»A film star in his own right« – Marlene Dietrich’s Dolls as Props, Talisman and Fetish

Abstract

In the Deutsche Kinemathek (German Film Museum), Marlene Dietrich’s ‘Chinese doll’ attracts many visitors. What did Marlene Dietrich associate with this doll, which is not essentially different from a children’s doll? The close relationship between her and her dolls has never been kept a secret: As early as 1931, a film magazine was allowed to take pictures of Dietrich with her dolls. There are photos on which only the ‘famous’ legs of the actress are seen with one of her dolls. For her, these dolls were far more than simple props for photo shoots. In this essay, the roles of Dietrich’s dolls in her movies and personal life are outlined. This close human-doll-relationship between an adult women and her dolls is sketched in a historical context.