Early international icon Marlene Dietrich thought it would be easiest for everyone to believe she made her debut with her acclaimed breakout talkie The Blue Angel in 1930 from her most famous collaborator, Josef von Sternberg. The pairing of Dietrich and von Sternberg is the stuff of cinematic legend, and it would be nice to believe that was her entry into acting. The truth is, she had played in plenty of Weimar pictures for almost a decade prior, including a notable starring role a year before in Curtis Bernhardt’s silent German drama The Woman One Longs For. Based on the novel of the same title by Max Brod, the film finds Dietrich in a familiar place – as the object of obsession in the middle of a love triangle. The film is an interesting one as it nimbly flows through its narrative with a lack of concern for certain plot threads in favor of sticking with its most immediate emotions. Characters are somewhat unpredictable throughout, which is what makes this such an enthralling story from beginning to end. Dietrich may have shined brightest with von Sternberg, but she packs quite a punch here, as well.
Our story begins in the south of France as a young businessman Henri Leblanc (Uno Henning) attempts to avoid bankruptcy by entering into marriage with young Angela Poitrier (Edith Edwards), the daughter of a magnate (Karl Etlinger). Henri is not altogether against the prospect of marrying Angela, but he does not feel the spark one longs for in a life partner. Yet, he does feel something along the lines of that spark as he is boarding his honeymoon train as he locks eyes with the alluring Stascha (Marlene Dietrich) through a frosted window. It takes but just a moment for Henri to crumble into a man with a singular focus; he must find this mysterious woman and learn everything about her. It is not long before they meet and Stascha is begging for Henri’s help extricating herself from her fearsome traveling companion Dr. Karoff (Fritz Kortner). The specifics of their relationship are unclear at first, but Henri knows he is ready to abandon his new bride just for a chance to be with this woman.
The Woman One Longs For is a journey that often seems keen on throwing the audience a little off balance. Among the opening shots is a dark and oppressive industrial montage that introduces the Leblanc empire that sets the stage for what would appear to be an expansive tale about business entities, including quick but vital characterization of the Poitrier family, before pretty swiftly dispatching them from the narrative with no real regard for how this broken marriage ripples through their lives. It is meant to help show how all-encompassing this sudden obsession is for Henri, who stands to lose everything just because he has fallen for Stascha. The more we learn about Stascha, the more we have to question what is really going on with her and whether or not she is as innocent as she is playing. The femme fatale role is one that suits Dietrich well, as she uses her beguiling eyes to draw you in and want to care for her – consequences be damned. Fritz Kortner is excellent as the malevolent figure who may or may not be just another person under the spell of Stascha. Watching this dynamic play out is thrilling and heartbreaking.
One of the most impressive things about the narrative is how it never truly seeks to pass judgement on what is steadily unveiled. The audience is left to decide who they feel is right and who they feel is wrong. Characters are left purposefully ambiguous with stories and motivations you can choose to believe or not. From a filmmaking perspective, Bernhardt completely knocks it out of the park. The camera is used in such a graceful manner as he employs complex angles that would soon become more of a part of cinema, but feels a bit revolutionary here. It is through his camera that he leans on the expressive nature of his actors’ faces – the dialogue and establishing intertitles are kept to a very minimum as physicality brings this story to life. The Woman One Longs For is a story that does not reveal itself completely with one viewing. There is a lot to unpack with the performances, but what you can tell from your initial viewing is that you have seen something quite special. Marlene Dietrich is at the forefront of this picture, but the truth is the main trio of actors are all helping out equally in different ways. This feature is a wonderful piece of filmmaking.
Video Quality
The Woman One Longs For makes its Blu-Ray debut thanks to Kino Classics with a decent transfer from a 2012 restoration by the Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau Stiftung. For a film that is over 90 years old, this is a truly pleasing presentation. The gorgeous black-and-white photography shines in high definition with natural grain intact. There is a fair amount of detail present with nice textures on the clothing and within the production design. The transfer shows off a great amount of depth and enhanced detail within the film’s composition. Black levels present with some depth with no overwhelming occurrence of black crush or compression artifacts. The contrast is mostly well defined, but the transfer experiences a noticeable amount of flicker and specks of damage to the print. There are also a few stray, faint vertical lines that make a quick appearance without ruining the overall aesthetic of the film. Kino Classics has done as well as could be expected given the quality of the source material.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray presents the film with two tracks, a LPCM 2.0 track and a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that both sound pretty wonderful. The 2.0 track is the default track and sounds a bit more natural and powerful with this material, but the surround track is nice if you want a fully enveloping experience. The film is graced with an original orchestral score by Pascal Schumacher that is quite whimsical. As this is a silent film, the music is the only element to contend with in these tracks, and they both sound bright and lovely with no clipping or age related wear and tear. Classic film fans should be beyond pleased with the sound quality of these two tracks, as the new pieces seem to complement the visuals perfectly.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Film Historian Gaylyn Studlar provides a very insightful commentary track in which she takes you through the story while putting it into context, discusses the behind-the-scenes details and history of key figures in the production, explores some of the filmmaking techniques, delves into the film’s legacy and much more. The movie is not difficult to follow, but this track is a very worthwhile listen to if you want to gain an even greater appreciation for the nuance within the film.
Final Thoughts
The Woman One Longs For is an impressive breakthrough for the great Marlene Dietrich. The allure rolling off the screen is apparent from the very first moment she appears, and the ensemble who surround her in this tragic tale are all putting in just as great of work as this future icon. Director Curtis Bernhardt shows a flair for filmmaking techniques that helps the narrative of this story match its creative potential. Kino Classics has delivered this Blu-Ray with a really stellar A/V presentation and an insightful commentary track that fans will want to take time to listen to. If you are a fan of Marlene Dietrich or well-done silent-era dramas, this one should be on your list. Recommended
The Woman One Longs For will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray on June 8, 2021.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
