Sternberg, Josef von#
Sternberg, Josef von (originally Jonas Sternberg), b. Vienna, May 29, 1894, d. Los Angeles (USA), Dec. 22, 1969, film director. From 1908 lived almost permanently in the USA, 1924 made his first film, breakthrough as director of silent films with "Underworld" 1927. 1930 produced the sound film "Der blaue Engel" in Germany, making Marlene Dietrich a world star; subsequently produced six other films with her. After an eventful career he dissociated himself from his previous works 1948, had his valuable art collection put up for auction, and as his own producer made the film "The Saga of Anatahan" (1952), his artistic legacy; from 1963 lecturer at the University of California. Was a friend of e.g. M. Reinhardt and R. Neutra, who built him a villa near New York.
Further works#
Silent films: The Last Command, 1928 (with E. Jannings); The Drag Net, 1928; The Docks of New York, 1928. - sound films: The Case of Lena Smith, 1929; Thunderbolt, 1929; Morocco, 1930; Dishonored, 1931; An American Tragedy, 1931; Shanghai Express, 1932; The Scarlet Empress, 1934; The Devil is a Woman, 1935; Crime and Punishment, 1935 (with P. Lorre); Shanghai Gesture, 1941; The Town, 1943 (documentary film); Jet Pilot, 1950 (with J. Wayne); Macao, 1952 (with R. Mitchum and J. Russell). - Publication: Das Blau des Engels, 1991 (autobiography).Literature#
A. Goetz and H. Banz (eds.), J. v. S. Eine Darstellung, 1966; H. Sanders-Brahms, Marlene und Jo. Recherche einer Leidenschaft, 2000.