marlene made the following year, fares a little better in comparison. Marlene's edgy Milo Anderson costumes don't give her body much room to move, and a substantial knee-revealing cape and tasteful beret would have sufficed. Not to mention the excessive bangs, which at least a small hat would have softened. Evening dresses are literally destined to dazzle only the soldiers at the front. Naturally, the slap by Raft that knocks her down is simply unforgivable. (13/02/2009)