May 23: Pre-Code Birthday Bash-Blonde Venus-Mark A. Vieira Lecture/Booksigning

 In honor of the birthdays of Herbert Marshall (May 23, 1890) and Josef von Sternberg (May 29, 1895), Mark A. Vieira presents an entertaining illustrated talk at 3:00 PM preceding a screening of the film Blonde Venus at 5:00 pm, plus, a book-signing of his new book Marlene Dietrich Portraits at 3:30 PM in the lobby.

 

Blonde Venus, 1932, Universal, 93 min. Dir. Josef Von Sternberg. Marlene Dietrich is Helen, a former nightclub entertainer married to scientist Herbert Marshall. Their idyllic family life is shattered when he becomes disabled and she must return to the stage to support him and their son (Dickie Moore). Enter millionaire Cary Grant. Dietrich is luminously hypnotic here. One of the best of the Von Sternberg/Dietrich collaborations, milking every bit of charisma from its two gorgeous stars and miraculously steering the high-voltage melodramatics into poignant revelation by the last frame.

 

Tickets are $7 for members of ADSLA and American Cinematheque. Regular American Cinematheque prices apply for the general public ($11) and students/seniors ($9) and are available via Fandango, or can be purchased on the day of the event at the door. Please bring your ADSLA membership card with you to the box office.

 

The Egyptian Theatre is located at 6712 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, 90028 between Las Palmas and McCadden, just east of Highland Avenue, north of Selma Avenue. Parking: $2 per hour metered parking available near the theatre. $2 for four hours validated parking available at Hollywood & Highland. There are also pay parking lots on Las Palmas and Cherokee that cost approximately $10. Why not take the metro? The Egyptian is a very short walk east from the Hollywood & Highland METRO station.