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=== La Bessière's humiliation=== Dietrich's devoted suitor, Menjou's La Bessière, "part stoic, part [[wikt:sybarite|sybarite]], part satanist", is destined to lose the object of his desire. Menjou's response to Dietrich's desertion reveals the nature of the man and presents a key thematic element of the film: <blockquote>In Menjou's pained politeness of expression is engraved the age-old tension between [[Apollonian and Dionysian]] demands of art, between pride in restraint and passion in excess ... when Dietrich kisses him goodbye, Menjou clutches her wrist in one last spasmodic reflex of passion, but the other hand retains its poise at his side, the gestures of form and feeling thus conflicting to the very end of the drama.{{sfn|Sarris|1966|p=30}}</blockquote> The La Bessière character has autobiographical overtones for Sternberg, as Menjou has looks and mannerisms that resemble the director.{{sfn|Baxter|1971|loc=p. 79: "... no doubt [Sternberg's] motive for casting Menjou ..."}} Critic [[Andrew Sarris]] observed: "Sternberg has never been as close to any character as he is to this elegant expatriate."
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