In his 1929 Hollywood production The Case of Lena Smith, director Josef von Sternberg vividly brought to life his youthful memories of the turn of the 20th cent

Josef von Sternberg was born in Vienna in 1894, went to America as a penniless immigrant, and directed his first motion picture in 1924. It was hailed as a work

Belligerent and evasive, Josef von Sternberg chose to ignore his illegitimate birth in Austria, deprived New York childhood, abusive father, and lack of educati