I watched the DVD version of the "The Blue Angel" in English only. The film begins at the Professor's house. Inside, the house is rather drab in that there is no real decorations or anything eye-catching. It just sort-of blends in, much like Professor Rath. .
The mise-en-scene at the Blue Angel is quite the opposite. The walls are covered in various decorations and posters. Although this film was not in color, I imagine that the actual club would have been very bright and colorful. It appeared to me to be visually loud, much like Lola. .
The professor is a repressed, proper man. He sticks to routine and discipline. It is significant that he crows at the wedding because it shows that he is letting his "guard" down and becoming playful. He later does this at the end when he is losing his mind. Again, he is breaking away from his normal demeanor. He doesn't speak much throughout the movie. During his silences is when his character develops the most. For instance, when Lola is singing her famous song, "Falling in love again," he is silent and it is at this point when it becomes clear that the Professor is falling in love with Lola. Another significant silence is when he sees Lola with her new love interest before he is to take the stage as the clown he has become. Faced with his wife's infidelity and his realization that his life is upside down, he says nothing. Even with his silence, his feelings are more than evident, both for his life, and for Lola.
Lola is a street-smart vixen, who's reasoning is somewhat difficult to follow. Lola is a young, flashy beautiful woman who is attracted to someone much older than her and very plain. When proposed with marriage, she laughs in the Professor's face but moments later, is celebrating her marriage with him. Rath treats her like a princess, but Lola continues to see him as a clown.
The film foreshadowed the idea of Rath becoming a clown.
