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

Featured in Tellement Gay! Homosexualité et pop culture: Inside (2015)

---

Soundtracks

Sweet Is the Blush of May
Music by Charles Previn
Lyrics by Samuel Lerner (as Sam Lerner)
Played on piano and sung by Marlene Dietrich (uncredited)

User Reviews

Surprisingly excellent

René Clair lost some of his charm when he went to Hollywood, but chances were good that he couldn't lose it all. I quite love his 1942 film I Married a Witch, starring Veronica Lake. I think I like this Marlene Dietrich vehicle even better. Oh, this is a charmer, all right. The plot is too complicated to describe here, but the story is very clever and very entertaining. The film is sweet, romantic and quite funny. The cast is exceptional. Bruce Cabot is surprisingly great as the leading man. You might remember him as the block of wood who won out over the monkey in King Kong. He must have gained some talent as he aged; he's much more handsome at this point, and has an effortless charm, reminiscent of Clark Gable. Roland Young plays his rival. One thing I'll always love about Golden Age Hollywood is the bevy of character actors, something we have entirely lost in the present. Here we have Mischa Auer, Anne Revere, Andy Devine, Theresa Harris and Franklin Pangborn. I had thought for sure Morocco was the best reason to own Universal's Marlene Dietrich set, but, so far, this is the best.