The third Leisen-Wilder-Brackett Paramount collaboration after Midnight and Arise My Love is a superior piece of entertainment. They didn't bother reading the story (by Ketti Frings) on which it was based, adapting the formula 'In the novel, it's a bunch of roses; in the screenplay it's a torpedo boat.' Story of immigrant Charles Boyer deceiving a school teacher (Olivia de Havilland) to marry him to gain US residency is beautifully handled, from the beginning, in which he seeks out a Paramount film director (Leisen himself) and tells him the story, to the ending in which we don't see the couple reunited, just a fade out on Boyer rushing through the crowd to greet her. They're both terrific.
Great writing includes -
"I don't quite know how to say it. That hot July afternoon, it was like kissing fresh snow. I could feel her hand trembling on my shoulder. From the church behind us came the breath of incense."
"Yes I like her enough not to give her a sudden kick, not to slap her face in front of her whole little town. I care enough to do it all with a little style. All right - I like her enough not to behave like a swine, for once in my life ."
And the way she removes the wedding ring and just places it on a bench.
Really nicely photographed by Leo Tover, receiving one of its six Oscar nominations - also for Victor Young's music (though most of it appears to be naturally occurring), picture, screenplay, art direction and Ms de Haviland.
With Paulette Godard, Victor Francen (distinguished older immigrant), Walter Abel (immigration officer), Curt Bois and Madeleine Lebeau (from Casablanca), Rosemary De Camp (pregnant), Eric Feldary, Charles Arnt and in cameo, Veronica Lake.
Second time we've heard of Azusa recently (also A Woman's Secret).
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