Rent A Foreign Affair (1948)
3.6 of 5 from 96 ratings
1h 52min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- From the inimitable Billy Wilder (Double Indemnify, The Lost Weekend) comes this classic comedy that mixes romance with hard-boiled wit in a story about stiff-necked Iowa congresswoman Phoebe Frost (Jean Arthur -Shane) mired in jaded postwar Berlin. As she investigates the morale of American troops, Phoebe is cynically wooed by fellow Iowan Captain John Pringle (John Lund), who is trying to cover up his affair with Nazi-tainted chanteuse Erika von Schlutow (Marlene Dietrich). Filled with sharp dialogue and satiric jabs, 'A Foreign Affair' is one of Wilder's most beloved comedies...
- Actors:
- Jean Arthur, Marlene Dietrich, John Lund, Millard Mitchell, Peter von Zerneck, Stanley Prager, William Murphy, Raymond Bond, Boyd Davis, Robert Malcolm, Charles Meredith, Michael Raffetto, Damian O'Flynn, Frank Fenton, James Lorimer, Harland Tucker, Bill Neff, George M. Carleton, Gordon Jones, Freddie Steele
- Directors:
- Billy Wilder
- Producers:
- Charles Brackett
- Writers:
- Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder, Richard L. Breen, Robert Harari, David Shaw
- Others:
- Richard L. Breen, Charles B. Lang Jr.
- Aka:
- Operation Candy Bar
- Studio:
- Universal Pictures
- Genres:
- Classics, Comedy, Romance
- Collections:
- Getting to Know..., Getting to Know: Marlene Dietrich, The Instant Expert's Guide, The Instant Expert's Guide to: Billy Wilder, Top 10 Films By Year, Top 10 Films of 1948
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 22/06/2020
- Run Time:
- 116 minutes
- Languages:
- English LPCM Mono
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Full Screen 1.37:1
- Colour:
- B & W
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- Audio commentary by film historian Joseph McBride
- From Berlin to Hollywood: Wilder and Dietrich's Foreign Affair - A video essay by Kat Ellinger
- Two radio adaptations of 'A Foreign Affair', broadcast as part of the Screen Directors Playhouse in 1949 and 1951; featuring the voices of Billy Wilder, Marlene Dietrich, Rosalind Russell, John Lund, and Lucille Ball
- Archival interview with Billy Wilder
- Theatrical Trailer
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Reviews (4) of A Foreign Affair
Berlin Comedy. - A Foreign Affair review by Steve
This lesser known Billy Wilder comedy is a near remake of his co-script on Ninotchka. Jean Arthur plays a straightarrow Senator from the corn belt who visits the ruins of postwar Berlin to investigate misconduct by the occupying US army. Only she falls for the main culprit (John Lund) who is keeping a mercenary ex-mistress (Marlene Dietrich) of a leading Nazi in soap and coffee.
The Senator is a moralist who goes by the rules. She learns the facts of life soon enough, and discovers her own humanity. The Berliners do what they can to survive, and dignity is the commodity they can least afford. This is Wilder's second comedy, and begins his signature of attributing a cynical humour to a scenario more typical of melodrama.
The director fled the Nazis in the '30s and his mother was killed in a concentration camp. Yet he shows pragmatic sympathy for the survivors of defeat, as well as indulgence towards the US soldiers. But the mood gets progressively darker until it eventually feels a bit like watching film noir.
As the ice maiden who thaws, Arthur lacks appeal. Lund is credible, though hasn't much charm. But Marlene Dietrich is a sensation, especially when singing three sardonic cabaret numbers by Friedrich Hollaender. Wilder and Charles Brackett give her some persuasive, poetic editorials to deliver, and she nails them.
3 out of 3 members found this review helpful.
interesting piece of history, - A Foreign Affair review by pete b
more than anything, i enjoyed this film for the snapshot it provides of post-war berlin. more than anything, i enjoyed this film for the snapshot it provides of post-war berlin.
2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
“Life goes on in those ruins.” - A Foreign Affair review by LJ
Set in Berlin after WWII, this movie deals with some heavy themes but tries to make it a farce. This comedy-drama is a bit of a dud, with the dark material being played for laughs, one of those old timey abusive relationships passing for romance and the plot being generated by some irritating misunderstandings.
0 out of 2 members found this review helpful.