That Lady in Ermine (1948)

Director:

Ernst Lubitsch

Writer:

Samson Raphaelson (screenplay)

Release Date:

25 September 1948 (Sweden)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

GAY, MUSICAL COMEDY...SPARKLING WITH SPICY SITUATIONS! (original ad - all caps)

Plot:

Circa 1861, Angelina, ruling countess of an Italian principality, is at a loss when invaded by a Hungarian army...

Plot Keywords:

Portrait | Hungarian | Newlywed | Look Alike | Painting

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Betty Grable	...	Francesca / Angelina
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.	...	Colonel Ladislas Karolyi Teglas / The Duke
Cesar Romero	...	Count Mario
Walter Abel	...	Major Horvath / Benvenuto
Reginald Gardiner	...	Alberto
Harry Davenport	...	Luigi
Virginia Campbell	...	Theresa
Whit Bissell	...	Giulio

Also Known As:

This Is the Moment (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #12813) | Sweden:Btl | West Germany:12 (nf)

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Director Ernst Lubitsch died early in production; Otto Preminger completed the film.

Quotes:

Col. Ladislas Karolyi Teglas: If one is in love, one doesn't need an umbrella.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Costume Designer (1950)

Soundtrack:

The Melody Has to Be Right

That Lubitch in Ermine

Can I be as simple and primitive in my evaluations as to simply say "I liked it"? It's reasonably funny by bits, it got great stars and it's gorgeous to look at. The songs (there are about two which are then repeated) are forgettable, but they get a healthy ironic treatment (such as the terribly handsome Mr Fairbanks exploding into frenzied Wagnerian version of the tender ballad Miss Grable has just rendered); there isn't much dancing with all the 1861 crinolines draped around Miss Grable, and the comedy might be a bit heavy handed, but the result still is very uplifting. The photography (including real outdoor shots which are a thrill) is amazing, playing around with different shades of lush heavy gold. Miss Grable is a bit past her prime and on the plumpish side, but still fresh and comfortable in this continental "olde worlde" comedy. It's pretty much along the line of "Down to Earth" with Rita Hayworth, and that one tends to be rather disliked by many. So I suppose several people would deem "That Lady in Ermine" to be outdated and stuffy. But it's a fairy tale, and these tend to move along at a certain paste anyhow. My suggestion is - just enjoy the artwork, the costumes, the witty script and everything else this film has to offer, and stop complaining. The film has been released on DVD in Germany, with both German and English soundtrack.