Про Марлен Дитрих и "Тоску". Из "Моей жизни" Гобби, глава 17, один из моих любимых отрывков
"...the party should take place in the Seidmanns' large apartment. Not until we arrived did we discover that extra glamour was to be added to the occasion by the presence of Marlene Dietrich, who made a superb entrance as the last arrival. Within minutes I found myself engaged in an intriguing conversation with her on the uses of advertisement. She asked me if I smoked, in spite of being a singer, and if I always smoked the same brand of cigarette. I said I did and told her the brand, at which, with that dark intensity of tone which sends a 'frisson' down one's spine, she said:
'My dear, you could make millions! You only need to be photographed smoking one of those cigarettes and saying, "I always smoke So-and-so".'
At that I laughed and suddenly confessed that when I have to offer Tosca a glass of Spanish wine in Act II, I am frequently tempted to change the wording 'e vin di Spagna' to 'e Coca-Cola', the drink which I use for the occasion. She thought this a marvellous idea and begged me to use it, but I have never yet found the courage to do so.
We were getting on splendidly by now, when she said plaintively that she would like to come and hear me sing but did not know how to get a ticket. (Imagine Marlene Dietrich asking in vain for any ticket she wanted!) I removed my glasses, gave her my best Act II Scarpia glance and said: 'Give me your telephone number.' "
Нет, как представлю беззастенчивую рекламу колы... рыдаю