Profile image of Josef von Sternberg

Josef von Sternberg

Acting

Birth Date

May 29, 1894

Place of Birth

Vienna, Austria

Date of Death

November 22, 1969

Biography

Josef von Sternberg, born Jonas Sternberg (29 May 1894 – 22 December 1969) was an Austrian-born film director and is among the few whose career successfully spanned the transition from the silent to the sound era. He is considered one of the earliest 'auteur' filmmakers, having filled many other roles on his films including those of cinematographer, screenwriter, and editor. Sternberg's style influenced later directors, particularly those of the film noir period. He is particularly noted for his distinctive mise en scène, use of lighting and soft lens, and collaboration with actress Marlene Dietrich. Among his most important works are The Blue Angel (1930), Morocco (1930), Shanghai Express (1932) and The Scarlet Empress (1934). Andrew Sarris in his influential book of film criticism The American Cinema: Directors and Directions 1929–1968 included him in the "pantheon" of the 14 greatest film directors who had worked in the United States.

Complete Filmography

Your privacy is important to us

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to improve your experience, tailor content to your interests, and understand how you use our platform. Some cookies are essential for the service to function properly, while others help us enhance our streaming service and keep it secure.

By clicking "I Agree", you agree to our use of cookies. You can also choose "Customize" to manage your preferences and control which cookies you want to enable. For more details, please read our Cookies Policy.