Dita Parlo
Encyclopedia
Dita Parlo was a German film
actress.
Born Grethe Gerda Kornstädt in Stettin (present-day Szczecin
), Parlo made her first film appearance in Homecoming
in 1928 and quickly became a popular actress in Germany
. During the 1930s she moved easily between German and French
language films, achieving success in such films as L'Atalante
(1934) and La Grande Illusion (1937).
Parlo attempted to establish a career in American
films but despite a couple of roles in Hollywood films, was unable to extend her European success. She was scheduled to appear in the proposed Orson Welles
production of Joseph Conrad
's Heart of Darkness
for RKO Radio Pictures. However, that project did not come to pass, and Welles began work on Citizen Kane
. With the outbreak of World War II
, Parlo returned to Germany. She appeared in only three films during the last thirty years of her life, making her final film appearance in 1965.
In more recent times, she has been referenced by Madonna
, who said she had been fascinated by Parlo, and took her name for the character she created for her Sex
book and Erotica album. Its title track commences with the line "My name is Dita, I'll be your mistress tonight... " Burlesque performer Dita Von Teese
took her name in tribute to Parlo.
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
actress.
Born Grethe Gerda Kornstädt in Stettin (present-day Szczecin
Szczecin
Szczecin , is the capital city of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland. It is the country's seventh-largest city and the largest seaport in Poland on the Baltic Sea. As of June 2009 the population was 406,427....
), Parlo made her first film appearance in Homecoming
Homecoming (1928 film)
Homecoming is a 1928 German film directed by Joe May.- Plot :Richard and Karl are German prisoners of war in Siberia. Since escape is almost impossible, they are unguarded and live an almost idyllic existence running a ferry...
in 1928 and quickly became a popular actress in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. During the 1930s she moved easily between German and French
Cinema of France
The Cinema of France comprises the art of film and creative movies made within the nation of France or by French filmmakers abroad.France is the birthplace of cinema and was responsible for many of its early significant contributions. Several important cinematic movements, including the Nouvelle...
language films, achieving success in such films as L'Atalante
L'Atalante
L'Atalante is a 1934 French film directed by Jean Vigo and starring Jean Dasté, Dita Parlo and Michel Simon. It has been hailed by many critics as one of the greatest films of all time.-Plot summary:...
(1934) and La Grande Illusion (1937).
Parlo attempted to establish a career in American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
films but despite a couple of roles in Hollywood films, was unable to extend her European success. She was scheduled to appear in the proposed Orson Welles
Orson Welles
George Orson Welles , best known as Orson Welles, was an American film director, actor, theatre director, screenwriter, and producer, who worked extensively in film, theatre, television and radio...
production of Joseph Conrad
Joseph Conrad
Joseph Conrad was a Polish-born English novelist.Conrad is regarded as one of the great novelists in English, although he did not speak the language fluently until he was in his twenties...
's Heart of Darkness
Heart of Darkness
Heart of Darkness is a novella written by Joseph Conrad. Before its 1903 publication, it appeared as a three-part series in Blackwood's Magazine. It was classified by the Modern Library website editors as one of the "100 best novels" and part of the Western canon.The story centres on Charles...
for RKO Radio Pictures. However, that project did not come to pass, and Welles began work on Citizen Kane
Citizen Kane
Citizen Kane is a 1941 American drama film, directed by and starring Orson Welles. Many critics consider it the greatest American film of all time, especially for its innovative cinematography, music and narrative structure. Citizen Kane was Welles' first feature film...
. With the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Parlo returned to Germany. She appeared in only three films during the last thirty years of her life, making her final film appearance in 1965.
In more recent times, she has been referenced by Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, who said she had been fascinated by Parlo, and took her name for the character she created for her Sex
Sex (book)
Sex is a coffee table book written by Madonna with photographs by Steven Meisel Studio and film frames taken from film shot by Fabien Baron. The book was edited by Glenn O'Brien. Sex was released on October 21, 1992 by Warner Books...
book and Erotica album. Its title track commences with the line "My name is Dita, I'll be your mistress tonight... " Burlesque performer Dita Von Teese
Dita Von Teese
Dita Von Teese is an American burlesque dancer, model, costume designer, author and actress.-Early life:...
took her name in tribute to Parlo.
Filmography
- 1928 Geheimnisse des Orients
- 1928 Heimkehr
- 1928 Die Dame mit der Maske
- 1928 Ungarische Rhapsodie
- 1929 Manolesu - Der König der Hochstapler
- 1929 Melodie des Herzens
- 1930 KismetKismetKismet may refer to:* Fate or Destiny in Turkish and Hindi-Urdu, a predetermined course of events, from Persian qesmat, from Arabic qisma, lot, from qasama, to divide, allot...
(German version produced by Warner Brothers) - 1930 Au bonheur des dames
- 1931 Die heilige Flamme
- 1931 Menschen hinter Gittern
- 1931 Tropennächte
- 1931 Honor of the Family
- 1931 Tänzerinnen für Süd-Amerika gesucht
- 1931 Wir schalten um auf Hollywood
- 1933 Rapt
- 1933 Mr. Broadway (US, starring Ed SullivanEd SullivanEdward Vincent "Ed" Sullivan was an American entertainment writer and television host, best known as the presenter of the TV variety show The Ed Sullivan Show. The show was broadcast from 1948 to 1971 , which made it one of the longest-running variety shows in U.S...
) - 1934 L'AtalanteL'AtalanteL'Atalante is a 1934 French film directed by Jean Vigo and starring Jean Dasté, Dita Parlo and Michel Simon. It has been hailed by many critics as one of the greatest films of all time.-Plot summary:...
- 1936 Mademoiselle Docteur
- 1937 La Grande Illusion
- 1937 Under Secret OrdersUnder Secret OrdersUnder Secret Orders is a British thriller film directed by Edmond T. Gréville and starring Dita Parlo, John Loder and Erich von Stroheim.-Plot:...
(English-language version of Mademoiselle DocteurStreet of ShadowsStreet of Shadows is a 1937 French drama film directed by Georg Wilhelm Pabst. An English-language version was made under the title Under Secret Orders.-Cast:* Pierre Blanchar - Grégor Courdane* Dita Parlo - Mademoiselle Docteur...
) - 1938 L'affaire du courrier de Lyon
- 1938 Ultimatum
- 1938 La rue sans joie
- 1938 Paix sur le Rhin
- 1938 L'inconnue de Monte Carlo
- 1940 L'or du Cristobal
- 1950 Justice est faite
- 1965 La dame de pique