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Beautiful images from David Bowie’s least favorite film role, 1978’s ‘Just a Gigolo’
12.12.2016
10:09 am
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US 1-sheet poster for the 1978 film ‘Just a Gigolo.’
 

“Everybody who was involved in that film – when they meet each other now, they look away (covers face with hands, laughs)... Listen, you were disappointed, and you weren’t even in it. Imagine how we felt… It was my 32 Elvis Presley movies rolled into one.”

‘‘David Bowie in a 1980 interview with New Music Express about his 1978 film, Just a Gigolo

 

You might think that the trifecta of David Bowie, Marlene Dietrich and one of Alfred Hitchcock’s blonde obsessions, Kim Novak all appearing in the same film would result in one of the greatest movies of all time. And if not that, something interesting? Passable? However, as you can see from his reflection on Just a Gigolo, Bowie felt that the film didn’t exactly meet his expectations despite its clever premise and star power.

Directed by British actor David Hemmings (Blowup) and financed by Germans, Just a Gigolo was an extravagant undertaking and has been rumored to be the most expensive film ever produced in the country at that time. It would also mark the great Marlene Dietrich’s return from retirement as well as her last appearance on the silver screen for which the then 77-year-old actress was allegedly paid 250,000 for two-days work. And though it’s dreamy to imagine Bowie and Dietrich filming scenes together, that never happened as Dietrich was filmed in Paris and all of Bowie’s scenes were shot in Berlin.

Though Bowie knocked film it’s got many memorable moments including a scene of the Thin White Duke taking a bath while being berated by a Prince played by Curd Jürgens; Novak’s character “Helga von Kaiserling” trying to seduce Bowie’s character (“Paul Ambrosius von Przygodski”) in a graveyard, and Dietrich’s unforgettable performance of “Just a Gigolo” at the conclusion of the film. To say nothing of the fact that then-then only 30-year-old Bowie plays a dashing male gigolo who makes money by wooing older rich women. It also has—and I would be remiss in leaving this out—a contribution by the Village People on the soundtrack! If you’ve never seen this wonderfully quirky film it’s actually pretty wild to watch, and I hope that the images in this post convince you that it’s worth your time. I’ve also included the American language trailer for Just a Gigolo accompanied by Dietrich’s haunting vocals for you at the end of the post.
 

David Bowie and Kim Novak in ‘Just a Gigolo.’
 

 
More after the jump…

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Posted by Cherrybomb
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12.12.2016
10:09 am
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Vintage photos of female starlets and musical icons chilling with their turntables
09.30.2015
11:08 am
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Marlene Dietrich and her turntable, 1956
Marlene Dietrich and her turntable, 1956
 
Originally known as a phonograph (or gramophone), turntables have been around since 1877. I think it’s fair to say that many of us have fond memories of our first Fisher-Price record player, and that most of you who are reading this right now still probably own a turntable and a fat stack of records to boot.
 
Bille Holiday, her pitbull Mister and her turntable
Billie Holiday, her pitbull Mister and her turntable, 1945
 
I’m sure you’ve probably seen many photos of your favorite rock stars or celebrities posing with their prized record collections, or spinning said vinyl on a sweet portable turntable in a hotel room. That said, I’m going to hedge a bet that the vast majority of the photos in this post will be new to your eyes.

From screen icons like Marlene Dietrich to musical chanteuse Billie Holiday, they all adored their turntables. And I’ve dug up photographic proof of this love affair that in some cases dates back all the way to 1925. I’ve done my best to attach dates to the images. The “good old days,” have never looked better. Enjoy!
 
Jean Harlow in a scene from The Girl from Missouri, 1934
Jean Harlow in a shot from The Girl from Missouri, 1934
 
Gloria Vanderbilt
Gloria Vanderbilt
 
Lauren Hutton around 1960 with her record player
Jill Melford
 
More after the jump…
 

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Posted by Cherrybomb
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09.30.2015
11:08 am
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Just a really cool photo of Ray Bradbury and Marlene Dietrich, 1935
05.20.2013
11:00 am
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Future Sci-Fi great Ray Bradbury looks fresh-faced (he was but 15 years old) and diva’s diva Dietrich, as ever, is just looking fierce when the pair were photographed together outside the gates of Paramount Pictures in 1935.

I tried to figure out how these two would have known each other. All I could find was an interview Bradbury did with Playboy in 1995 which might explain the circumstances of how they met:

Playboy: What brought you to Hollywood in the first place?

Bradbury: The Depression brought me here from Waukegan, Illinois. The majority of people in the country were unemployed. My dad had been jobless in Waukegan for at least two years when in 1934 he announced to my mom, my brother and me that it was time to head West. I had just turned 14 when we got to California with only 40 dollars, which paid for our rent and bought our food until he finally found a job making wire at a cable company for $14 a week. That meant I could stay in Los Angeles, which was great. I was thrilled.

Playboy: With what aspect of it?

Bradbury: I was madly in love with Hollywood. We lived about four blocks from the Uptown Theater, which was the flagship theater for MGM and Fox. I learned how to sneak in. There were previews almost every week. I’d roller-skate over there—I skated all over town, hell-bent on getting autographs from glamorous stars. It was glorious. I saw big MGM stars such as Norma Shearer, Laurel and Hardy, Ronald Coleman. Or I’d spend all day in front of Paramount or Columbia, then zoom over to the Brown Derby to watch the stars coming or going. I’d see Cary Grant, Marlene Dietrich, Fred Allen, Burns and Allen—whoever was on the Coast. Mae West made her appearance—bodyguard in tow—every Friday night.

There’s also this snip from a 1991 LIFE interview:

I still have my autographs and a few roller skate ball bearings left over from those days so long ago. Almost all of the people I met then are gone, but miraculously Marlene and George have survived. The light that comes out of these pictures is a constant rerun of my life as a somewhat silly but always loving boy, terribly reluctant to enter manhood.

Previously on Dangerous Minds:
A Writer’s Life: Ray Bradbury on writing and the importance of the subconscious
 

Posted by Tara McGinley
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05.20.2013
11:00 am
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Marlene Dietrich screen test 1929
08.22.2011
11:55 pm
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Marlene Dietrich performs a screen test for director Josef von Sternberg in 1929 for the movie The Blue Angel.

Is she in character as the femme fatale Lola Lola or is she being a prima donna? Either way, she was obviously right for the role.

The Blue Angel premiered at the Gloria Palast theater in Berlin on March 31, 1930 and received rave reviews. The film propelled Dietrich to International stardom.
 

Posted by Marc Campbell
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08.22.2011
11:55 pm
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