MARLENE IS PERHAPS THE MOST ELEGANT OF THE QUEENS OF CAMP SHE CLAIMED SHE NEVER TOOK HER CAREER SERIOUSLY BUT IN REALITY LIKE MOST OF HER LIFE IT WAS ORGANISED WITH MILITARY PRECISION.
SHE KNEW LIGHTING AND CAMERA ANGLES BETTER THAN ANY DIRECTOR AND WASNT ADVERSE TO OVERRIDING THEM IF SHE THOUGHT SHE COULD DO BETTER.
WHEN HER FILM CAREER FAULTERED SHE TOOK TO THE STAGE FIRSTLY TOURING FOR THE TROOPS THEN BECOMING THE WORLDS HIGHEST PAID CABARET ENTERTAINER. NOT BAD CONSIDERING SHE COULD BARELY CARRY A TUNE BUT THATS NOT WHY THEY CAME AND COME THEY DID IN THEIR THOUSANDS. THEY CAME TO SEE THE LEGEND, JUST THE SIGHT OF HER IN ONE OF HER DIAPHENOUS GOWNS AND UNDER EXPERT LIGHTING AND TALENT DIDNT REALLY COME INTO IT.
MARLENE WAS A SELF MADE CREATION AND AN ILLUSION . THE WORDS MYTHICAL, LEGENDARY AND GODESS ARE OFTEN APPLIED TO DIETRICH AND SHE WOULDNT HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY! SHE GUARDED HER LEGEND AND HER YOUTH FEROCIUOSLY. HER LAST CONCERTS FOUND HER ENCASED IN A FULL LENGTH RUBBER BODY SUIT (ALL THE BETTER TO PRESERVE THE FAMOUS DIETRICH FIGURE) THE FRONT OF HER HAIR WAS BRAIDED THEN THE BRAIDS PULLED BACK AND ATTACHED TO HER SCALP USING SURGICAL PINS! (ALL THE BETTER TO PRESERVE THE FAMOUS DIETRICH FACE)
TOTTERING ON STAGE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF BARBITUATES AND CHAMPAGNE (EVEN HER ADDICTIONS WERE ELEGANT!) FINALLY HER FAMOUS LEGS GAVE OUT AND SHE PLUNGED OFF A STAGE IN AUSTRALIA. THE FUTURE LOOKED BLEAK AND WHEELCHAIR BOUND. BUT THE LEGEND DIDNT QUITE FIT WITH A WHEELCHAIR SO SHE RETIRED TO HER BED AND NEVER LEFT IT UNTILL HER DEATH 11 YEARS LATER. PRESIDENT MITTERAND INSISTED HER COFFIN BE DRAPED IN THE NATIONAL FLAG OF HER ADOPTED HOME (SHE SPENT HER LAST YEARS IN PARIS) SHE WAS CONSIDERED A WAR HERO AND A LEGEND. AND THATS JUST HOW SHE WOULD HAVE WANTED IT.
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