A Scandal in Paris (1946)

Born in a French prison in 1775, François Eugène Vidocq becomes a professional thief and is later appointed chief of Parisian police.

Director:

Douglas Sirk

Writers:

François-Eugène Vidocq (memoirs) (as Eugene Francois Vidocq), Ellis St. Joseph (adaptation)

Stars:

George Sanders, Signe Hasso, Carole Landis

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
George Sanders	...	Eugéne François Vidocq
Signe Hasso	...	Therese De Pierremont
Carole Landis	...	Loretta de Richet
Akim Tamiroff	...	Emile Vernet
Gene Lockhart	...	Prefect of Police Richet
Alma Kruger	...	Marquise De Pierremont
Alan Napier	...	Houdon De Pierremont
Jo Ann Marlowe	...	Mimi De Pierremont
Vladimir Sokoloff	...	Uncle Hugo
Pedro de Cordoba	...	Priest
Leona Maricle	...	Owner of Dress Shop
Fritz Leiber	...	Painter
Skelton Knaggs	...	Cousin Pierre
Fred Nurney	...	Cousin Gabriel
Gisela Werbisek	...	Aunt Ernestine (as Gisella Werbiseck)

Storyline

The autobiography of elegant criminal, François Eugène Vidocq, from his birth in a French jail in 1775 to his appointment as chief of police of Paris where he intends to rob the city bank. Along the way, he escapes from jail with Emile, who becomes his partner in crime, poses as a lieutenant to rob a showgirl of her ruby garter, and steals the jewels of a marquise in whose home he's a guest. He's also posed as an artist's model for a portrait of St. George (Emile's face is the dragon's), and the marquise's granddaughter falls in love first with his visage and then him. Can she help him slay his own dragons, especially when the showgirl reappears and the bank vault beckons?

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Plot Keywords:

eugene francois vidocq | male female relationship | husband wife relationship | cousin cousin relationship | shop owner | 

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Taglines:

Every man has his price... and every woman pays it.

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Genres:

Adventure | Crime | Romance | Comedy

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 July 1946 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Story of Vidocq

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arnold Pressburger Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was first telecast in both St. Louis and Baltimore and Boston Friday 14 January 1949 on KSD (Channel 5) and on WAAM (Channel 13) and on WBZ (Channel 4), in Los Angeles Tuesday 15 February 1949 on KNBH (Channel 4), in New York City Wednesday 4 May 1949 on WPIX (Channel 11), in Atlanta Sunday 18 September 1949 on WSB (Channel 8), and in Cincinnati Wednesday 16 November 1949 on WKRC (Channel 11).

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Quotes

Priest: Within all of us is a saint as well as a dragon.

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Crazy Credits

[prologue] Vidocq, Eugene Francois, born 1775, spent the first thirty years of his life in every kind of villainy, probably as a preparation for the work of detecting criminals which was to occupy the remainder of his life. He published two volumes of what purported to be the true history of his adventurous career...Encyclopedia Britannica.

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Connections

Referenced in Vidocq (2001)

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Soundtracks

Flame Song
Music by Hanns Eisler
Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster (as Paul Webster)
Sung by Carole Landis

User Reviews

Trusted Implicitly

Although the story line bogs down a bit and the plot gets a bit thick at times to follow, for fans of George Sanders this film is an absolute must. I cannot imagine anyone else but Sanders in the lead as the con man Eugene Francois Vidocq the thief who rises to become the head of the Paris PD and then gets put in charge of the security at the bank. The better to rob it when the time comes.

Even when in the greatest of danger of exposure Sanders is never at a loss for word, wit or wits. The only one who knows the whole story of Sanders is Akim Tamiroff and he won't tell.

I cannot and will not spill any of the elaborate plans that Sanders makes, but it involves his ability to con every one so that he is trusted implicitly.

One should also take careful note of Gene Lockhart who usually is playing sniveling rats. Here for a change of pace he's a detective who Sanders makes an absolute fool out of.

Forget Addison DeWitt and the Oscar Sanders won for playing him, A Scandal In Paris is no doubt his career role. And he looks like he's having such a good time in the part.