Themes: Social Climbing, Love Triangles, Assumed Identities
Main Cast: Marlene Dietrich, Bruce Cabot, Roland Young, Anne Revere, Mischa Auer, Andy Devine
Release Year: 1941
Country: US
Run Time: 78 minutes
Plot
Acclaimed French filmmaker Rene Clair made his American debut with this period comedy/drama. Claire Ledeux (Marlene Dietrich) leaves her native France and arrives in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1841, with one goal in mind: marrying a wealthy man. Posing as a pillar of society and a woman of means, Claire sets her sights on Charles Giraud (Roland Young), who is good looking and rich, but she soon discovers that ship captain Robert Latour (Bruce Cabot) is also vying for her hand. However, when Zoltov (Mischa Auer), who knew Claire from the old country, starts dropping heavy hints about her scandalous reputation in Europe, Claire tries to convince everyone that he's really talking about her cousin, even going so far as to disguise herself as the phantom cousin to add weight to her ruse. Three Stooges fans should keep an eye peeled for a brief appearance by Shemp Howard, who plays a waiter; Andy Devine, Franklin Pangborn, and Clarence Muse also appear in the supporting cast. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Entr'acte (1924) •Paris qui dort (1924, a/k/a The Crazy Ray) •La Tour (1928) •Forever and a Day (1943, segment "1897") •La Française et l'amour (1960, segment "Le Mariage") •Les Quatre vérités (1962, segment "Les Deux Pigeons")
