Morocco
Directed by Joseph von Sternberg
Written by Jules Furthman from a play by Benno Vigny
1930/US
Paramount Pictures
IMDb page
First viewing/owned DVD
Amy Jolly: There’s a Foreign Legion of women, too. But we have no uniforms, no flags, and no medals – when *we* are brave. No wound stripes – when *we* are hurt.
Von Sternberbg’s smoldering love triangle features Gary Cooper and Marlene Dietrich at their peak.
Amy Jolly (Dietrich) is a cabaret singer who has seen better times and has washed up to start all over again in Morocco. Millionaire Monsieur La Bessiere (Adolphe Menjou) clears customs at the same time she does and immediately offers to “help” her. She refuses.
Foreign Legionnaire Tom Brown is a womanizer who plays fast and loose with ladies from officer’s wives to the local street walkers. Both he and La Bessiere attend Amy’s opening performance. It is lust at first sight as Amy and Tom exchange glances during her act. When she circulates through the audience she hands him her key. He heads straight for her room after her show. After some repartee that leads to his departure, Amy runs after him and he spends the night.
None of this deters La Bessiere in the slightest and he continues to hang around with lavish floral offerings and diamond bracelets. Finally he offers marriage. In the meantime, Tom is called out for combat. The outcome of the love triangle is nominally in question for the length of the film.
Both Dietrich and Cooper are absolutely beautiful in this movie. This is also Dietrich at her softest and most vulnerable, despite some tough poses. This is one film that inexplicably seems unavailable except for purchase whenever I look for it. I’m glad I finally got to see it.
This was Dietrich’s American film debut.
Morocco was nominated for Academy Awards in the categories of Best Actress, Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction.
