Marlene Dietrich is a legend of the 20th century. She was idolized during her lifetime, and she is still worshiped now. Like any legendary person, she is shrouded in a cloud of secrets and guesses. By her own admission, Dietrich wrote her memoirs “to throw away speculation and put everything in its place.” She talks about her rise to fame (which she had been burdened with all her life) with calm dignity, paying tribute not only to the greats with whom she was familiar, but and to many people “behind the ramp”, without whom I could not do without. Her beauty and charm were combined with amazing spiritual qualities and a brilliant mind. Ernest Hemingway wrote: “Every meeting with Marlene fills my heart with joy and makes me happy. How she manages to do this is her wonderful secret.”