The Devil Is a Woman (1935 film)
- Marlene Dietrich: Concha Perez
- Lionel Atwill: Don Pasqual
- Edward Everett Horton: Don Paquito
- Cesar Romero: Antonio Galvan
- Don Alvarado: Morenito
- Tempe Pigott: Tuerta
- Francisco Moreno: Alphonso
The Devil Is a Woman (OT: The Devil Is a Woman) is an American feature film from the year 1935.
Action
During the carnival in southern Spain Antonio Galvan sees the dancer Concha Perez and falls in love with her. His friend Don Pasqual tells him the story of how Concha Perez once ruined him. The officer took Pasqual Concha from a cigarette factory, where they had to toil hard as a worker. But shortly after she disappeared from his life to show up three months later with a request for money with him again. Again she begins a love affair with Pasqual, disappears after the receipt of the money, however, again. Only six months later, he sees her again by chance, when he visited a nightclub. She works as a singer. Pasqual still loves it, but has to discover that she is in a relationship with the bullfighter Morenito. He goes after her. Concha escapes him together with the torero. Finally Pasqual loses his military position and is discharged from the army. Also Morenito commits suicide due to Concha. According to this story Antonio must swear to his friend, never involved with Concha Perez. He breaks the oath, however, and meets with Concha. As Pasqual Antonio discovered Concha, his jealousy is rekindled. He asks Antonio to a duel. In this duel injured Antonio Pasqual and is arrested by the police. Concha ensures that Antonio is released from prison. Together they wanted to take the train to Paris to escape. At the last moment, however, Concha Antonio leaves and returns to Pasqual.
Background
The Devil Is a Woman is the last movie Marlene Dietrich has played under the direction of its discoverer and promoter Josef von Sternberg. The film was based on the novel La Femme et le Pantin, 1898 (Eng. The woman and the Marionette ) by Pierre Louÿs. The same template was Luis Bunuel for his feature film That Obscure Object of Desire. The Role of the Duel arbitrator held the British actor Lawrence Grant.
Reviews
"The film fell through at the criticism and pushed due to its Spain - image with fierce resistance; Copies were destroyed, the film disappeared into oblivion. Today you can enjoy the movie as a " classic " Sternberg opus, in which is reflected the director behind the trivial surface, which made use of, moreover, Bunuel for That Obscure Object of Desire on the Abolition of defined boundaries and roles and a fascinating game with the beautiful appearance, drives with the conscious and the unconscious. "
Awards
The film took part in the 1935 competition of the International Film Festival of Venice and received an award for best cinematography.