A Notorious Affair

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Billie Dove in A Notorious Affair (1930)

A scheming musician seduces a wealthy woman for love and money.A scheming musician seduces a wealthy woman for love and money.A scheming musician seduces a wealthy woman for love and money.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.3/10

380

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Top cast14

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Billie Dove

Patricia Hanley

Basil Rathbone

Paul Gherardi

Kay Francis

Countess Olga Balakireff

Kenneth Thomson

Dr. Allen Pomeroy

Montagu Love

Sir Thomas Hanley

Philip Strange

Lord Percival Northmore

Malcolm Waite

Higgins, the Butler

Wilson Benge

Briggs - Sir Thomas' Butler
(uncredited)

Gino Corrado

Serge - Pianist
(uncredited)

Bill Elliott

Sir Thomas' Party Guest
(uncredited)

Blanche Friderici

Lady Teel
(uncredited)

Ellinor Vanderveer

Duchess of Brougham
(uncredited)

Jane Winton

One of Paul's Admirers
(uncredited)

Florence Wix

Mrs. Poulthwaite
(uncredited)

Director
- Lloyd Bacon
Writers
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Basil Rathbone was borrowed from MGM and Kay Francis was borrowed from Paramount for this film.

Quotes
Countess Olga Balakireff: You're getting more cold-blooded every day.
Higgins, Olga's Butler: Yes, madame.
[he starts to leave.]
Countess Olga Balakireff: Higgins.
Higgins, Olga's Butler: [he turns to face her.] Madame?
Countess Olga Balakireff: I never knew you had pale blue eyes. I hate pale blue eyes! Funny, I never noticed it before.
Higgins, Olga's Butler: Yes, madame.
Countess Olga Balakireff: I think I'll send you back to the kennels where you belong, Higgins.
Higgins, Olga's Butler: Thank you, madame.

Soundtracks
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
(uncredited)
Music by Felix Mendelssohn (1840)
Lyrics by Charles Wesley (1730)
Sung by carolers on Christmas Day

Patricia Hanley (Billie Dove) married violinist Paul Gherardi (Basil Rathbone), despite the strong disapproval of her father and their high society friends. Dramatics ensue.

Billie Dove is the only saving grace of this movie. Her charm, beauty and engaging presence make this dull soap opera watchable. Less watchable is Basil Rathbone, who is miscast as a romantic leading man. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. or even Phillips Holmes would have been much better in the role. Kay Francis, as the other woman, acquits herself nicely, with her best films yet to come.

It should be noted that this film is one of Billie's few surviving Warner Bros./First-National talkies. For example, her four 1929 films are lost! Still, if you are a Billie Dove fan, you might enjoy this one.