Marlene My Friend: An Intimate Biography

by David Bret

I always feel at ease when I am talking to you, David, that is because you are one of the few men in the world who has tried to understand me. I admire your fearlessness, the way you say things honestly, without pulling any punches. In this remarkable biography, David Bret recounts Marlene Dietrich's life story as she wanted it to be told. Illustrated with many rare photographs given by Marlene herself, Marlene - My Friend is a vivid and fascinating portrait of this truly international superstar, and a wonderful testament to a great friendship.

Genres: Biography

256 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1996

About the author

David Bret is a French-born British author of showbiz biographies. He chiefly writes on the private life of film stars and singers.

Reviews

[mich · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Bret had a very close relationship with Dietrich in her final years which granted him the opportunity to write a very thorough, and thoughtful, biography. As I reflect on his book, which I coincidentally completed on the anniversary of her death, it is not lost on me how challenging of a life she had experienced. Strong willed, complicated, passionate, and talented are all words to describe Marlene Dietrich. She did not take no for an answer or have any time for nonsense. It was her way or the highway, especially as she got older. I enjoyed how the book included quotes from their daily telephone conversations as he wrote her biography and it made it feel a lot more intimate than others. She was 90 while offering these anecdotes though, facing many health and personal difficulties, while being quite home bound at the time. So there is a heightened sense of caution with what she shares in terms of accuracy. Marlene was still very sharp and knowledgeable at the time and Bret often confirmed her stories to be accurate. However, due to her current state while recording these conversations, there is a bitterness and maybe resentment toward her film career and relationships that might be exaggerated. Overall, the book is very well written and includes an extensive background on everything she accomplished in life. Most of her films are touched on in detail with comments thrown in from Marlene here and there along with her singing career, which she valued more than anything. I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of Marlene Dietrich and wish to hear things from her perspective.