Desire (The Pearl Necklace) (1936)
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72% of users liked it
(372 ratings)
In this frothy romantic adventure, Marlene Dietrich plays Madeleine de Beaupre, a devious jewel thief. After sneaking a valuable string of pearls away from jeweler Aristide Duval (Ernest Cossart), Madeleine attempts to flee Paris, leaving a trail that will instead implicate psychiatrist Dr. Pauquet… More In this frothy romantic adventure, Marlene Dietrich plays Madeleine de Beaupre, a devious jewel thief. After sneaking a valuable string of pearls away from jeweler Aristide Duval (Ernest Cossart), Madeleine attempts to flee Paris, leaving a trail that will instead implicate psychiatrist Dr. Pauquet (Alan Mowbray). While headed for the Spanish border, she nearly runs into Tom Bradley (Gary Cooper), an American auto engineer vacationing in Europe. Madeleine spots Tom again as she waits to go through Spanish Customs; worried that the stolen pearls will be found in her handbag, she slips them into Tom's pocket. After they both make their way through inspection unscathed, Madeleine flirts with Tom in an attempt to get the valuables back; he's too shy to respond in kind, so she gets his attention by trying to "repair" the engine of her car with a hammer. Madeleine lures Tom to the San Sebastian estate of her partner in crime, Carlos Margoli (John Halliday). It doesn't take long for Tom to figure out what Madeleine and Carlos are up to; however, he also knows that he's fallen in love with her, and he is willing to play along if it allows him to be near her. Carlos was originally to have been played by John Gilbert; Halliday was a last-minute replacement after the one-time silent screen star died a week before shooting was to begin. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Frank Borzage
- Written By
- Edwin Justus Mayer, Waldemar Young, Samuel Hoffenstein
- Genres
- Drama, Romance, Classics, Comedy
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Apr 11, 1936 Wide
- Studio
- Criterion Collection
Critic Reviews
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Dan Callahan, Slant Magazine
Desire is a most unusual and extremely fertile example of artistic cross-pollination between two very different auteurs: Frank Borzage and Ernst Lubitsch.
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
As perfect a soufflé of a romantic comedy as you're likely to find -- and with two people who define star power.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Marlene Dietrich
as Madeleine de Beaupre
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Gary Cooper
as Tom Bradley
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John Halliday
as Carlos Margoli
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William Frawley
as Mr. Gibson
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Ernest Cossart
as Aristide Duval
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Alan Mowbray
as Dr. Edouard Pauquet
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Zeffie Tilbury
as Aunt Olga
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Enrique Acosta
as Pedro
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Stanley Andrews
as Customs inspector
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Harry Antrim
as Chauffeur
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Alden Chase
as Hotel Clerk
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Blanche Craig
as Couple
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Anna de Linsky
as Servant
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Harry Depp
as Clerk
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Oliver Eckhardt
as Man in Couple
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Gaston Glass
as Jewelry Clerk
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Armand Kaliz
as Jewelry Clerk
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George MacQuarrie
as Clerk With Gun
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Robert E. O'Connor
as Customs Official
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Albert Pollet
as French Policeman
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Akim Tamiroff
as Police Official
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Marc Lawrence I
as Valet
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Rollo Lloyd
as Clerk in Mayor's Office
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Tony Merlo
as Waiter
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Constant Franke
as Border Official
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Isabelle La Mal
as Nurse
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Alfonso Pedroza
as Oxcart Driver
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George Davis
as Garage Man
