Post by Brad Nelson on Jun 27, 2020 8:05:06 GMT -8
I’m not sure which movie I most associate with George Sanders. It’s probably not Operation Snatch or The Gay Falcon. Maybe it’s his role in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
In 1946’s A Scandal in Paris he plays a thief who is good-looking and cultured and can pass himself off as one of the aristocracy. This gives him further opportunities for him and his gang who are mostly from one family and who are all rather at the bottom of the ladder.
Here’s someone else’s rather good synopsis that basically gives away the whole plot:
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Signe Hasso is horrible as Therese De Pierremont, the girl who has a spiritual-like crush on Eugéne François Vidocq (George Sanders). But even this (I would say) intentionally bad performance adds some character to the movie...or at least some interest. She becomes fixated on Vidocq because in the start of the film, fresh from breaking out of prison, Vidocq poses for a painting of St. George and the Dragon as part of a church restoration. His face is used for the painting and the girl sees the face and becomes enraptured by it.
There’s a lot of ridiculous nonsense in this. But somehow the film doesn’t stay mired in it. It just keeps moving on. There are some laugh-out-loud moments. But it’s not a slapstick comedy by any means. It all somewhat subdued and understated all while sometimes being outrageously improbable.
Gene Lockhart is probably not best known for The Gay Bride or The Gay Sisters. I think he’s probably most associated with Judge Henry X. Harper in Miracle on 34th Street. In this one he plays the chief of police of Paris who has a young and pretty wife (played nicely by Carole Landis) who is anything but faithful. Prefect Richet is the pratfall guy in this film.
From reading a review at IMDB, apparently the Vidocq character is roughly based on a real one:
And I like this same reviewer's description of Sanders and Carole Landis:
In 1946’s A Scandal in Paris he plays a thief who is good-looking and cultured and can pass himself off as one of the aristocracy. This gives him further opportunities for him and his gang who are mostly from one family and who are all rather at the bottom of the ladder.
Here’s someone else’s rather good synopsis that basically gives away the whole plot:
Born in jail, Eugene Francois Vidocq (George Sanders) seemed destined for a criminal life. On his birthday a few decades later, he finds himself once again behind bars. There he makes friends with fellow career criminal Emile Vernet (Akim Tamiroff). The Vernet matriarch sends Eugene a special birthday cake with a file hidden inside. The two buds break out of jail and set their minds on anything they can steal. Not content with small loot, Eugene sets his sights on a bigger prize.
Eugene meets saloon dancer Loretta (Carole Landis), seducing her out of a ruby laced garter gifted to her by prefect of police Richet (Gene Lockhart). Then he meets the De Piermont family and practically moves in while he and Emile set out to Marquise De Piermont's (Alma Kruger) family jewels. Instead he uses his detective skills to solve his own crime while impressing police captain Houdon de Piermont (Alan Napier). He charms his way into Richet's job as prefect of police. Eugene and Emile fool everyone except the beautiful young Therese (Signe Hasso), daughter of Houdon. She fell in love with Eugene when she saw a painting of the two men as Saint George and the Dragon. Meanwhile, Eugene and Emile expertly plot out a robbery of the Bank of Paris. Will this be the greatest crime caper of all time or will Therese throw everything off?
Eugene meets saloon dancer Loretta (Carole Landis), seducing her out of a ruby laced garter gifted to her by prefect of police Richet (Gene Lockhart). Then he meets the De Piermont family and practically moves in while he and Emile set out to Marquise De Piermont's (Alma Kruger) family jewels. Instead he uses his detective skills to solve his own crime while impressing police captain Houdon de Piermont (Alan Napier). He charms his way into Richet's job as prefect of police. Eugene and Emile fool everyone except the beautiful young Therese (Signe Hasso), daughter of Houdon. She fell in love with Eugene when she saw a painting of the two men as Saint George and the Dragon. Meanwhile, Eugene and Emile expertly plot out a robbery of the Bank of Paris. Will this be the greatest crime caper of all time or will Therese throw everything off?
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Signe Hasso is horrible as Therese De Pierremont, the girl who has a spiritual-like crush on Eugéne François Vidocq (George Sanders). But even this (I would say) intentionally bad performance adds some character to the movie...or at least some interest. She becomes fixated on Vidocq because in the start of the film, fresh from breaking out of prison, Vidocq poses for a painting of St. George and the Dragon as part of a church restoration. His face is used for the painting and the girl sees the face and becomes enraptured by it.
There’s a lot of ridiculous nonsense in this. But somehow the film doesn’t stay mired in it. It just keeps moving on. There are some laugh-out-loud moments. But it’s not a slapstick comedy by any means. It all somewhat subdued and understated all while sometimes being outrageously improbable.
Gene Lockhart is probably not best known for The Gay Bride or The Gay Sisters. I think he’s probably most associated with Judge Henry X. Harper in Miracle on 34th Street. In this one he plays the chief of police of Paris who has a young and pretty wife (played nicely by Carole Landis) who is anything but faithful. Prefect Richet is the pratfall guy in this film.
This movie isn’t good but neither is it bad. This is a George Sanders vehicle all the way. And his character does mostly fill it and pull it through the rough spots.
From reading a review at IMDB, apparently the Vidocq character is roughly based on a real one:
George Sanders as Eugene Francois Vidocq, a clever French crook (and a very flimsy representation of the amazing real-life template), is both the lead actor and narrator of this film in which he neatly swindles his way from a lowly prison cell to the top of French society delivering a bounty of aphorisms along the way. The real-life Vidocq began as a rough-and- tumble child criminal and ended up a government minister.
And I like this same reviewer's description of Sanders and Carole Landis:
Sanders basically delivers the same polished performance seen in numerous other films, from "Man Hunt" (1941), through "The Picture of Dorian Gray" (1945) and "All About Eve" (1950): the cool, cultivated, continental, dry wit with just the right suggestion of the animal beneath. Carole Landis, in what may be her finest role, is both funny and chilling as a self-centered show girl who blatantly uses her beauty to catch wealthy men.
