SPOTLIGHT ON THE 2011 TONY AWARDS: DAY 19 - A Moment With Marlene Dietrich

As a super-special Spring extension of BroadwayWorld's SOUND OFF column, every day until the Tony Awards on June 12 we will be presenting a spectacular new entry in the SPOTLIGHT ON THE 2011 TONY AWARDS series featuring a particularly entertaining, interesting, relevant and exciting Tony Awards-related clip from the last sixty-three years of the ceremonies (and subsequent seasons on Broadway) with a rundown and commentary on the sights, sounds and showmanship on display in each carefully chosen selection - all, of course, coming in anticipation of Broadway's biggest night, which will be broadcast on CBS this year, as always. Once again this year, BroadwayWorld is the official home of the 2011 Tony Awards and we will also be featuring exclusive interviews, articles, photos, video content, interactive features and more in the coming days and weeks leading up to the event so be sure to check back daily for your theatre fix!

Today we have one of the most exciting, rare and unusual selections in our Tony Award countdown, featuring two of the foremost actors of the twentieth century: Gregory Peck and Marlene Dietrich. Accepting her 1968 Special Tony Award for her one-woman-show following an expectedly elegant, moving and fond remembrance and dedication to the star by Mr. Peck, Ms. Dietrich takes the stage and - on the very verge of tears - shares her deep affection for the theatre and what performing on Broadway means to her as an actress and singer. It is one of those thrilling moments only award shows can provide, and with stars of this magnitude and with one of the greats saluting another of the greats, it gently reminds us that it is moments like this that make the Tony Awards legendary above all others and what moments there are to cherish. Case in point.

I Wish You Love, Dahling

A stage actress in Berlin at the height of Brecht/Weill and known for her film performances in THE BLUE ANGEL, NOTORIOUS, TOUCH OF EVIL and many more - and having worked with the very best film directors of her age: Fritz Lang, Billy Wilder, Orson Welles and Alfred Hitchcock included - Marlene Dietrich was an idiosyncratic star the likes of whom we simply don't see very much of anymore - if at all. She was simply one of a kind - as was her befitting Broadway debut in 1967. Working with material arranged by Burt Bacharach, whom she had worked with extensively and recorded four albums with throughout the late-50s and early-60s when he acted as her musical director for her stage shows, cabaret and concert appearances, WISH YOU LOVE/LIVE IN LONDON was eventually filmed by the BBC and aired in 1972, though the show went simply by the title Marlene Dietrich both times it appeared on Broadway - October 9 - November, 18, 1967; and, the return engagement, from October 3 - November 30, 1968.

Before we get to the Tony Awards ceremony special citation presentation, here is a fascinating clip of the 1972 BBC TV presentation of Ms. Dietrich's one-woman-show, titled LIVE IN LONDON. First: What diamonds! Second: What a romantic arrangement! And, most of all: what an earthy, passionate, lilting, so very loving delivery of "I Wish You Love"!

But, kicking things off: Cole Porter's "I Get A Kick Out Of You" from ANYTHING GOES!

Now, watch Gregory Peck make his touching tribute to Ms. Dietrich at the 1968 Tony Awards before she herself takes the stage and shares her appreciation for being, well, appreciated - in her oh-so unmistakable way, of course!

That's a Star with a capital S if there ever were any, kids!

That's all for today. Be sure to stay tuned to BroadwayWorld for all things Tony Awards and subscribe to this column to be the very first to check out the clips, commentary and take part in the conversation in our deluxe toast to the one and only Antoinette Perry every day until June 12 - and, especially, on that day! Until then…