Angel

1937

1h 38m

Drama

List

80%

Tomatometer

5 Reviews

65%

Audience Score

250+ Ratings

A British diplomat's (Herbert Marshall) wife (Marlene Dietrich) goes to Paris and falls for an American (Melvyn Douglas) who knows her husband.

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Richard Brody

New Yorker

Lubitsch sees the round of coincidences as a game of cruel destiny, albeit one that's played on the world stage against a backdrop of looming war.

Jun 19, 2017

Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

As a drama with some subtle humorous undertones, it's a beautifully elegant picture, expertly composed.

Rated: 3.5/4

May 1, 2020

Full Review

Meyer Levin (Patterson Murphy)

Esquire Magazine

Quite, quite sophisticated. And that scene in the Paris establishment. But pretty slow.

Apr 17, 2020

Full Review

Ann Ross

Maclean's Magazine

If Angel isn't great emotional drama, it is smooth entertainment. Directed by Ernst Lubitsch, the picture, like its star, is beautiful to look at and wonderfully dressed up.

Jul 19, 2019

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

This was a disappointing venture for the Dietrich-Lubitsch team, as this slight story provided no sparks for the magic expected.

Rated: C+

Nov 18, 2007

Full Review

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Steve D

It is hard to pull for these people but the ending is strong.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/07/24

Full Review

nick s

I'm not a romance fan, but this is subtle, witty and brilliant. Lubitsch was a genius. The acting is off the scale. Don't make this your new standard for movies or you'll rarely be satisfied.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/13/23

Full Review

Matthew D

Marlene Dietrich is charming and touching in her wonderful romantic comedy Angel! Director Ernest Lubitsch's romantic comedy Angel (1937) is a phenomenal film. Marlene Dietrich shines so brightly with effortless charm and endearing personality. Lubitsch's deft direction easily balances the lighthearted humor with the earnest concepts of true romance. Angel is superbly filmed and well acted with a nuanced cast. Marlene Dietrich dazzles in every scene as the viewer is aware of her every reaction and worry. Angel is a sweet rumination on romantic affection and loyalty in a relationship. Angel is quite underrated among Marlene Dietrich's many classic films. Script writer Samson Raphaelson adapts original writers Melchior Lengyel, Guy Bolton, and Russell G. Medcraft's touching romantic tale of a married politician's wife falling in love with a more affectionate and attentive man. I love all the euphemisms for love and affairs with cute words of endearment. I loved all the witty jokes and sweet romantic ideas. I appreciate how seriously the romance drama feels as we see Marlene weigh her options between her old love or a new flame. Marlene Dietrich is devastatingly gorgeous and endearingly charming as Angel the Lady Maria Barker. I adored Marlene in Angel with her sweet flirting, femme fatale mystique, lovable charm, smart wit, cautious line delivery, and emotional realism as Maria must make a tough choice between her husband and lover. Herbert Marshall is quite amusing as Maria's fastidious workaholic husband Sir Frederick Barker. He neglects his wife in favor of work, but treats her pleasantly enough without real passion. Melvyn Douglas is outstanding as Maria's gentle love interest Tony Halton. He feels sincere and romantic with a soft affection and likable manner around Marlene. Edward Everett Horton is a blast as Sir Frederick's snobby valet Graham, who gossips gleefully with Ernest Cossart's equally stuffy butler for the Barkers named Chris Wilton. Laura Hope Crews is funny as the old gossip Russian Grand Duchess Anna Dmitrievna. Dennie Moore is a scream as the gabby new wife of the butler called Emma MacGillicuddy Wilton. Editor William Shea uses sleek and striking hard cuts to keep a quick pace. Shea cuts Angel down to a tight 91 minutes. Cinematographer Charles Lang's astonishing black and white cinematography highlights Marlene's lovely face in stunning close-up shots. I like how shots are neatly framed in wide shots, only to allow for gentle panning around as needed. We're normally right by Marlene at all times. Art direction from Hans Dreier and Robert Usher use moody lighting and engrossing shadows to emphasize Marlene's heavenly face in Angel. Composer Friedrich Hollaender's lovely film score for Angel is very romantic. I particularly love the main love theme that is repeated throughout Angel even by the Parisian restaurant violinist or Marlene's pretty piano playing. The pretty violin melodies are quite dreamy. Sound designers Harry D. Mills and Louis Mesenkop keep the sonic backdrop quiet so the voice recordings are crystal clear. Costume designer Travis Banton fashions the classiest gowns, scarves, and hats for Marlene Dietrich's posh glamorous aesthetic. You will not believe all of her uniquely chic outfits complete with wavy hair and perfect makeup. In conclusion, Angel is a sheer delight of passionate love in a secret affair with a dazzlingly beautiful Marlene Dietrich.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/01/23

Full Review

william d

Probably considered risque at the time, the film seems rather dull now,

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Tom M

Very good story. Dietrich is perfect and Marshall plays his usual 'nice guy'. Douglas, who's usually suave in his 30's and 40's roles, comes off as a bit of a cad. Not sure which way it's gonna go until the end.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/24/20

Full Review

Audience Member

? 1937 ???? ??????? ????? ?????? ?????? "?????". ? ??????? ???? ?????? ??????. ? 1930 ???? "??????? ?????" ????????? ???????????? ????????? ?????. ?????? ???, (? ?????? ?????), ??????? ? ???????????????? ??????? ???????. ? ?????? ??????????? ??? ?????????? ??????? ( ???????? ?????? ??????????: ??????? ???? ? ?????????, ?? ? ???? ?????? ????); ??????? ?????? ?? ???? ???????????, (? ?? ????? ????????? ??????????? ????!), ??????? ????????? ???????????? ???????? ????? ?????? ??????? ( ?????? ? ?????? ?? ????????? ???? ?????? ???????, ?? ???? ?????? - ??? ?? ???????). ??????????? ?????? ? ?????? ?? ??????????. ??????? ??? ??? ????????? ? ???? ? ????????. ?, ??? ?????? ??????, ??? ? ??????? ???????? ?????????? ??????? ? ?????????? ????? ?????. ??? ? ??????? ???????? ???????????, ??? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ????? ? "???????????? ????" ? ???????????? ?? ?? ????????? ??????? ?????.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

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Ernst Lubitsch

Director

Marlene Dietrich

Maria `'Angel'` Barker

Herbert Marshall

Sir Frederick Barker

Melvyn Douglas

Anthony `'Tony'` Halton

Edward Everett Horton

Graham

Ernest Cossart

Christopher `'Chris'` Wilton

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Synopsis

A British diplomat's (Herbert Marshall) wife (Marlene Dietrich) goes to Paris and falls for an American (Melvyn Douglas) who knows her husband.

Director: Ernst Lubitsch
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): May 27, 2014
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Stereo