The setting for "The Ambassador's Daughter" is 1946 Paris - the year after the end of World War II. American forces are in France helping with recovery from the war. A visiting American Senator wants to make Paris off-limits to GIs on leave. He and his wife come to visit and they stay at the American embassy. The ambassador is a widower whose single daughter helps him handle visiting dignitaries as well as represent the embassy and America in civic events and social affairs. She is engaged to a European prince. Two older GIs weasel their way into a charity benefit show in a swanky hotel. The ambassador's daughter is one of the volunteer guest models. When she catches the eye of Sgt. Danny Sullivan, the lives of all them are in for an interesting time in this very funny, sophisticated comedy.
This movie has a wonderful cast of prominent actors of the day. Olivia de Havilland is Joan Fisk, the multi-lingual daughter of the Ambassador William Fisk. Edward Arnold plays that role superbly. One of the best supporting actors in Hollywood history, Arnold always seemed natural before the camera, no matter what role he played. John Forsythe is perfect as a strait-laced NCO who is a trained engineer and educated man. Confident on the outside, he is shy with women. Adolphe Menjou, who had many leading roles in silent and early sound pictures, is just right as the gruff U.S. Senator Jonathan Cartwright. And, Myrna Loy is marvelous as Mrs. Cartwright. She provides much of the comedy in the film including a hilarious scenario toward the end with Sgt. Sullivan.
The rest of the cast are very good. Tommy Noonan is Sgt. Sullivan's GI buddy. The credits list him as Corporal Al O'Connor, but his uniform clearly shows the rank of Pfc (private first class). Minor Watson plays Lt. Gen. Andrew Harvey very well. And Francis Lederer is good as Prince Nicholas Obelski. As a bonus in this film, two outstanding members of the Paris Opera Ballet perform scenes from Swan Lake at the ballet. Michel Renault is the danseur and Claude Bessy is the Ballerina.
The biggest criticism of this film has to do with the ages of the male and female leads. Olivia de Havilland was 39 when filming began and 40 when the movie came out. John Forsythe was 38. Had the film been made in 1946, their ages wouldn't have been an issue. And, one can question why they should be an issue at all. Both were playing people a few years younger - in their early to mid 30s. There were any number of GIs that age who had been serving a few years in the war. The ambassador was a widower in his early 60s. His daughter had considerable schooling and was fluent in at least two languages besides English. So, what such young woman still single, wouldn't want to live and work with her widower father who was the U.S. Ambassador - especially in Paris?
So, all of the age arguments aside, one should just consider this film as it is. Of course the plot is somewhat outlandish. But that's what makes for the great comedy here. The humor really ramps up toward the end, with the final scene a real hoot. This is a comedy older and mature movie buffs will especially enjoy as well as anyone who enjoys earlier films. It's a very funny, sophisticated film. One sad note was the death of Edward Arnold on April 26 - three months before the movie came out. He was 66 years old.
Here are some favorite lines from this film.
French Policeman, "May we drop you off at your hotel, monsieur?" Sgt. Danny Sullivan, "Oh, please don't bother." Policeman, "Oh, it's no bother - we are going that way." Sgt. Sullivan, "How do you know which way I'm going? Policeman, "Whichever way you are going is our way." Sgt. Sullivan, shaking his head, "The boys are never going to believe this."
Mrs. Cartwright, "Did you see her kiss him and call him father?" Senator Cartwright, "Who?" Mrs. Cartwright, "When Joan kissed the prince, she called him father." Senator, "What of it?" Mrs. Cartwright, "I never kissed you and mistook you for your father." Senator, "That was hardly possible. My father had a beard like a hedgehog."
Senator Cartwright,, "Now listen, Mrs. Cupid, no more of that. The time you thought the queen of England ought to have an American husband was all I wanted of your match-making. Churchill swallowed his cigar."
Mrs. Cartwright, "She thinks the prince is her father. I just don't think it's healthy, that's all."
Mrs. Cartwright, "Pride's a wonderful thing. But it doesn't warm you on a cold wintery night." Joan Fisk, "I have an electric blanket." Mrs. Cartwright, "It won't be the father of your children."
Mrs. Cartwright, pretending to be the French employer of Joan as a model, "You know what we call her? Sgt. Sullivan, "What?" Mrs. Cartwright, "Miss Iron-pants." Sgt. Sullivan, "Miss Iron-pants?"
Mrs. Cartwright, still pretending to be the French employer of Joan as a model, "I like American soldiers." Sgt. Sullivan, "Thank you."
Mrs. Cartwright, "He has a way with women." Sgt. Sullivan, "That old goat?" Mrs. Cartwright, "He's a rich old goat. She's a poor chicken. And you can wear away a rock by dropping water on it." Sgt. Sullivan, "Is that what he's doing?"
Mrs. Cartwright, "Drop, drop, drop. That's how he got his wife." Sgt. Sullivan, "He's married?" Mrs. Cartwright, "And has three children." Sgt. Sullivan, "Does she know that?" Mrs. Cartwright,, "What can she do? Drop, drop, drop."
Mrs. Cartwright, "I was present once in the very room when he struck a woman." Sgt. Sullivan, "He hits women?"
Joan Fisk, "You offered to marry me. I accept." Sgt. Sullivan, "I take it back." Joan, "Oh, it's too late. I accept you."
This movie has a wonderful cast of prominent actors of the day. Olivia de Havilland is Joan Fisk, the multi-lingual daughter of the Ambassador William Fisk. Edward Arnold plays that role superbly. One of the best supporting actors in Hollywood history, Arnold always seemed natural before the camera, no matter what role he played. John Forsythe is perfect as a strait-laced NCO who is a trained engineer and educated man. Confident on the outside, he is shy with women. Adolphe Menjou, who had many leading roles in silent and early sound pictures, is just right as the gruff U.S. Senator Jonathan Cartwright. And, Myrna Loy is marvelous as Mrs. Cartwright. She provides much of the comedy in the film including a hilarious scenario toward the end with Sgt. Sullivan.
The rest of the cast are very good. Tommy Noonan is Sgt. Sullivan's GI buddy. The credits list him as Corporal Al O'Connor, but his uniform clearly shows the rank of Pfc (private first class). Minor Watson plays Lt. Gen. Andrew Harvey very well. And Francis Lederer is good as Prince Nicholas Obelski. As a bonus in this film, two outstanding members of the Paris Opera Ballet perform scenes from Swan Lake at the ballet. Michel Renault is the danseur and Claude Bessy is the Ballerina.
The biggest criticism of this film has to do with the ages of the male and female leads. Olivia de Havilland was 39 when filming began and 40 when the movie came out. John Forsythe was 38. Had the film been made in 1946, their ages wouldn't have been an issue. And, one can question why they should be an issue at all. Both were playing people a few years younger - in their early to mid 30s. There were any number of GIs that age who had been serving a few years in the war. The ambassador was a widower in his early 60s. His daughter had considerable schooling and was fluent in at least two languages besides English. So, what such young woman still single, wouldn't want to live and work with her widower father who was the U.S. Ambassador - especially in Paris?
So, all of the age arguments aside, one should just consider this film as it is. Of course the plot is somewhat outlandish. But that's what makes for the great comedy here. The humor really ramps up toward the end, with the final scene a real hoot. This is a comedy older and mature movie buffs will especially enjoy as well as anyone who enjoys earlier films. It's a very funny, sophisticated film. One sad note was the death of Edward Arnold on April 26 - three months before the movie came out. He was 66 years old.
Here are some favorite lines from this film.
French Policeman, "May we drop you off at your hotel, monsieur?" Sgt. Danny Sullivan, "Oh, please don't bother." Policeman, "Oh, it's no bother - we are going that way." Sgt. Sullivan, "How do you know which way I'm going? Policeman, "Whichever way you are going is our way." Sgt. Sullivan, shaking his head, "The boys are never going to believe this."
Mrs. Cartwright, "Did you see her kiss him and call him father?" Senator Cartwright, "Who?" Mrs. Cartwright, "When Joan kissed the prince, she called him father." Senator, "What of it?" Mrs. Cartwright, "I never kissed you and mistook you for your father." Senator, "That was hardly possible. My father had a beard like a hedgehog."
Senator Cartwright,, "Now listen, Mrs. Cupid, no more of that. The time you thought the queen of England ought to have an American husband was all I wanted of your match-making. Churchill swallowed his cigar."
Mrs. Cartwright, "She thinks the prince is her father. I just don't think it's healthy, that's all."
Mrs. Cartwright, "Pride's a wonderful thing. But it doesn't warm you on a cold wintery night." Joan Fisk, "I have an electric blanket." Mrs. Cartwright, "It won't be the father of your children."
Mrs. Cartwright, pretending to be the French employer of Joan as a model, "You know what we call her? Sgt. Sullivan, "What?" Mrs. Cartwright, "Miss Iron-pants." Sgt. Sullivan, "Miss Iron-pants?"
Mrs. Cartwright, still pretending to be the French employer of Joan as a model, "I like American soldiers." Sgt. Sullivan, "Thank you."
Mrs. Cartwright, "He has a way with women." Sgt. Sullivan, "That old goat?" Mrs. Cartwright, "He's a rich old goat. She's a poor chicken. And you can wear away a rock by dropping water on it." Sgt. Sullivan, "Is that what he's doing?"
Mrs. Cartwright, "Drop, drop, drop. That's how he got his wife." Sgt. Sullivan, "He's married?" Mrs. Cartwright, "And has three children." Sgt. Sullivan, "Does she know that?" Mrs. Cartwright,, "What can she do? Drop, drop, drop."
Mrs. Cartwright, "I was present once in the very room when he struck a woman." Sgt. Sullivan, "He hits women?"
Joan Fisk, "You offered to marry me. I accept." Sgt. Sullivan, "I take it back." Joan, "Oh, it's too late. I accept you."