Josef von Sternberg

Josef von Sternberg (Austrian German: [ˈjoːzɛf fɔn ˈʃtɛrnbɛrg]; born Jonas Sternberg; May 29, 1894 – December 22, 1969) was an Austrian-American filmmaker whose career successfully spanned the transition from the silent to the sound era, during which he worked with most of the major Hollywood studios. He is best known for his film collaboration with actress Marlene Dietrich in the 1930s, including the highly regarded Paramount/UFA production The Blue Angel (1930). He was twice nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director, for Morocco (1930) and Shanghai Express (1932). Sternberg's finest works are noteworthy for their striking pictorial compositions, dense décor, chiaroscuro illumination, and relentless camera motion, endowing the scenes with emotional intensity.