Despite being one of the most interesting Sternberg/Dietrich films, it's the one I've heard of the least. Mischaracterized down to the title, according to Von Sternberg himself: "The company decided to title the film Dishonored, disregarding my protest that the lady spy was not dishonored but killed by a firing squad."

not understanding such a boring take on such a fascinating subject

1. photography by Ophuls' regular DP, Christian Matras 🤩
2. file this under "films I can't believe got made"
3. film's lesbian themes and background expertly dissected here: bombmagazine.org/articles/jacqueline-audrys-olivia/ and here hyperallergic.com/512644/jacqueline-audry-olivia/, the writings that got me to hurry up and watch this

tired: wondering what it was like to be in the audience when Alien (1979) debuted and having no idea about the famed chest-bursting scene coming
wired: wondering what it was like to be in the audience when Ivan the Terrible Pt II debuted and having no warning about the color section coming in near the end