Saturday Night Cinema: A Foreign Affair

7

Tonight's Saturday Night Cinema is from the brilliant Billy Wilder and stars the dazzling Marlene Dietrich in A Foreign Affair.

"The German director and his fellow German leading woman have made this
film from the soul. It's more about post-war Berlin. Jean Arthur's talent saves the day
and provides the comic
relief, but it's Dietrich who shines all the way through — she is simply
divine. She steals the whole film, of course, and the scenes where she
sings at the cabaret can be inscribed on one's memory for ever. Don't
miss this classic."

Here Billy Wilder talks about making the picture.

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A Foreign Affair (1948)
Jean Arthur, Marlene Dietrich and John Land a Triangle in 'A Foreign Affair'
By BOSLEY CROWTHER, NY Times

Published: July 1, 1948

Maybe you think there's nothing funny about the current situation of
American troops in the ticklish area of Berlin. And it's serious enough,
heaven knows, what with the Russians pushing and shoving and the
natives putting on their own type squeeze. But, at least, Charles
Brackett and Billy Wilder have been happily disinclined to wax morose
about the problems presented by occupation—and by "fraternization,"
specifically. Rather these two bright film-makers have been wryly
disposed to smile upon the conflicts in self and national interests
which proximities inevitably provoke. And in their most recent picture, a
comedy romance, called "A Foreign Affair," they have turned out a dandy
entertainment which has some shrewd and realistic things to say.

Congress may not like this picture, which came to the Paramount
yesterday. And even the Department of the Army may find it a shade
embarrassing. For the Messrs. Brackett and Wilder, who are not the sort
to call a spade a trowel, as was eminently proved by their honest and
hard-hitting film, "The Lost Week-end," are here making light of
regulations and the gravity of officialdom in a smoothly sophisticated
and slyly sardonic way.

Particularly, their interest is in how human beings behave when
confronted by other human beings—especially those of the opposite sex.
And their logical conclusion is that, granted attractions back and
forth, most people—despite regulations and even differences in language
and politics—are likely to do toward one another that which comes
naturally.

Taking as their point of observation an American Congresswoman in
Berlin, accompanying a Congressional committee sent to investigate the
morale of American troops, the Messrs. Brackett and Wilder have looked
realistically upon the obvious temptations and reactions of healthy
soldiers far from home. They have wisely observed that black markets are
not repugnant to boys with stuff to trade and that frauleins are simply
bobby-soxers with a weakness for candy-bars. They have slyly remarked
that Russian soldiers love to sing gymnastic songs and that Americans
are nothing loathe to join them of a quiet night in a smoky cafe. And
especially have they noted that an American captain may actually fall in
love with a svelte German night-club singer and take her beneath his
protective custody, even though she may have been the mistress of a
former Nazi trump.

Of course, they have made these observations in a spirit of fun and
romance. And the shame of the captain's indiscretion is honorably
white-washed in the end. But there is bite, nonetheless, in the comment
which the whole picture has to make upon the irony of big state
restrictions on the level of individual give-and-take.

Under less clever presentation this sort of traffic with big stuff in
the current events department might be offensive to reason and taste.
But as handled by the Messrs. Brackett and Wilder as producer and
director of this film—and also as its principal writers—it has wit,
worldliness and charm. It also has serious implications, via some
actuality scenes in bombed Berlin, of the wretched and terrifying
problem of repairing the ravages of war. Indeed, there are moments when
the picture becomes down-right cynical in tone, but it is always
artfully salvaged by a hasty nip-up of the yarn.

Much credit is due the performers. Jean Arthur is beautifully droll
as the prim and punctilious Congresswoman who has her eyes popped open
to the power of love. And John Lund is disarmingly shameless as the
brash American captain. Millard Mitchell gives a trenchant imitation of a
wise and sharp-eyed colonel in Berlin and three or four other fellows
are richly amusing as just plain Joes.

But it is really Marlene Dietrich who does the most fascinating job
as the German night-club singer and the charmer par excellence. For in
Miss Dietrich's restless femininity, in her subtle suggestions of
mocking scorn and in her daringly forward singing of "Illusions" and
"Black Market," two stinging songs, are centered not only the essence of
the picture's romantic allure, but also its vagrant cynicism and its
unmistakable point.

On the stage at the Paramount are Jo Stafford, Georgia Kay, the Lane Brothers and Sam Donahue's band.


A FOREIGN AFFAIR, screen play by Charles Brackett,
Billy Wilder, and Richard Breen; adaptation by Robert Harari from an
original story by David Shaw; directed by Mr. Wilder; produced by Mr.
Brackett for Paramount Pictures. At the Paramount.

Congresswoman Phoebe Frost . . . . . Jean Arthur

Erika Von Schluetow . . . . . Marlene Dietrich

Capt. John Pringle . . . . . John Lund

Col. Rufus J. Plummer . . . . . Millard Mitchell

Hans Otto Birgel . . . . . Peter Von Zerneck

Mike . . . . . William Murphy

Joe . . . . . Stanley Prager

Lt. Lee Thompson . . . . . William Neff

Congressman Griffin . . . . . Boyd Davis

Congressman Pennecott . . . . . Raymond Bond

Congressman Kraus . . . . . Robert Malcolm

Congressman Yandell . . . . . Charles Meredith

General McAndrew . . . . . Harlan Tucker

First M. P. . . . . . Gordon Jones

Second M. P. . . . . . Fred Steele

Congressman Salvatore . . . . . Michael Raffetto

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MA02169
MA02169
11 years ago

* Have you ever heard of Charlie the Brown Nose Reindeer? Not very
many people have. He could fly just as fast as the other Reindeer,
but he couldn’t stop as fast.
* What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus?
Claustrophobic.
* Why does Santa have 3 gardens?
So he can ho-ho-ho.
* Why was Santa’s little helper depressed?
Because he had low elf esteem.
* What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire?
Frostbite.
* What do you get when you cross an archer with a gift-wrapper?
Ribbon hood.
* There was once a great czar in Russia named Rudolph the Red.
He stood looking out the windows of is palace one day while his
wife, the Czarina Katerina, sat nearby knitting. He turned to her,
and said, “Look my dear, it has begun to rain!” Without even
looking up from her knitting she replied, “It’s too cold to rain. It
must be sleeting.” The Czar shook his head and said, “I am the
Czar of all the Russias, and Rudolph the Red knows rain, dear!”
* Q. What do you get if you cross mistletoe and a duck?
A. A Christmas Quacker.
* Q. What do call Santa when he stops moving?
A. Santa Pause!
* Q. Where does a snowman keep his money?
A. In a snow bank.
* Q. Why do mummies like Christmas so much?
A. Because of all the wrapping!
* Did you know that according to the song, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed
Reindeer, Santa has twelve reindeer? Sure, in the introduction it
goes, “There’s Dasher, and Dancer, and Prancer, and Vixen, Comet,
and Cupid, and Donder, and Blitzen…” That makes eight reindeer.
Then there’s Rudolph, of course, so that makes nine. Then there’s
Olive. You know, “Olive the other reindeer used to laugh…” That
makes ten. The eleventh is Howe. You know, “Then Howe the reindeer
loved him…” Eleven reindeer. Oh, and number 12? That’s Andy! “Andy
shouted out with glee.”
The proof is in the song!

MA02169
MA02169
11 years ago

1. Never give a woman any kind of household appliance, or something that is going to make “housework” easier. Like a Blender, a Toaster, and especially don’t buy her a Vacuum Cleaner.
2. Cleaning supplies. Especially in bulk.
3. Any sharp objects made by Ronco which slices, and dices. Or a set of Ginsu knives.
4. Do not buy gifts for yourself, and pretend they are for her. Like a new Electric Drill.
5. Any lingerie made of flannel, such as a pair of feet pajamas with a trap door in back. Buy her something sexy from Victoria Secret (just like you did for your mistress or other girlfriend).
6. No name perfume which costs you $1.99, such as Eu de Toilet, which actually smells like dirty socks.
7. Any type of Cubic Zirconia jewelry you see on the Home Shopping Network. Or anywhere else for that matter.
8. Please do not buy her clothes, because you thought for one minute that you have good taste in woman’s clothing. Well, perhaps you might if you are a transvestite.
9. Do not give her a gift certificate to Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers.
10. Last but not least, never buy a woman anti-wrinkle cream, or a book on “How not to be Nasty Sunday through Saturday.”

yamsi
yamsi
11 years ago

This movie is His Girl Friday, not Foreign Affair.

momodoom
momodoom
11 years ago

Yes, you’ve linked to His Girl Friday. Here is the location from the same playlist, for A Foreign Affair:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfhGnmGxtyM&list=PL2390F328D51A7133

meira750
meira750
11 years ago

Well, “His Girl Friday” was hysterically funny. Very satirical, even had the actors making fun of themselves. Sometimes we all need a good laugh.

meira750
meira750
11 years ago

I have no problem with good CZ’s set in gold with one exception, as an engagement ring. The ring is a symbol of fidelity and truth, using a fake stone to have bigger bling just doesn’t cut it. Although, if you and she agree that diamonds are a waste of money and her family is pressing for one, you might agree to fool them with a CZ and put the money to better use. :~0 Just kidding, I think.

meira750
meira750
11 years ago

I found A FOREIGN AFFAIR. Are you serious? That first scene with Dietrich and the American Captain was sick. They took S&M as far as the censors would let them in 1948. She threatens to choke her as foreplay? Total psychopath and she’s the compliant woman who’ll go along with the abuse not to be alone or without material basics. This is supposed to be a comedy? Sick, sick, sick. Why are you promoting it, Pam? It turned my stomach and I couldn’t watch anymore.

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