Capital Celluloid 2014 - Day 180: Mon Jun 30

The Song of Songs (Mamoulian, 1933): BFI Southbank, NFT2, 6.10pm


This is part of the Passport to Cinema season at BFI Southbank. The film also screens on 29th June when Dominic Power will be introducing the movie. Details here.

BFI introduction: The Song of Songs marks a (temporary) break in the relationship between Dietrich and director Josef von Sternberg. Dietrich plays Lily Czepanek, an orphaned country girl who comes to Berlin and is caught between an artist (Brian Aherne) who cannot commit himself, and a ruthless aristocrat (Lionel Atwill) bent on possessing her. Rouben Mamoulian’s erotic, psychological melodrama provides Dietrich with one of her most complex and satisfying roles.

Here (and above) is the opening.

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