Désir

Gary Cooper (Tom) encounters Marlene Dietrich (Madeleine) on his way to holiday in Spain. Unknown to him is the fact that she has just stolen over $2 worth of pearls and is trying to smuggle them into Spain. She slips the pearls into his jacket pocket without him noticing so she can avoid the customs search. However, he takes off his jacket and packs it into his suitcase forcing her to stick with him until a moment arises where she can get the pearls back. Things don't work out as planned for her as when they part company, Cooper still has possession of the pearls. Her partner in crime John Halliday (Carlos) is not happy with her. When Cooper suddenly shows up again, he is still unaware that he is carrying the valuable pearls. Dietrich is romantically won over by him and this changes her plans.....

The film has a good cast with a special mention for Zeffie Tilbury as "Aunt Olga" who turns up late in the film - an old, frail lady on the outside but a cold, emotionless criminal at heart. She advises Dietrich to forget about love - it is much better to have the memory. There are many good scenes, eg, the end scene at dinner when Cooper gradually reveals to Halliday what he knows about the theft, the beginning scene when Dietrich is carrying out her scam, the scene at customs on the border of Spain where we are unsure of who is going to get busted and how, etc. The story gets going from the outset and is played with humour. Cooper is funny as the salesman, eg, when he discusses which is the better word - "delighted" or "glad" - to his boss before he goes on holiday. The strong cast keep the story going and it's a funny film. Good entertainment.

DESIRE (Paramount, 1936), directed by Frank Borzage, introduces Marlene Dietrich into the genre of comedy, not so much in a sense of screwball or slapstick, but that of sophisticated comedy in the style of director Ernst Lubitsch, who also produced. Teamed opposite Gary Cooper for the first time since MOROCCO (1930), he and Dietrich are at their best here in what proved to be their final collaboration on screen.

Cooper plays Tom Bradley, an engineer from Detroit, Michigan, assigned in a Paris-based auto company, who's determined to take his long-awaited vacation in Spain, regardless of how Mr. Gibson (William Frawley), his employer, might feel about it. Gibson (William Frawley), president of Bronson 8, however, surprises Bradley by approving his vacation by loaning him the company car carrying a sign which reads, "I am happy to drive a Bronson 8" as advertisement. Marlene Dietrich is later introduced as Madeleine de Beaupre, a continental jewel thief who cleverly gains possession of a pearl necklace from Aristide Duval (Ernest Cossart), a Parisian jeweler by posing as the wife of the famed psychiatrist, Doctor Maurice Pauquet (Alan Mowbray). Her path with Tom soon meets as they head to the border and await for customs to inspect their belongings. After Madeleine places her stolen pearls in Tom's coat pocket, they each pass inspection and go on their way. Purposely disabling her car, Madeleine is soon picked up by Tom and becomes his prize passenger. Eventually she drives off with his car, leaving him stranded on the road, unaware that Tom still unwittingly has the pearl necklace on his person. Abandoning the car after realizing her error, their paths meet again at the San Sebastian Continental Palace where Madeleine, posing as a Countess accompanied by her "uncle," Prince Carlos Margoli (John Halliday), her confederate, uses their friendly persuasion to get back the pearls without arousing any suspicion. When things become more complicated, Aunt Olga (Zeffie Tilbury), a third member of the gang of thieves, enters the scene.

For his profile on the film, Bob Osborne, host of Turner Classic Movies where DESIRE premiered January 17, 2002, as part of the station's tribute to Marlene Dietrich, spoke about its production and original title being THE PEARL NECKLACE as more suitable than DESIRE, and rightfully so. It's interesting to point out that its title may stir up some confusion with another film of similar name, DESIRABLE (Warners, 1934) that also featured DESIRE co-star, John Halliday. Halliday, as stated, filled in for former MGM lead actor, John Gilbert, following his sudden death in January 1936. What a missed opportunity for Gilbert in a supporting role as Carlos, which might have proved favorable, though quite unlikely as one posing as Madeleine's uncle. Seen in a smaller role is Akim Tamiroff playing the police official, who would achieve recognition in another Cooper film that same year, THE GENERAL DIED AT DAWN (1936).

Regardless of frequent revivals on commercial television back in the 1970s and public TV during the 1980s, DESIRE is quite underrated and nearly forgotten by today's standards. For being such an enjoyable adventure heist comedy from start to finish highlighted by many witty lines and situations, it's understandable why DESIRE is often mistaken as full fledged film directed by Lubitsch comedy rather than Borzage, best known for love stories with sentimental appeal. There may be some romance going on between the characters enacted by Dietrich and Cooper, but no sentimentality involved. In her attempt in retrieving her stolen pearls, Dietrich does take time out to recite the film's theme song, "Awake in a Dream" composed by Frederick Hollander and Leo Robin. And be sure not to miss the film's conclusion. It's as priceless as the pearl necklace itself. (***1/2 pearls)

The first part will puzzle Borzage's fans because it's not his usual style:it's a comedy and the fans of "little man what now?" "no greater glory" or "lucky star" may not get something out of it.Not that Borzage had not broached comedy before:one of his first talkies was "they had to see Paris" ,a sometimes ponderous satire of American naiveté in France,a country Borzage particularly loved (see "Seventh heaven" or "hearts divided" .

"Desire" begins in France with a nice shot of "les Toits Sous Le Ciel De Paris".The scenes between the jeweler and the shrink are sheer genius and have inspired since many screenwriters.Gary Cooper as the naive (not so naive anyway) American and Marlene Dietrich as the elegant glamor false countess make an ideal pairing:he is hot,joyful,singing and she is cold ,remote,suave and there is a special chemistry between them (there are other ladies with whom Cooper was particularly brilliant:two good examples are found in "unconquered" with Paulette Godard and "cloak and dagger" with Lili Palmer,another German actress ) This is also the movie where you 'll find the longest honk in the history of cinema.The only movie where they're talking international politics without being political.Towards the end ,the movie almost turns dramatic ,notably when aunt Olga tells Dietrich about love which is more valuable when it remains impossible.

This is not among my favorite Borzage (considering " three comrades" "mortal storm" and "strange cargo" were still to come) but it's really much fun to watch and it is to be recommended .

First, I give kudos to both the camera man as well as the makeup artists. They did an exceptional job in presenting Ms. Dietrich--she's as pretty as I've ever seen her in a film. While I have never been a fan of her work and never found her particularly attractive, they make the absolute most of what she's got in this film. She did appear appropriately tantalizing and her acting was excellent. Maybe I need to see a few more of her films so I might re-appraise her work.

The plot is very hard to believe--not so much as having Dietrich play a jewel thief, but that she would steal and destroy Gary Cooper's car and he wouldn't be a lot more angry about it! In fact, soon they are both head-over-heels in love!! I remember the last time some lady hit my car (she didn't even steal it)--I was much more likely to punch the lady in the nose than fall her her! Oh well, that's Hollywood of the 1930s. If you suspend disbelief about this, the rest of the film is a very entertaining romance. Plus, the end of the film will surely satisfy everyone. It's a very good effort only hampered by a few difficult to swallow story devices.

Directed by Frank Borzage and produced by Ernest Lubitch, that alone is a guarantee of something very special. On top of that, Gary Cooper and Marlene Dietrich in a fast, furious, magical duet. He is a charming Forrest Gump on vacation, she is a born seductress, a jewel thief, a woman on the verge of being beyond redemption. The dialog could have been written today even their talk about war. The camera had a real love affair with Cooper and Dietrich. Their feelings so visible. He in love like a school boy and she discovering him and herself, bit by bit. There are moments of Dietrich staring at Cooper that are a masterpiece on their own right. She is seeing something she has never seen before - innocence at its purest state. Don't miss it.