I have watched (recently) both 1930 versions and the 1959 version (remake). Curt Juergens and May Britt give a valiant performance of the latter. The story relates to Heinrich Mann's novel, Professor Unrath. This visual version addresses the viewing public of the day and can also be understood by today's discerning viewer. When watching the Marlene and Emil Jannings (1930) films, (both, in German and English) you are presented with gems of the budding movie industry. Many in the viewing public of the day were still in awe of the 'sound' . The 1930 version under the direction of Josef von Sternberg still needs to proclaim in its introduction, this movie is a 'sound film' ('Tonfilm'). If you like good literature brought to the screen, and are tolerant of interpretations that speak to viewers of the day, you will be pleasantly surprised as I was.
Review of The Blue Angel
