24 April 2011

1997 Mercedez-Benz Commercial

I have read some biting criticism about the 1997 Mercedes-Benz commercial that interpolated Marlene Dietrich's "Falling In Love Again" in the style of the Natalie and Nat King Cole duet "Unforgettable," but the obvious reasons for the song's use were its theme of desirability, its nostalgic appeal, and the Teutonic elegance that the Dietrich and Mercedes-Benz brands exude. The formula worked because in 2005 Car and Driver magazine rated the commercial the third best car commercial of all time.

This version of the commercial clocks in at just over a minute:



This version is the standard 30 seconds and apparently appears at the beginning of The Lost World: Jurassic Park VHS tapes:

3 comments:

  1. what entries so original!. I love your blog, I really enjoy reading it, the Dietrich-universe is inexhaustible... I greatly appreciate the continuing tribute to make of our diva Dietrich. Thanks and regards

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  2. Thanks! It always amazes me to see where Marlene Dietrich makes her presence known. The career that launched Dietrich's fame, acting in films, was never consistently lucrative, yet she made a lifetime career for herself that her heirs have carefully managed.

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  3. Never seen these ads before. Thanks for sharing! I think they're quite effective.

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