Dita Parlo

Dita Parlo
Born 4 September 1906
Stettin, Pomerania
German Empire
Died 12 December 1971
Paris, France
Other names Grethe Gerda Kornstädt
Occupation Actress
Years active 1928-1965 (film)

Dita Parlo (4 September 1906 – 12 December 1971), born Grethe Gerda Kornstädt in Stettin (present-day Szczecin), was a German film actress.

Career

Parlo made her first film appearance in Homecoming in 1928 and quickly became a popular actress in Germany. During the 1930s she moved easily between German and French films, achieving success in several films, including, in the span of four years, two that are considered among the greatest in cinema history: L'Atalante (1934) and La Grande Illusion (1937).

Parlo attempted to establish a career in American films but despite a couple of roles in Hollywood films, was unable to extend her European success. In the late 1930s, she was scheduled to appear in the Orson Welles production of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness for RKO Radio Pictures. However, that project did not come to pass. With the outbreak of World War II, Parlo returned to Germany. She appeared in only three films during the last thirty years of her life, making her final film appearance in 1965.

In popular culture

Musician Steve Adey has a song called "Dita Parlo" on his 2012 studio album The Tower of Silence. The song was written in response to Jean Vigo's 1930's film L'Atalante.[1]

Parlo has been referenced by Madonna, who said she had been fascinated by Parlo, and took her name for the character she created for her Sex book and Erotica album. Its title track commences with the line "My name is Dita, I'll be your mistress tonight..."

Burlesque performer Dita Von Teese took her name in tribute to Parlo.[2]

Filmography

References

  1. ↑ http://blackartspr.com/roster/?steveadey
  2. ↑ Katherine Nguyen (2006-04-06). "Dita Von Teese: Call her old-fashioned". ocregister.com. Retrieved 2007-02-17.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dita Parlo.