Themes: Jewel Theft, Cons and Scams, Americans Abroad
Main Cast: Marlene Dietrich, Gary Cooper, John Halliday, William Frawley, Ernest Cossart
Release Year: 1936
Country: US
Run Time: 89 minutes
Plot
In this frothy romantic adventure, Marlene Dietrich plays Madeleine de Beaupre, a devious jewel thief. After sneaking a valuable string of pearls away from jeweler Aristide Duval (Ernest Cossart), Madeleine attempts to flee Paris, leaving a trail that will instead implicate psychiatrist Dr. Pauquet (Alan Mowbray). While headed for the Spanish border, she nearly runs into Tom Bradley (Gary Cooper), an American auto engineer vacationing in Europe. Madeleine spots Tom again as she waits to go through Spanish Customs; worried that the stolen pearls will be found in her handbag, she slips them into Tom's pocket. After they both make their way through inspection unscathed, Madeleine flirts with Tom in an attempt to get the valuables back; he's too shy to respond in kind, so she gets his attention by trying to "repair" the engine of her car with a hammer. Madeleine lures Tom to the San Sebastian estate of her partner in crime, Carlos Margoli (John Halliday). It doesn't take long for Tom to figure out what Madeleine and Carlos are up to; however, he also knows that he's fallen in love with her, and he is willing to play along if it allows him to be near her. Carlos was originally to have been played by John Gilbert; Halliday was a last-minute replacement after the one-time silent screen star died a week before shooting was to begin. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
Style is everything in Desire, a sophisticated, elegant little jewel of a film. Directed by Frank Borzage with a light touch that brings to mind the work of its producer, Ernst Lubitsch, Desire's story is thin and often predictable, but it's told with such assurance and delight (as well as more than its fair share of witty repartee) that the flaws in the screenplay are easily forgiven. Borzage knows just how to treat this material, emphasizing the opportunities it allows his stars and building upon the chemistry that they generate -- which is considerable. Gary Cooper brings his unique brand of American innocence to the role but displays a deft touch with both the comedy and the romance, demonstrating that in the right role and with the right director he could play sophisticated comedy as well as anyone. Marlene Dietrich, looking stunning in her Travis Banton outfits, delivers a sterling performance, full of sensuality, innuendo, and amusement. Keeping step with the stars in large supporting roles are a suave John Halliday and an unwitting Alan Mowbray, and Zeffie Tilbury impresses in the small part of Aunt Olga. Desire is a charming, if slight, little film that's a "must see" for fans of its stars. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Alan Mowbray - Dr. Edouard Pauquet; Zeffie Tilbury - Aunt Olga; Enrique Acosta - Pedro; Stanley Andrews - Customs inspector; Harry Antrim - Chauffeur; Alden Chase - Hotel Clerk; Blanche Craig - Couple; Anna de Linsky - Servant; Harry Depp - Clerk; Oliver Eckhardt - Man in Couple; Gaston Glass - Jewelry Clerk; Armand Kaliz - Jewelry Clerk; George MacQuarrie - Clerk With Gun; Robert E. O'Connor - Customs Official; Albert Pollet - French Policeman; Akim Tamiroff - Police Official; Marc Lawrence - Valet; Rollo Lloyd - Clerk in Mayor's Office; Tony Merlo - Waiter; Constant Franke - Border Official; Isabelle La Mal - Nurse; Alfonso Pedroza - Oxcart Driver; George Davis - Garage Man
The picture is a remake of the 1933German film Die Schönen Tage von Aranjuez. The screenplay was written by Samuel Hoffenstein, Edwin Justus Mayer and Waldemar Young based on the play Die Schönen Tage von Aranjuez by Hans Székely and Robert A. Stemmle.
The film tells of plays Madeleine de Beaupre (Marlene Dietrich), a devious jewel thief.
After stealing a string of pearls from jeweler Aristide Duval (Ernest Cossart), de Beaupre flees Paris. She leaves a trail that implicates psychiatrist Dr. Pauquet (Alan Mowbray).
As she headeds for the Spanish border, she nearly runs into Tom Bradley (Gary Cooper), an American auto engineer vacationing in Europe. De Beaupre spots Bradley again at the Spanish customs. She's worried that the pearls will be found in her handbag, so she slips them into Bradley's pocket.
After they make their way through inspection, de Beaupre flirts with Bradley in an attempt to get the pearls back. Bradley is too shy to respond so she gets his attention by trying to "repair" the engine of her car with a hammer.
De Beaupre lures Bradley to the San Sebastian estate of her partner in crime, Carlos Margoli (John Halliday). It doesn't take long for Tom to figure out what de Beaupre and Margoli are up to.
Yet, Bradley also knows that he's fallen for de Beaupre, and he's willing to go along as long as he's near her.
Background
John Gilbert was initially cast as Carlos Margoli, which was to be his comeback role. He had a heart attack in his dressing room a few weeks later and was immediately replaced by John Halliday. A few days later, Gilbert died of alcohol-induced heart failure.
Some of the scenes in the film were directed by Ernst Lubitsch whilst Frank Borzage was fulfilling a prior commitment at Warner Bros.
The film was shot at Paramount Studios and at the Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, California and, unusual for its time, on location in France and Spain.
Of the film, Dietrich said:
The only film I need not be ashamed of is Desire, directed by Frank Borzage and based on a script by Ernst Lubitsch. I found Gary Cooper a little less monosyllabic than before. He was finally rid of Lupe Velez, who had been at his heels constantly throughout the shooting of Morocco.
and:
Desire became a good film and, moreover, also proved to be a box-office success. The script was excellent, the roles superb - one more proof that these elements are more important than actors.[2]
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