London, England: Arrayed in her costume and ready to play her part as a Russian countess in her first English film play [Knight Without Armour], actress Marlene dietrich, is shown with her director, Alexander Korda, at the London Film Productions’ studio.

(20 September 1936)

matinee-idol:

I love this photo of Dietrich because it shows how pre-digital photographs were retouched. The cross-hatching - most noticeable around her hand and back -show the areas which have been edited, slimming down her fingers and shoulders.

It’s said that Dietrich retouched all her own photographs with wax sticks, often directly onto the negative. For the most part they are impeccably done. No doubt this image was rejected at an early stage, hence the work-in-progress being visible.

Dietrich. Donat. Knight Without Armour (1937).