Ep 109: Marlene Dietrich in Desire (1936)

In 1935, Marlene Dietrich was at a turning point in her career. Paramount studio had decided to end her professional collaboration with director Josef von Sternberg. Marlene needed to prove that she could carry a picture without her reported 'Svengali'. She renewed her contract with a provision that she would have Ernst Lubitsch as director, but he was made head of studio production and had no time to direct. Marlene chose Frank Borzage as a replacement. With Gary Cooper cast as co-star, the picture was a critical and commercial success, and demonstrated that Marlene had a knack for light romantic comedy.