That Lady in Ermine (1948)

Circa 1861, Angelina, ruling countess of an Italian principality, is at a loss when invaded by a Hungarian army. Her lookalike ancestress Francesca, who saved a similar situation 300 years ... See full summary »

Directors:

Ernst Lubitsch, Otto Preminger (uncredited)

Writer:

Samson Raphaelson (screenplay)

Stars:

Betty Grable, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Cesar Romero

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited 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

Storyline

Circa 1861, Angelina, ruling countess of an Italian principality, is at a loss when invaded by a Hungarian army. Her lookalike ancestress Francesca, who saved a similar situation 300 years before, comes to life from a portrait to help her descendant. Complicating factor: the newlywed countess feels strangely drawn to the handsome invader...

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Plot Keywords:

newlywed | hungarian | portrait painting | officer | look alike | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 September 1948 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

This Is the Moment

Box Office

Budget:

$2,484,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$1,414,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie turned out to be a box office flop. On its initial release it made one million dollars less than it cost to make. It is rarely seen and has only appeared on Turner Classic Movies once.

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Goofs

When she is dancing with Colonel Ladislas Karolyi Teglas / The Duke you can see the trampoline behind the table.

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Quotes

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

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Connections

Featured in The Costume Designer (1950)

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Soundtracks

The Jester's Song
(uncredited)
Written by Friedrich Hollaender
Lyrics Leo Robin
Sung by Reginald Gardiner

User Reviews

Betty And Her Hussar

Watching That Lady In Ermine I was wondering what Betty Grable was doing in a project that seemed to be aimed for Marlene Dietrich to do. Someone over at 20th Century Fox may have decided one sex symbol is as good as another. Darryl F. Zanuck should have known better.

Betty plays a 19th century Italian countess whose domain has been invaded by a troop of Hungarian Hussars captained by Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Her ghostly ancestor whose portrait hangs in the palace hall along with the rest of her distinguished family tree, sees no small resemblance in Doug now and another invader some 300 years earlier whom she dealt with when armies failed.

Besides that the current Betty has just been married to Cesar Romero and the invasion has come at a most inopportune moment, before things have been consummated. That's going to give anyone a bad attitude, I guarantee.

Fresh, wholesome all American Betty is NOT the actress to do seductive and mysterious. Marlene Dietrich might have put this over, but with Betty it falls flatter than yesterday's presidential candidate. She and Fairbanks have no chemistry at all, though Doug is as charming as ever and someone I can watch in anything.

Frederick Hollander and Leo Robin wrote the score for this film and This Is The Moment got an Oscar nomination for Best Song. That Lady In Ermine's one chance for Oscar glory fell to Buttons And Bows.

Ernest Lubitsch died midway during the film and Otto Preminger finished That Lady In Ermine. I can't believe Lubitsch had Grable in mind for the lead here. Neither will you if you see That Lady In Ermine.