The Blue Angel (German: Der blaue Engel) is a 1930 film directed by Josef von Sternberg and starring Emil Jannings, Marlene Dietrich and Kurt Gerron. Written by Carl Zuckmayer, Karl Vollmöller and Robert Liebmann – with uncredited contributions by von Sternberg – based on Heinrich Mann's^[2] 1905 novel Professor Unrat ("Professor Garbage"), and set in Weimar Germany, The Blue Angel presents the tragic transformation of a man from a respectable professor to a cabaret clown, and his descent into madness. The film is considered to be the first major German sound film, and brought Dietrich international fame.^[3] In addition, it introduced her signature song, Friedrich Hollaender and Robert Liebmann's "Falling in Love Again (Can't Help It)".

The film was shot simultaneously in German and English language versions, but the German version is much better known. The English language version was considered a lost film for many years until a print was discovered in a German film archive and restored. This restored print of the English version had its U.S. premiere at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco on 19 January 2009 as part of the "Berlin and Beyond" film festival.^[4][5] Both the German and English versions are widely considered classics.

Immanuel Rath (Emil Jannings) is an esteemed educator at the local Gymnasium – a college preparatory high school – in Weimar Germany. After he punishes several of his students for circulating photographs of the beautiful Lola-Lola (Marlene Dietrich) the headliner for the local cabaret, "The Blue Angel". Hoping to catch the boys at the club, Rath goes there later that evening and meets Lola herself.

Consumed with desire for Lola, Rath returns to the night club the following evening, to return a pair of panties that were smuggled into his coat by one of his students, and stays the night with her. The next morning, reeling from his night of passion, Rath arrives late to school to find his classroom in chaos and the principal furious with his behavior.

Rath subsequently resigns from his position at the academy to marry Lola, but their happiness is short-lived, as they soon fritter away the teacher's meager savings and Rath is forced to take a position as a clown in Lola's cabaret troupe to pay the bills. His growing insecurities about Lola's profession as a "shared woman" eventually consume him with lust and jealousy. The troupe returns to his hometown and "The Blue Angel", where he is ridiculed and berated by the patrons, the very people he himself used to deride. As Rath performs his last act, he witnesses his wife embrace and kiss the strongman Mazeppa, her new love interest, and is enraged to the point of insanity. He attempts to strangle Lola, but is beaten down by the other members of the troupe and locked in a straitjacket.

Later that night, Rath is freed, and makes his way towards his old classroom. Rejected, humiliated, and destitute, he dies in remorse, clenching the desk at which he once taught.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blue_Angel

"Falling in Love Again (Can't Help It)" is the English language name for a 1930 German song composed by Friedrich Hollaender as Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuß auf Liebe eingestellt (literally: "Head to toe, I'm ready for love"). The song was originally performed in the film Der Blaue Engel (English translation: The Blue Angel) by Marlene Dietrich, who also recorded the most famous English version. The English lyrics were written by Sammy Lerner, but are in no way a direct translation of the original.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falling_in_Love_Again_%28Can%27t_Help_It%29

Falling in Love Again

Falling in love again
Never wanted to
What am I to do?
Can't help it

Love's always been my game
Play it how I may
I was made that way
Can't help it

Men cluster to me like moths around a flame
And if their wings burn, I know I'm not to blame

Falling in love again
Never wanted to
What am I to do?
Can't help it

-- song written by Friedrich Hollaender

I Survived Her*

I might've been a clown

if I hadn't been such a joker...

I might've been a eunuch

If I hadn't been such a fool

For Love such a tool for Love

No whining sputtering complaints

I avoided the jolly five-point restraints

Heavy-duty drugs that put you under

Evaded being overwhelmed by inner lightning

Inner thunder courtesy of my toxic lover

I ran & hid for cover no mistake

She ended up without me with another

But last I heard there was a tearful break

I've been encouraged to ride in for

The rebound but I've not

The strength or inclination anymore

Its months since I last saw her

I'm over it I survive

Meeting new prospective paramours

Is my occupation

To pitch a little woo

On that special occasion

Bring all my arts into play

Everything I can contrive

--JSW aka GP

* Note: I was determined not to end up like this: