In 1925, Marlene Dietrich obtained a marriage contract that allowed her to “earn money” despite her marriage to Rudolf Sieber and her motherhood. The daughter, Maria (born 1924), was left with Dietrich’s mother, Josefine von Losch. After brief appearances in Berlin film productions, Dietrich made guest appearances in Vienna in 1927, initially as dance girl Ruby in the play Broadway at the Vienna Kammerspiele. It was there that she met Willi Forst, who, despite the objections of the production company, managed to get the largely unknown actress cast in Gustav Ucicky’s film version of Café Electric.
The film is based on the successful stage play Die Liebesbörse by Felix Fischer. At the centre of the story is the pimp and thief Ferdl (Forst), who seduces both young Hansi (Nina Vanna) and the affluent Erni Göttlinger (Dietrich). Erni even steals from her father, the commercial councillor Göttlinger, for Ferdl. His employee Max Stöger (Igo Sym) also becomes entangled in the criminal machinations.
Forst in particular shines as the depraved, unscrupulous criminal. Dietrich’s portrayal of Erni as a seductive daughter from a good family attracted more attention than that of the leading lady Nina Vanna. She embarked on an affair with Forst, and she kept the “Singing Saw”, which she carried with her on film sets and played to entertain the troops. It is now in her estate – a gift from Polish actor Igor Sym, who taught her how to play the instrument.

Silke Ronnebur