Lipstick at the Movies, 1931

I thought it would be fun to do a little series of posts looking at films that featured lipstick - not just a particularly gorgeous pair of lips (although that would be interesting too) but were the use of lipstick reveals something about a particular character, moves the plot along or is just pure class.

The 1931 Paramount filmed romantic spy movie Dishonored was one that first sprung to mind. Directed by Josef von Sternberg it stars Marlene Dietrich as Marie, or as she becomes during the movie Agent X27, recruited by the Austrian Government to spy on the Russians.

This film isn't particularly remarkable except for the ending which has Agent X27 before a firing squad. Whilst the Russian officers disagree over who will order the execution, Marlene proudly and calmly lifts up her veil, neatly applies her lipstick and tucks it back into her rolled stocking before serenely waiting for the drum roll to start again.