A Foreign Affair (1948)
Genre: Comedy / Romance
Duration: 116 minuten
Alternative title: Een Avontuur in Berlijn
Country:
United States
Directed by: Billy Wilder
Stars: Jean Arthur, Marlene Dietrich and John Lund
IMDb score:
7,3 (9.606)
Releasedate: 20 August 1948
A Foreign Affair plot
"It would make a cigar store Indian laugh..."
Berlin 1947. A group of congressmen is on their way to Berlin to investigate the morality of the American occupation forces. Phoebe Frost (Jean Arthur) is the only female member of that committee. Upon arrival, she meets Captain John Pringle (John Lund) for whom she brought a present from Iowa. However, he turns out to have a secret relationship with man-eater Erika Von Schluetow (Marlene Dietrich). The committee gets to work and Phoebe Frost throws herself anonymously into the nightlife.
Actors and actresses
Congresswoman Phoebe Frost
Erika Von Schlütow
Captain John Pringle
Col. Rufus J. Plummer
Hans Otto Birgel
Mike
Yandell
Joe
Pennecot
Giffin
Reviews & comments
Chainsaw
-
- 8845 messages
- 3711 votes
Like finding a 50-euro bill while tidying up, that's what it feels like to stumble across a Billy Wilder in your collection you haven't seen yet. Because Wilder never disappoints. And A Foreign Affair doesn't either. It's typical Wilder: sharp and fast-paced with a good combination of comedy, drama, and even a touch of suspense here and there. John Lund is excellently cast, but the focus is primarily on the two female roles. Both strong, with Marlene Dietrich perhaps the more well-known name, but Jean Arthur stealing the show, demonstrating a wealth of range in one role; she transforms over the course of the film from witty character to a beautiful, complex character. A Foreign Affair isn't Wilder's sharpest, funniest, or most exciting film, but it is an excellent example of his strength in storytelling. Even when relatively little happens, Wilder keeps you engaged. He moves you with little and needs even less to make you laugh. Foreign Affair; a minor masterpiece from a great master.
4 stars.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Bobbejaantje
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- 2365 messages
- 2119 votes
A brisk Hollywood comedy filmed amidst the still-fresh rubble of World War II in Berlin. As a viewer, you simply have to switch gears. It might help that the film was directed by Billy Wilder and stars Marlene Dietrich, an émigré. The occasionally cynical humor is sometimes successful, sometimes less so. It also has to do with the surreal atmosphere that hangs over the film and its context, in my opinion. Besides the rubble, the city is currently occupied by the military and divided into four zones under the control of British, American, French, and Russian troops, which will be discussed in passing.
The screenplay has received praise (it was nominated for an Oscar but didn't win), and it's indeed not bad. However, it does take its time. Nearly two hours is simply too long for what it is, despite the spooky ruins. It also doesn't help that I didn't really care for any of the characters. Marlene Dietrich does what she does best, in her diva way, of course. John Lund is perfectly okay, and Jean Arthur's character is quite unbearable.
I thought the direction was very successful, especially the B&W photography. The latter could easily have been used for a film noir.
For those who enjoy gawking at German WWII rubble in feature films - by the end of the forties, it had all been cleared away anyway - I can recommend a few good titles from various makers: Germania Anno Zero (1948) , Berlin Express (1948), Die Mörder Sind unter Uns (1946) .
Translated from Dutch · View original
El Loco
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- 1375 messages
- 2606 votes
My Billy Wilder to-see list is shrinking considerably, but there are still some really great films on it, like this "Foreign Affair." The love triangle between John Lund, Jean Arthur, and Marlene Dietrich is beautifully crafted. Okay, the misunderstanding with the photo of Dietrich on Colonel Plummer's desk is on par with the misunderstandings we see at FC De Kampioenen, but Wilder manages to keep it very captivating and funny for almost two hours with a very good script. The scenes in the nightclub are wonderful to watch, but the shots of the ruins of Berlin are equally impressive.
It's quite remarkable that Wilder dared to make such a humorous film about Nazi Germany back in 1948, as well as Marlene Dietrich, who plays a role as a singer with a Nazi past. In any case, Dietrich steals the show as a true diva, along with Jean Arthur, who is a perfect foil for her. I'll probably forget John Lund's performance a bit more quickly, and Millard Mitchell had a great supporting role as Colonel Plummer with a series of amusing one-liners ("That's where he married Eva Braun and that's where they killed themselves. A lot of people say it was a perfect honeymoon").
All the ingredients of a Wilder film are there: a well-crafted script, effective humor with strong dialogue, and occasional suspense. While it's not among Wilder's absolute best, it's entertaining nonetheless.
3.5*
Translated from Dutch · View originalLatest News
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