Marlene Dietrich delivers a captivating performance as the scheming "Concha" in this entertaining, somewhat daring, comedy drama unfolding in Spain during the early 1900s. Lionel Atwill’s character, “Pasqualito,” narrates the story to the younger “Galvan” (played by Ceśar Romero), recounting her beauty and also highlighting her self-centeredness; he offers a clear caution about avoiding her. Despite vowing to heed this advice, he quickly finds himself ensnared by her allure, much to his friend’s dismay and eventual regret! This film presents a fresh perspective on the classic femme fatale archetype. "Concha" isn't deceptive in a straightforward way; she is openly untrustworthy and fickle, yet she still effortlessly charms young men, just as she did older ones years before. What quality does she possess that makes her so appealing, rendering men susceptible to her influence? As is typical with Josef von Sternberg’s direction of Dietrich, the camera focuses on her expressions, gestures, and smile—and clearly revels in doing so. The lighting emphasizes the radiance of her skin, her smile, and the knowing look in her character's eye that should serve as a warning to anyone with good sense (even when she is dressed as a nun!). Alison Skipworth provides strong support as her mother, and the limited number of other actors further amplifies the impact of the performances from the three leads within this concise, yet densely plotted, 80-minute film. Her dance sequence has become iconic in cinema history (despite some editing by the censors), and I genuinely appreciated watching this movie.

Source on TMDB