The Blue Angel takes place in Weimer Republic Germany between WWI and II. Berlin, where the film is set, was a haven of liberalism and sexual freedom in the 1920s-30s, esp. in the cabaret culture dramatized in the film.
Some questions that I have:
- Lola Lola is one of the classic femme fatales of cinema. In what ways does Angela Argo seem similar to her?
- In the film, the professor gets into a scuffle w/ a ship captain over Lola Lola. What is the purpose of this scene? Why does Lola seem to be attracted to the professor, esp. since she's so much younger? At what point does she fall out of love w/ him? How would you connect their relationship to Swenson and Angela's?
- What do you make of the relationships that Swenson has w/ other women in his life: his wife, his daughter, Magda? In that lunch scene w/ Magda (pp. 76-84) why do neither seem to be hungry? In what ways are those relationships different than the one he is developing w/ Angela?
- What did you think about the fact that Ted reads Angela's "dirty" poems and then immediately goes and has sex w/ his wife?
- What questions do you have about the film or the novel?
Lola Lola and Angela Argo are similar because they are very independent. They are not your typical female, as females are perceived as women who depend on their husband. Although Angela is not married she does show a sign of independence through the novel and a voice of her own. Lola Lola is also like that in the film by the way she acted upon the Professor. The scene where the professor gets in a scuffle with the ship captain over Lola Lola is basically to show his respect for women I would say because he barely knows her and overall to show that he is interested in her. Lola is very mature I would say and just since the professor was well respected and he was not all over her in the beginning which would be a shock to her considering all the men were over her. Lola falls out of love basically when they move and he is no longer a professor. Swenson doesn't really have a relationship with the other women its more something superficial where as with Angela they actually understand have similar thoughts, ideas, opinion, and feelings. When Swenson reads Angelas "dirty" poems he immediately has sex with his wife probably to not do something he would regret and also to feel better about his guilt and pretend to love his wife by doing this act. Over all the film was a good message, you cant leave behind who you are for anyone. I enjoyed both the film and the novel.
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