The Flame of New Orleans (1941)

In old New Orleans, a beautiful adventuress juggles the attentions of a rich banker and a dashing sea captain.

Director:

René Clair (as Rene Clair)

Writer:

Norman Krasna

Stars:

Marlene Dietrich, Bruce Cabot, Roland Young

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Marlene Dietrich	...	Claire Ledeux
Bruce Cabot	...	Robert LaTour
Roland Young	...	Charles Giraud
Mischa Auer	...	Zolotov
Andy Devine	...	1st Sailor
Frank Jenks	...	2nd Sailor
Eddie Quillan	...	3rd Sailor
Laura Hope Crews	...	Auntie
Franklin Pangborn	...	Bellows
Theresa Harris	...	Clementine
Clarence Muse	...	Samuel
Melville Cooper	...	Brother-in-Law
Anne Revere	...	Sister
Bob Evans	...	William
Emily Fitzroy	...	Cousin

Storyline

French farce comes to the New World in 1840 as Claire Ledoux convinces the middle-aged banker who is her fiance that she is two different women -- a deception made necessary by the arrival of a man acquainted with the swath she cut across Europe. Giraud has been about to foreclose on a $150 loan made to a sea captain who needed the funds to court Claire. Get Claire's "cousin" out of New Orleans before the wedding, Giraud tells the sea captain and the debt will be paid.

---

Plot Keywords:

brandy | confidence artist | ship | theater | tightrope walker | 

---

Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Music | Romance

---

Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 April 1941 (USA)

Also Known As:

La belle ensorceleuse

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

79 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

René Clair stated he and screenwriter Norman Krasna devised the film to parody Marlene Dietrich's screen image, and they did so with her knowledge.

---

Connections

Remade as Scarlet Angel (1952)

---

Soundtracks

What's the Matter with Father
(1910) (uncredited)
Music by Egbert Van Alstyne
Lyrics by Harry Williams
Played during the opening credits.
Reprised at the Oyster Bed Cafe
Variations played as part of the score throughout

User Reviews

Marlene Dietrich and Rene Clair...ooh la la!

You see a wedding dress floating in the ocean, and the story begins of how it came to be there. Marlene Dietrich lives basically upon the kindness and generosity of men. She sets her sights on Roland Young (from "Topper"), who has scads of money. She also has a particular habit of fainting, which she uses to her advantage, whenever it serves her purpose or whenever she doesn't know else to get out of a particular situation. Roland starts to pursue her, but doesn't realize he was already picked from the beginning. She tries to be hard to get, but just enough to get what she wants.

Enter Bruce Cabot who of course meets her in such a way as to antagonize her without them actually seeing each other. When her plans get mixed up with Roland and her reputation gets compromised by a rumor, she resorts to drastic measures.

I had never seen this and loved it, obviously by my rating. Marlene and Bruce's chemistry, its use of time and place, the imagery and colors of the clothes of the time, and its expressive grand music made for the most perfect 80 minutes spent on a movie in a long time.

Featuring a slew of recognizable faces including Mischa Auer, Andy Devine, Franklin Pangborn, Melville Cooper, Laura Hope Crews ("Aunt Pittypat" from "Gone with the Wind"), Anne Revere (Oscar winner for "National Velvet" as the mother), and Eddie Quillan, this is one movie not to be missed.

Eddie Quillan? You don't know him? Sure, you do. You've seen him. You just didn't know it. He was a prolific supporting actor in movies in bit parts like this one and also made memorable appearances in 50s and 60s TV shows, like "The Addams Family." His most famous role was probably that in "The Grapes of Wrath."

Directed by Rene Clair who also made "Le Million", which I reviewed, and "A Nous La Liberte," (some say that is his masterpiece, but I have yet to see, but will) this is yet another example of Dietrich at her sexiest, and all Dietrich fans and film lovers should buy the Marlene Dietrich DVD collection with this on it and sit back and see one of the greatest screen icons ever!