Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
|
Reviews
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2.4 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), Czech ( Subtitles ), Danish ( Subtitles ), Dutch ( Subtitles ), English ( Subtitles ), Finnish ( Subtitles ), French ( Subtitles ), German ( Subtitles ), Hungarian ( Subtitles ), Norwegian ( Subtitles ), Polish ( Subtitles ), Swedish ( Subtitles ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: 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. ...Desire (1936) ( The Pearl Necklace )
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Tom (Gary Cooper) encounters Madeleine (Marlene Dietrich) on his way to holiday in Spain. Unknown to him is the fact that she has just stolen $2 worth of pearls and is trying to smuggle them into Spain. She slips the pearls into his jacket pocket without him noticing so she can avoid the customs search. However, he takes off his jacket and packs it into his suitcase forcing her to stick with him until a moment arises where she can get the pearls back. Things dont work out as planned for her as when they part company, Tom still has possession of the pearls. Her partner in crime Carlos (John Halliday) is not happy with her when Tom suddenly shows up again. However, Madeleine is romatically won over by Tom, who is still unaware that he is carrying the valuable pearls, and this changes her plans.....
The film has a good cast with a special mention for Zeffie Tilbury as "Aunt Olga" who turns up late in the film - an old, frail lady on the outside but a cold, emotionless criminal at heart. She advises Madeleine to forget about love - it is much better to have the memory. There are many good scenes, eg, the end scene at dinner when Tom gradually reveals to Carlos what he knows about the theft, the beginning scene when Madeleine is carrying out her scam, the scene at customs on the border of Spain where we are unsure of who is going to get busted and how, etc. The story gets going from the outset and is played with humour. Cooper is funny as the salesman, eg, when he discusses which is the better word - "delighted" or "glad" - to his boss before he goes on holiday. The good cast keep the story going but unfortunately, the ending lets things down a bit. It's far too goody-goody.
The film has a good cast with a special mention for Zeffie Tilbury as "Aunt Olga" who turns up late in the film - an old, frail lady on the outside but a cold, emotionless criminal at heart. She advises Madeleine to forget about love - it is much better to have the memory. There are many good scenes, eg, the end scene at dinner when Tom gradually reveals to Carlos what he knows about the theft, the beginning scene when Madeleine is carrying out her scam, the scene at customs on the border of Spain where we are unsure of who is going to get busted and how, etc. The story gets going from the outset and is played with humour. Cooper is funny as the salesman, eg, when he discusses which is the better word - "delighted" or "glad" - to his boss before he goes on holiday. The good cast keep the story going but unfortunately, the ending lets things down a bit. It's far too goody-goody.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The title is terrible - makes it sound like a story of lust and passion when what it actually is turns out to be a sparkling comedy about a beautiful jewel thief who falls in love and abandons a life of crime. The desire is her desire for the things she steals. As the thief Dietrich looks gorgeous, is dressed to kill and Cooper, the innocent all American guy who crosses her path, makes a splendid foil. He could handle comedy quite well even if his star imageis more of a lean, craggy silent heroic type. But they are all young here and haven't acquired the patina of stardom. The plot doesn't quite hold up - the menacing partners in crime are kind of added on as they do not seem to have played any role in the initial theft, but Lubitsch handles the whole thing with a light touch. It is also quite daring at times - some blissfully suggestive dialogue, especially the hands in the pocket scene.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Neither Cooper or Dietrich seem entirely at ease in this screwball comedy, although they warm up as the plot progresses. Much of the comedy, and the acting, seems a little forced, and the laughs depend on mild double entendres and suggestive remarks - especially over dinner in the thieves' hideaway villa.
It's not a classic, and it's nowhere near the funniest comedy that Dietrich ever made (Destry Rides Again), but it more than passes the time.
The restored print is wonderful, and the cars and costumes sparkle. The French and Spanish scenery depicts a long-lost era, all bucolic charm and elegant buildings, a snapshot of life just before the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War and WWII. Dietrich is, as always, stunning, with arched eyebrows painted so high that they look like the antennae of some exotic insect.
It's not a classic, and it's nowhere near the funniest comedy that Dietrich ever made (Destry Rides Again), but it more than passes the time.
The restored print is wonderful, and the cars and costumes sparkle. The French and Spanish scenery depicts a long-lost era, all bucolic charm and elegant buildings, a snapshot of life just before the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War and WWII. Dietrich is, as always, stunning, with arched eyebrows painted so high that they look like the antennae of some exotic insect.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
