10 More War Movie Actors Who Were Actually There
7. Marlene Dietrich - Follow The Boys
Marlene Dietrich was a hero of the screen and real life, not only commanding the stage and screen but also being an outspoken critic of Nazism in her native Germany. Dietrich had made the move to the United States in 1930 following the widespread success of The Blue Angel, quickly cementing herself as one of Hollywood's most iconic femme fatales with films like Shanghai Express and Desire.
Like fellow Weimar-era exiles Billy Wilder and Fritz Lang, Dietrich railed against Hitler and the Nazis, contributing significantly to the propaganda effort during World War II as an entertainer and by working with the OSS, the latter of which involved the actor recording special broadcasts and albums that mocked Hitler and Nazi ideology. As a part of the USO, Dietrich entertained Allied troops across the battlefields of Europe, delivering 500 performances and never being far from the frontlines. Dietrich went above and beyond in her duties as an entertainer, ending the war as a beloved figure among Allied troops, and having performed across the Italian, French and German campaigns.
Dietrich didn't star in any traditional war movies following her service with the USO. However, she did feature in films that were made with the express purpose of entertaining Allied troops as well as those whose stories hinged on the conflict. In the case of the former we have Follow the Boys, a 1944 musical in which Dietrich co-starred opposite Orson Welles, while in the latter there are several examples, such as A Foreign Affair and Witness for the Prosecution, both of which drew key inspiration from post-war Berlin.
In any case (and this probably goes without saying) Dietrich was a true legend - a committed performer who left her home country, became a huge star and a U.S. citizen, followed the troops across Europe, and delivered compelling propaganda to undermine the Nazi war effort. A frankly amazing story, led by an amazing individual.