Director: Josef von Sternberg
Year: 1930
Run-time: 1 hr 31 min
Source: DVD
Wikipedia
Notable for: Josef von Sternberg made a star of Marlene Dietrich earlier in 1930 with the classic film The Blue Angel (not on the list). This is their second film together, made after Dietrich emigrated to America. Set in French-occupied Morocco, it co-stars Gary Cooper as the devil-may-care French Legionnaire who catches Dietrich's eye - von Sternberg seems to have a penchant for anti-heros, considering Docks of New York, his first film on the list. Morocco seems to be somewhat divisive among cineastes, who can't decide whether von Sternberg is breaking gender norms here. There's an intriguing early scene where Dietrich's character kisses a female audience member during a vaudeville performance, but ultimately she falls head over heels for Cooper's character who spurns her after some wavering. The final scene involves Dietrich throwing it all away and following Cooper's battalion as it marches into the desert - not exactly an independent modern heroine.
Verdict: There's no doubt that Dietrich has some great early scenes, and even Cooper's performance is strong, despite his character's general loutishness. It's interesting how quickly certain Hollywood archetypes were established in the sound era, and both of the leads fit neatly into patterns that would persist for a couple decades. Ultimately, I agree with many of the critics who say there's just not enough plot to Morocco to make it a true classic. I can appreciate von Sternberg's use of setting, which doesn't feel overtly racist, although ultimately this story could have taken place anywhere.
Perfect Pairing: It's amusing that, as a romance, Morocco adheres to the same mold that many modern Korean dramas follow: the apathetic leading man, the tiny intimations of a deep emotional connection, even the kind-hearted suitor who will eventually lose out to the jerk. (Dietrich, on the other hand, is not at all like a modern Korean heroine, but ah well.)
Year: 1930
Run-time: 1 hr 31 min
Source: DVD
Wikipedia
Notable for: Josef von Sternberg made a star of Marlene Dietrich earlier in 1930 with the classic film The Blue Angel (not on the list). This is their second film together, made after Dietrich emigrated to America. Set in French-occupied Morocco, it co-stars Gary Cooper as the devil-may-care French Legionnaire who catches Dietrich's eye - von Sternberg seems to have a penchant for anti-heros, considering Docks of New York, his first film on the list. Morocco seems to be somewhat divisive among cineastes, who can't decide whether von Sternberg is breaking gender norms here. There's an intriguing early scene where Dietrich's character kisses a female audience member during a vaudeville performance, but ultimately she falls head over heels for Cooper's character who spurns her after some wavering. The final scene involves Dietrich throwing it all away and following Cooper's battalion as it marches into the desert - not exactly an independent modern heroine.
Verdict: There's no doubt that Dietrich has some great early scenes, and even Cooper's performance is strong, despite his character's general loutishness. It's interesting how quickly certain Hollywood archetypes were established in the sound era, and both of the leads fit neatly into patterns that would persist for a couple decades. Ultimately, I agree with many of the critics who say there's just not enough plot to Morocco to make it a true classic. I can appreciate von Sternberg's use of setting, which doesn't feel overtly racist, although ultimately this story could have taken place anywhere.
Perfect Pairing: It's amusing that, as a romance, Morocco adheres to the same mold that many modern Korean dramas follow: the apathetic leading man, the tiny intimations of a deep emotional connection, even the kind-hearted suitor who will eventually lose out to the jerk. (Dietrich, on the other hand, is not at all like a modern Korean heroine, but ah well.)
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