Tentation

I was a little bit put off watching this movie, because I read a few reviews that didn't give it justice however, I'm glad I decided to go over it with my own eyes because it turned out to be a good quality story of lust and greed and murder. Ms Oberon played the part of the wife and femme fatale to perfection. After visiting the Harley street doctor who encouraged her first husband to divorce her due to her infidelities she finds another unsuspecting wealthy man. (She first learns about his passion) Her interest in him & beauty captures his weak & gullible heart into marrying her which from then shows us what she's all about. The ending was also surprising.

Sometimes one can endure the barest of plots in a Warner Brothers Kay Francis melodrama merely to enjoy the parade of Orry-Kelly creations that Kay wore so perfectly. So it is in this dark melodrama, as semi-glacial Merle Oberon parades across lush sets in an amazing assemblage of distinctive, detailed costumes that put to shame the average melodrama. Oberon marries Egyptologist Brent not for adventure or to help him dig up a legendary mummy, but to be able to have riches for life, to be able to mingle with the well-do-to without apology and it isn't long before she falls afoul of someone not unlike her, an alluring lothario with looks and cunning; as their lusts cool, it doesn't take long for them to start plotting nasty deeds.

But it isn't really the plot that moves this fascinating story along--it's a sense of lush studio style at it's richest, peopled with largely unfamiliar but compelling character actors that provide the sense of a larger world outside. Strong soundtrack, impressive set decor and above all, one magnificent fashion creation after another provide fascination for the viewer who can deal with the melodrama.

For some reason, Merle Oberon is always sensational on the screen, always outshining anyone in beauty, wit and splendour, and remarkably consistent in her dazzling beauty through the decades - she actually seemed never to age. In this film particular attention should be paid to her dresses, in the beginning her husband says that she is the most striking beauty of Egypt since Cleopatra, and you almost have to admit he is right. George Brent plays her husband, a hopeless bore of an archaeologist only interested in mummies, and in exotic Egypt she naturally must get bored and happen to the first best lover, who happens to be a scoundrel having deceived many women and lost all fortunes, so he chases women just for their money. She falls for him, and he persuades her to poison her husband to enable them to continue as partners with all her inherited money, and so the case goes from bad to worse. The film begins by a visit from a police officer, who imparts his suspicion of her, she has to visit his office the next day to answer some questions, so she turns to her husband's old friend and doctor, Paul Lukas, to confide in him and confess the full story. He as a doctor is in no position to judge anyone, so he just has to reluctantly listen to her. Most of the film is then flashbacks.

But it is an amazingly good and well written story, Merle Oberon sparkles throughout in her magnificent toilettes and with a constantly very intelligent dialog, so this is a real treat for the intellectual cineast. Much of this intrigue reminds you of Mankiewicz' rendering of the Cicero case in "Five Fingers", an authentic story, while this is all theatre but on a very advanced stage. The film is worth watching if even only for Merle Oberon's dresses.

Beautiful Merle Oberon in beautiful gowns stars in Temptation from 1946, also starring George Brent and Paul Lucas.

Set in the early 1900s, Oberon stars as Ruby, the wife of an Egyptologist Nigel (Brent) who, in flashback, explains to a doctor (Lucas) why she is encouraging her husband to leave Egypt for a position in London.

The doctor, a good friend of Ruby's current husband, knows her all too well. She has a shady past and an ex-husband. There was some scandal, so much so that back in London, he encouraged her to leave the city and remarry.

At that point, she already had her eye on Egyptologist Brent, and using her charms, marries him and moves to Egypt. She is not in love with him and bored out of her mind.

While he's on a dig, she meets and falls for Mahoud Barudi (Charles Korvin) and becomes obsessed with him. When he becomes desperate for money, he encourages her to do something that will make them both rich so that they can be together.

Good movie with a top cast in a familiar story, directed by Irving Pichel. There is a slight twist, though most of the film is predictable. Recommended for classic film lovers.

The old theatrical war horse 'Bella Donna', first performed on stage by Alla Nazimova is here re-titled 'Temptation' with Merle Oberon following in the footsteps of Pola Negri and Mary Ellis on film. Classy Miss Oberon with her air of mystery and subdued sensuality is ideally cast as Ruby, is further enhanced by the fabulous costumes of master designer Orry-Kelly and is of course flattered by the 'Obie' light created by her then husband, cinematographer Lucien Ballard. In the thankless part of her good-natured, cuckolded husband, George Brent does the best he can whilst Charles Korvin as the beastly Baroudi and Miss Oberon have a powerful chemistry. As the voice of Ruby's conscience the immaculate Paul Lukas as usual quietly steals all of his scenes. The only weak link is Suzanne Cloutier as Yvonne but happily she has little screen time. She went on of course to play Desdemona, yet another of Orson Welles' bizarre casting choices. There is an intriguing appearance by the brilliant and ill-fated photojournalist Robert Capa who visited his friend Charles Korvin on the set and ended up playing his servant.

Although slowly paced and clearly showing its theatrical roots, this tale of infidelity, blackmail, poisonings and an Egyptian mummy's curse keeps one watching thanks to its leading players and Irving Pichel's capable if somewhat uninspired direction.