Steven Bach (1938–2009) taught American literature before becoming a film producer and head of production for United Artists. He was involved with dozens of films, including Sleuth, Manhattan, Raging Bull, and The French Lieutenant's Woman. He wrote the critically acclaimed best seller Final Cut: Dreams and Disaster in the Making of "Heaven's Gate."

• A Note from the AuthorOVERTUREA Visit to the Theater: 1929I. BERLINOne. Beginnings: 1901–1918 Two. Weimar and Back: 1919–1921 Three. The Sorcerer's Apprentice: 1922–1927 Four. The Perfect Couple: 1923–1929 Five. Breakthrough: 1928–1929 Six. The Blue Angel: 1929 II. HOLLYWOODSeven. Fame: 1930–1931 Eight. Empress of Desire: 1931–1932 Nine. Apotheosis: 1933–1934 Ten. Tribute and Farewell: 1934–1935 Eleven. Saving Dietrich: 1935–1936 Twelve. Exile: 1937–1939 Thirteen. Phoenix: 1939–1941 Fourteen. Home Front: 1942–1943Fifteen. Lili Marlene: 1944–1945 Sixteen. Survivor: 1946–1947 Seventeen. Pro: 1947–1950 Eighteen. Star Quality: 1950–1952 Nineteen. Solo: 1952–1954 Twenty. Back in Business: 1954–1958 Twenty-one. Helen of Troy: 1954–1958 Twenty-two. Odyssey: 1960–1967Twenty-three. "Queen of the World": 1967–1975Twenty-four. Monstre Sacré: 1976–1982IV EXIT MUSICCoda: "Allein in Einer Grossen Stadt": 1983–1992 Appendix A. Theater Chronology Appendix B. Filmography Appendix C. Discography Acknowledgments Source Notes Bibliography Index

"The finest picture-star biography I have read." -Peter Bogdanovich, Los Angeles Times "Dietrich will never have a more meticulous, eloquent, or sympathetic biographer." -Times Literary Supplement "If you open it to the right pages in the right mood, you can practically hear the applause still ringing." -New York Times Book Review