I've read the book, and it's not nearly as lurid as you might expect from this interview. In fact it's a clear and honest, but loving, look at a parent who happened to be a legendary movie star. What I found fascinating about the book was Riva's ability to see the many sides of Dietrich: the outrageous egotist and the disciplined professional, the warm and generous woman and the manipulative mother, the patriotic USO entertainer and tough anti-Nazi and the spendthrift who went through piles of money. Riva has managed to see her mother as a complex human being -something most of us still have trouble doing - and found a way to love and admire her warts and all. It's a remarkable book by a loving daughter and very sophisticated writer.
I completely agree with you about Riva's ability to step back and really see her mother. I also love that she doesn't let Sawyer take her down a maudlin path in the interview.
I agree. I read the book years ago, and also found it to be direct and loving--and very well-written, almost intellectual. This TV interview was fascinating, but I don't think it really was representative of the book at all.
Did you also found it very sophisticated that in the first chapter she described the way her mothers incontinence diapers were beeing changed and that her appartment always smelt of urine? I thought it was a disgusting book. When you are seventy and still looking for love from someone who wasn't able to give it and then do it by writing a book like this - aiiiiiii. That's pretty revolting. And for money. Nothing else. I bet she had every reason to hate some of the things Marlene did. Well - she should have come to terms with her or walk away from her in private. Don't walk to all o the talk shows and tell the same story over and over. That's beeing mean and greedy.
The malignant effects on a child of a woman with a histrionic/narcissistic personality disorder. Monstrous mother....fabulous star. Much respect and empathy to Maria to have survived with such dignity and the capacity to love and care for her own family. Inspirational .
Yes Maria cared for her family with Marlene's money she supported Maria's whole family !rediculous Marlene was a product of the time period she lived in and stayed on top for many many years she was a strong self willed woman way ahead of her time !
It's not a betrayal when someone who suffered through a hard childhood or unfit parents or abuse talk. It's their story, and telling our story is a basic human need. I hope Maria found healing, she's a strong woman.
Everyone seems to think this book is another Mommie Dearest, read it and you'll find out it's not. Maria is honest yet respectful of her mother, there's no hate in the book, pain yes. Obviously it's hard to grow with a mother who is a living legend.
I find it interesting that while Dietrich, Crawford, and Davis have been lambasted by their daughters in books, not one bad word has ever been written about Elizabeth Taylor by her four kids. In fact, they openly revered her. Taylor must have done something right! Her kids were with her all the time.
Lizzy was a superb mother and even adopted Maria, a handicapped German girl, paid for her operations and made sure she grew up to become a beautiful woman, God bless Elizabeth, loving mum
Didnt Liz sleep with her best friends husband after hers died and broke up the Debbie Reynolds-carrie fisher household? I know she was probably erratic at the moment but still cmon
Wayne and Dietrich did have an affair that lasted through the three movies they made together. Wayne told his last wife Pilar many stories about their affair. One of the reasons Dietrich kept Maria close was Maria was threatened with kidnapping in the early 30s. Maria was on the set of "Blonde Venus" every day when the crisis was unfolding.
Good Interview. I met Dietrich a few times when my friend Stan Freeman was conducting for her. Stories? Maria is "right on". I could tell you a few. Bottom line- when I saw her 'show' for the first time, in London... I thought she was 'fabulous'. I guess you had to be there and be of a 'certain age'. Amazing that Maria is as sane as she is.
I watched it on youtube and loved it, and I have no nostalgia factor (I'm 21). I think she was immensely talented, which doesn't in any way excuse the way she treated Maria and Tami.
That's what hapens when you believe 100% in your own hype. Marlene had the right to do so but not on the expense of others including her own daughter. It's a common trait regarding those old divas. May West was like that too allegedly but was wise enough to choose to not have children. That's the difference.
Well, my mom wasn’t famous, but I sure could write a book too! ( But, who would buy it!) 😄 My mom was in no way what you’d call ‘physically’ abusive, never drank, but, a very ‘ me ‘ person and cold and you had to walk on ‘eggshells’ to get along with her. I never gave her any trouble, and never GOT in trouble! I just put on a ‘happy face’ ( no crybabies allowed) until I grad. HS and at 18 left! But, like a ‘ dutiful’ daughter I always came back. Friends and relatives would always tell her she had a lovely daughter (their words, not mine!) and that she was lucky. She would just look at them and say nothing. Subject was changed. And, no I don’t have children.
i imagine the fame and fortune of deitrich would warp anyone, the constant praise, privilege, and comfort would become normal. love how maria describes dietrich's life as being a slave to her image, no doubt she loved what she did... it's just hard to imagine being so famous and wealthy, and being by yourself with it. idk, she loved to party and have fun, can't fault her for that. maria is very intelligent and you can tell has a very keen sense of how the human mind works, very smart to compartmentalize her mothers life, being extremely proud of her accomplishments but very disappointed with how she managed it.
I urge anyone who hasn't already done so to read Maria's amazing book about her mother. It's beautifully written and an amazing book. Maria is an amazing woman!
I have always felt fascinating about Marlene Dietrich, her persona,her charisma, her inteligence,her hability to manipulate peolple. Now Ive aterted reading The Book and i feel much more fascinated by her. Maria is a really great writter and a survivor !!! Greetings from Buenos Aires !!!
Fascinating interview. Marlene is still a legend and an inimitable star but you can understand Maria's pain. It's maybe a shame Maria wrote this so soon after her mother's death because the emotions are still very raw but I think that's what makes this interview so engrossing. Looking after an elderly recluse for so long must leave you with much pain and suffering. Maria probably had to get this off her chest (but maybe not so publicly..... ). Whatever people might say about Dietrich, you can't ignore the strength and grit and allure of this great Prussian who battled through to the bitter end despite the loneliness and decay. Dietrich will always be a star and a legend despite the flaws. Both ladies are great and deserve respect in their own way.
The book isn’t written in a sensational or emotional way at all. It’s a document written in almost clinical detail. It’s a stunning and impressive work.
From what I have read in other biographies Maria and her family were supported financially all her adult life and of course Maria was supported by Marlene very comfortably all through her childhood also. From what I have read Maria's father did nothing financially! I have great respect for Marlene Dietrich she was a strong woman before her time and rose to the top by being the best! She was a free thinker and lived her life to the fullest.She knew her craft and knew how to get what she wanted without anyone's help. She made herself a star and depended on her own determination to last at the top for a very long time. She was a very remarkable woman ! Rest in Peace Marlene you don't owe anybody anything they owe you !!!
@@Eckoolt Life today without money you will find yourself living under a bridge and eating out of a soup kitchen ! Try living without money in 2019 ! Maria and her husband lived very comfortably on Marlene's money neither she or her husband never held down jobs! Marlene was still working into her late 70's and still supporting them! I think Maria resented her mother's beauty, talent, money and free lifestyle !
@@anntraylor1849 I know that you cant survive without money. But look there are people who have alot of it, fame, looks and are miserable. Narcissistic parents oftet do more harm to their kids than good.
@@Eckoolt We do not know if Marlene was narcissistic or not either way narcissism is a mental disorder which was not known at that time. I think Marlene did the best she could in taking care of her daughter without any help from anyone. I just hate relatives writing these so called tell all books after a person is dead so that person cannot defend themselves. But Maria waited till her mother was dead or she wouldn't have inherited a dime. Then she made a fortune over her mothers dead body ! That's wrong !
I can understand the bitterness of Maria Riva (and she is very bitter here), but Dietrich's husband, and Dietrich's husband's lover were adults, and what happened was THEIR choice and responsibility.
Holy *, Dietrech essentially killed Tommie, allowed her daughter to be alone with a known sexual harrasser and her daughter says 'I didn't go to school, I didn't have friends' - however her daughter frames it, it is abuse!!!!!
Put things into perspective. While Madonna was HUGE in the 80s and 90s, there still wasn't the TV and nearly as many magazines or award shows, all that as there were for Madonna. There were no videos. Dietrich was lucky to get a radio interview. PERSPECTIVE. You're talking a fifty year divide. "JUST" built up legend status over 70 years? Madonna played off of Dietrich, Monroe, while THEY were the original. Madonna WISHES she was Marlene. Madonna did everything she COULD to be famous....Marlene...simply WAS...
Elena B I do not know how much you know about Hollywood at that time but by your comments I would believe not much.Marlene Dietrich did not put herself on a pedestal the Hollywood studios an the cash paying audiences did. Dietrich had an iron will to pull herself to the top and she was at the top of the studio hierarchy for a very long time by her own artistic talent She had more common sense then most of Hollywood at that time.who fell by the wayside she stayed on top.She kept the studios and her audiences happy into her seventies all on her own. Maria Riva lifestyle and that of her husband was supported by Marlene. Maria was always in awe of her Mother and also wanted to be an actress but couldn't cut it.Maria was just envious and jealous of her mothers fame. You must remember a biography written by a relative is always bias in one way or another. There are Stars whose legacies will last an eternity like Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe,Rita Hayworth an also Marlene Dietrich who was once called " The Blonde Venus " but I think in reality she could honestly also be remembered as the Blonde Genius.Rest in Peace Marlene you will always be remembered.
My brother and i are going through it at the moment ‘ your poor 89 year old mother you have neglected and rejected so badly’. Her younger sister whom she abused all her life died two weeks ago. We didnt find out until it was too late to go to the funeral, send flowers etc’ it reinforced my mother ‘ see they dont care about her or me who gave my life to them’. Yes, she, who had blocked our calls so we couldn’t do anything if we wanted to. Let her rot in her Italian and Parisian suits. Let her die alone and friendless. She has alienated everyone and in doing so has inadvertently isolated herself. Maria you have my deepest admiration for sticking it out to the end and remaining so strong and not embittered. We have been too damaged to be so generous. You went from strength to strength with unending kindness. You are a rare lady
Having read Maria Riva's book, I came away with the impression that Dietrich was a whackjob. I think anybody who has been put on a pedestal, as Dietrich was, needs a great deal of common sense not to let it to go to her head. Dietrich seems to have lacked common sense.
TAMI. Not "Tommy." She went mad not from just the abortions, but from the insane verbal abuse. Rudi constantly accused her of doing everything completely wrong but breathing. (Pronunciation is the same.) Tami was beyond abused, that poor, beautiful woman.
Oh Maria how i wished you’d been my mother. When you started to talk about power i started to cry......and i never cry. You were so lucky to be stronger than my brother and myself, i am a mental and physical cripple, my brother a highly successful functioning alcoholic. My mother aged 88 has cut all communication, blocked phones refuses to acknowledges us. The family horror stories are legend. She sits in her beautiful house dressed in Italian silk and french lace- alone. She says ‘ nobody contacts me, my children ignore me. I dont know why. Ive done nothing but tell them the truth about themselves’. The woman is a paedophilic mental and physical torturer. She is not mentally ill. She is evil. You and i know what these people do to other people. Tami, my mothers younger sister whose life she destroyed. With the rest of us.
Quite a revelation on this icon! Maria Riva is very credible. What a sad thing to grow up with so much glamor and excitement around you, yet with so little personal attention from parents and mother. That is true poverty. At least in the end, Maria had the last laugh on Marlene - the money from auctioning off her mother's fame.
I was a little confused because the daughter seemed to be saying Marlene didn’t care much for sex at all, or that she preferred women sexually but was more romantically interested in men.
I'm a huge Dietrich fan, but I also recognize that Dietrich was human and deeply flawed like the rest of us. I've read this book 3 times and I still love it and Dietrich. As Maria said, "you've read it, do you still love my Mother?"
Maria was a spoiled brat that never really appreciated all the tireless hard work her mother did for the world, in everything she accomplished, so typical child-of-a- movie-star ungratefulness. Dietrich was more than just a famous woman; she was a global symbol of great beauty, of glamour, luxury, androgyny, elegance, of courage, honor, & great strength and resilience. Not just anybody who's super famous for being a German during WW2 becomes an American citizen and joins the good fight, on the frontlines, with the Allies against the unspeakable crimes of the Nazis... She bravely also knew she was Hitler's #1 target to capture, the Nazis most valued prisoner of war!! Maria shouldve helped her mother more, not less....
I suppose after a lifetime of work if the 78 year old Dietrich chose to confine herself to her apt and drink, take pills, write and then talk/flirt on the phone for the final stretch of her life.....why not???? Sounds good to me.
The "voice" that book is written in is SO likable, it's hard to put down. If it's Maria's....you'll fall in love with her. Or should I say "Katelien?" To her liking?
It is all that Marlene has done for her, only that her daughter with all the hatred she feels towards her mother, it upsets everything. Trust me, Marlene didn't miss out on anything. She would also give her life for her, as any mother would do...
I am happy to have given you the right information and that you immediately agreed with me. You made the right choice, you will not regret it.😊 Marlene was not a monster, her daughter and her grandchildren are. I am a great friend of her grandson’s brother-in-law, and we are collaborating with some loyal fans who I hope will become many, to spread the truth about Marlene's tragic end. #JusticeforMarleneDietrich❤️
@@jeanvocalist This doesn't have to be just my project or her relative's. But also yours, all of you fans! I am just a single person and the world is big! Slowly we are forming an army for Marlene and we would need as many fans as possible! #JusticeforMarleneDietrich
I'm suspicious of literary biographies. I'm even more suspicious of those written by the children, or relative, or friends of a celebrity. In the latter case(s), $$$, attention, or jealousy, revenge etcetera, never seems to enter the minds of most people as motivation to pen tell-all books of this nature. Also, in this particular case, Dietrich is dead and cannot answer, confirm, or refute anything said about her by her daughter. In the first case, take a few minutes and consider this proposition: Imagine anybody writing a biography about you, and what it was like to be inside your head; say, years or decades after you had died. Do you really believe that they could reconstruct you? Understand what it was like inside your mind and body? They couldn't do it, could they?!?!
One thing that bothers me is immediately after Dietrich died Maria Riva writes a book about what a horrible self-absorbed narcissistic bitch Dietrich was. Now, 20-odd years later, it's all about Dietrich's heroism in World War 2. It's all about what sells, I guess.
When I look at Hollywood today, I wonder how much has really changed. In the 1930s & 1940s a movie star was a brand, just like today. Only then they didn't call themselves that.
Their relationship was obviously complicated but if she hated her mother, she would have burned her memorabilia rather than selling it to the city of Berlin, where it Wall began and when married she didn't cut off her mother. She stayed by her side. We all have complex relationships with her parents but Dietrich was a legend. I only saw her in only one movie, 1961's, Judgement at Nuremberg. She was wonderful but I got a real sense of aloofness.
Why are people saying Marlene was bad because of this or that reason ...she was a superstar... One of the biggest /most glam women of her era. Of COURSE she was gonna be an egotist. Wasn't Joan Crawford? Bette Davis? She deserved to be a narcissist and what we got from her was nearly immaculate glamour for fifty years of a career or so
Marlene, fate with you was cruel in terms of love. You have never put money, the career, and your beauty in the first place, for you there were other more important things: like family, loved ones, wonderful actions to do like those you have done, save who is in trouble, fight for peace by opposing the evil that so many years ago had divided the world in two. The facts matter, not words! Nobody saw you mistreat your family even just in words. You have always spoken of them with great love and respect. Instead they have always been seen to attack you wildly with cruel words after you unfortunately could no longer defend yourself. They have been waiting for this moment unfortunately, to take revenge for anything you have done, for having been better and superior to them aesthetically and internally. You left this world in a horrible way that you didn't deserve. It wasn't your fault Marlene, you gave all right teachings to your daughter, but she grew up badly, having wickedness in her veins. There are wonderful mothers who have never made their children lack for anything, who filled them with endless love, that in the end find themselves having murderous, criminals and terrorists children. Your daughter turned out to be your killer. There is nothing worse than a daughter who causes her mother to die. Unfortunately, the daughter you had was not sent to you by God, but a real misfortune sent from hell. The personification of evil itself. We are your real family, Marlene, who defends you, who truly loves you more as a person than as a celebrity. As you would have wanted. We will do everything to let the whole world know the truth, to put an end to all this madness, this unnecessary and unacceptable hatred towards you. When everyone knows that Maria Riva is the real horrible person behind all this, and that she has made fun of the whole world by telling only lies about you, they will even hate themselves for believing and supporting her so much. For them it will also be useless to ask you for forgiveness, because they hurt you too much, but you were too good, and their forgiveness would have been surely enough for you. I hope that all the hatred they felt unfairly for you, turns into love, that it finally gives eternal peace to your tormented soul, without suffering anymore. It wasn't your fault Marlene. One day, if it is really true that justice will sooner or later take its course, the world will apologize. Rest In Peace, not In Pain. God have you in his glory forever, Marlene. Innocent Angel.♥👼🏼 #JusticeforMarleneDietrich❤️
Marlene was a self centered, demanding vixen who was superb at her craft and made it all look good on stage. She died in her own screenplay as an abandoned awful wretch and her salvation is doubtful without any sincere repentance! May God have mercy on her immortal soul.
I think that Maria Riva was a victim of a narcissist -psychopath. (famous but a insecure corrupted woman) that the world admire because it make a difference...
Marlena Dietrich was an amazing original superstar and brought countless entertainment to many in every way imaginable AND unimaginable. I’ll always remain a fan. Nevertheless, she died in her own excrement and squalor, drug addicted and alone by her own choice. In the end you have to look at her contributions to society which were commendable as far as the support for our servicemen and women. Maria Riva was a witness to a megalomaniac (in a sense) and a contrite egoist. I certainly empathize with her. That’s a difficult life to endure. Being a victim, It’s not surprising to see how bitter she’s become.
its interesting how evrybody blames for example enid blyton to be a bad mother.. and noone talks about Dietrich.. and then think of all the men where its normal that they dont care about their children and just thought about their career, .. they are not even mentioned from anyone, where its normal that they think about their career and the woman does everything for them. i also adore Dietrich, but i think also she failed as a mom, i believe Riva here. on the other hand i also think that if the duties of women wouldnt have been back then how they were and the men had to care about the children, als well as the moms,, these women who were outstandling maybe wouldnt have had to be so tough and could have let go a little bit better to be softer and caring.Also then the children maybe would have had a dad that takes the part, but when a woman these days was like that, the dad probably did not take over then or become the part, bcs that he can develop his career, was clear anyway, still, what you hear here about Dietrich is horrible. about the secretary and stuff.
Her daughter was so poetic.... Intelligence: If U take an alcoholic & lock them into a liquor store. WHO Do u blame... The alcoholic, OR The person that locked them in?
Marlene Dietrich is an excellent example of why we shouldn’t make idols of movie stars. Her created image was amazing, but her private behavior was monstrously vile.
love the interview. i do think maria should have waited a few years to write the book - might not have been so vile regarding her mother - time heals many wounds.
What is the problem? I’ve been a Dietrich fan for over 10 years and I understand everything Maria is saying in the book. It’s not a MOMMIE Dearest at all. Wonderful Maria, divine writer❗️ Marlene’s autobiography on the other hand was terrible
Does anyone know where we can watch Part two of this interview ? I want to see the storage space filled with Marlene's items that she kept through out her life . If anyone has the link, please leave it below. Thanks
It's her moment of glory, what she couldn't do before, he does now. Usually all mothers have flaws and children know it but we shut up, although for money some do anything. Marlene was wonderfull as a movie star and in person was fascinating but she had maniad and "flaws" that everyone knew. If you look well, in her youth, Maria imitated her mother, but she was a cold fish. What did Marlene do for her daughter? She raised her and supported her in everything. When Marlene made her succeful career of personal presentations, most of the profits were for Maria and her children's education. When Marlene died, she didn't have a huge fortune, but Maria got $8 million for her mother's clothes and personal items; but she left her no name or fame, so María sought that out by stripping her mother.
Bueno, después de todo la familia Riva vendió todo el archivo Dietrich a la filmoteca de Berlín por 5 millones de dólares. Trataron de vender la historia escrita por Riva para llevarla al cine (Gwyneth Paltrow haría de Dietrich) y al parecer no obtuvieron el dinero que pedían, por eso no se hizo. Marlene le regaló a su hija el piso donde esta vivió con su marido durante muchos años. Y lo de Tamara Matul... debería estar muy enamorada para aceptar ser manipulada de tal forma, lo que resulta extraño. Como una rusa que escapó de los bolcheviques no pudo escapar de un pusilánime como Rudoph Sieber? Dietrich no fue una santa... pero tampoco el demonio que quieren pintar.
bought the book straight away when it came out and read it several times , MD born in 1901 you get great info of nearly a century well documented by Maria , but in this interview she gives you a feeling she is after revenge her expressions are almost scary , the book shows a different approach and kinder Maria and at times it doesn't make sense when she starts criticizing her mother . It's still her mother I wonder how much money she got payed to betrayal her trust .......
I ANALYZE THE ACTING PART OF ANYONE WHO ACTS MALE OR FEMALE THEIR PRIVAte life???? thats their damened business but if the image is great and lives up to excpectations of the public at their time well then success was evident and well deserved. what can anyone gain or get for trying to pull her or his hair now after the entire life was lived???? shame that wc as humans find time to try to drag lovely people down. shame
She wasn't a great actress or singer but she was larger than life with a sexual confidence on screen (and off from what we hear) few others possessed - if she liked what she saw, she took. The moment in Blue Angel where she checks out the strongman sums her confidence and desire up in one shot. She was not about to allow herself to be the train wreck Monroe was. A 20th century icon entertainers still go out of their way to mimic.
Monroe was harmed greatly from childhood. Marilyn did well really considering what she went through. Mother had schizophrenia, as did her uncle and grandparents. Her father wanted nothing do with her and rejected her when she eventually found him after being dumped at foster home after foster home, orphanage after orphanage and sexually abused. She suffered terrible anxiety and self doubt and never felt good enough because she came from such a painful background. Monroe had so much compassion and sensitivity that she struggled and turned to alcohol and sedatives to survive, and in the end, whether she took her own life or not (by everything I understand, she was murdered) she did better than anyone from her background could almost ever achieve.
She knows what she's talking about. Sounds like you place your definition of love as the reference. She refers to "Lover, loved one" dependency, not the ideal. Her story tries to bring to light the completely different set of values wealthy and iconic people live by, not at all like the masses living routine, regulated lives.
Douglas Sharpe Doesn't sound like that. Neither do you in your reply. The dependency she is talking about when she uses that phrase (if I recall correctly, it's been a while) is her own as a child towards her nanny. Essentially very much a mother figure. And I don't really buy into the idea that "wealthy and iconic" people all live by very different values than rest of the world. That is a gross and simplistic generalisation of all demographics mentioned
I didn't use all in my sentence. I avoid "all or nothing" "good or evil" thinking or statements, Shade of grey, yes. There is a level of living where "normal" morality is disregarded.
Douglas Sharpe Your last line kind of negates the rest of your reply. You just exchanged "wealthy" for "level of living". It's still a blanket statement. And "normal" morality isn't even the same where you are from and where I am from. And that goes even supposing we'd be roughly in the same income bracket. But anyway...it is still not related to my comment..which was on the Maria talking here and whether I think she knows "love". My comment was not on how generally the wealthy live or what values they hold. "love" is anyway not a "value" but a emotional capacity.
Douglas Sharpe "normality" isn't applied to the lifestyle of a 1930s movie star. To expect those people to have "normal" morality... The stars of 30s Hollywood were debauched lol
These intimate details should have been between Riva and her therapist, not the public realm. She wants to make a buck and knows that drama sells. How's the drinking going, Maria? Staying sober??......
Apparently, a superiority complex, difficult to work with (if you were a woman), a terrible Mother and treated people like commodities sums her up in some people's eyes. However, I didn't know her personally, but don't get a great vibe. But, I do respect the way she was her 'own person'
So these are the people some of us want to idolize -- self-absorbed people sleeping with anything that moves and boozing their way through life, people of questionable moral fiber who believe the world revolves around them -- and it does when people tremble in their presence and stoop to kiss their asses. So many of them had/have this ugly flaw. I guess that's what fame does. She lacked good character, and I base that primarily on what she subjected her daughter to. Pity that poor daughter and what she experienced! Maybe if she had shot someone on Fifth Avenue the adoring fans would still have sung her praises. Had she not carried the name Marlene Dietrich she would have been called out for what she really was, and those who keep fooling themselves that she was anything remotely close to a singer need to have the wax cleaned out of their ears.
I'm not so credulous, Marlene's life and habits were known to everyone, but María Rivas talks about details that no one can deny, because they are dead. The coldness with wich she narrated the "facts" demostrates her desire to harm her mother and to have the importance she never had. María mentions that Marlene filmed "Gigolo" only for the money, but she does not deny that this money and what Marlene earned after the Second Worl War was largely used in the suport an education of Marlene's grandchildren; That was public knowledge. I remember that I read that a son of María was Jamie Lee Curtis's boyfriend an they traveled to Paris so that Marlene could meet her; Why?....it is clear that Rivas Family depended on the money of the grandmother.
