In 1938, Harry Brandt, president of the Independent Theatre Owners Association, took out an ad in The Hollywood Reporter complaining about Hollywood’s continued employment of performers who were not a draw (‘box office poison’ was the phrase he invented to describe these stars): among those named were both Dietrich and Garbo. Although Garbo had already begun her withdrawal from the industry, Dietrich was still very much a working actress, and forced to accept her lower status. Here, she stars with James Stewart in a great Western as Frenchy, a cabaret girl (again) and inspiration for Blazing Saddles’ Lili von Shtupp.

Notes by Kevin Coyne.

Screening as part of the Dietrich X Garbo Season.