The French Line (1954)
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42% of users liked it
(65 ratings)
Like so many other films that were once considered "lewd" and "scandalous", The French Line seems as harmless as Pollyanna when seen today. Essentially a remake of The Richest Girl in the World, the film stars Jane Russell as Mary Carson, an incredibly wealthy Texas oil heiress.… More Like so many other films that were once considered "lewd" and "scandalous", The French Line seems as harmless as Pollyanna when seen today. Essentially a remake of The Richest Girl in the World, the film stars Jane Russell as Mary Carson, an incredibly wealthy Texas oil heiress. Lucky in investments but unlucky in love, poor Mary can never keep a fiance: either they're fortune-hunters or they don't want to marry anyone so rich and powerful. Thus, while on an ocean voyage to France, Mary poses as the model of dress designer Annie Farrell (Mary McCarthy), hoping to attract a man who is interested in her for herself, and not her millions. That man turns out to be dashing stage star Pierre (Gilbert Roland), but there's many comic complications and misunderstandings before the happy ending. What shocked the censors in 1954 was Jane Russell's sizzling musical number "Lookin' for Trouble", in which she performed an uninhibited bump-and-grind while wearing nothing more than a seven-ounce glorified bikini. While Ms. Russell herself was offended by her skimpy costume, she saw nothing wrong with the dance itself, pointing out that she intended it as a parody of a "burleycue" number. The professional blue-noses disagreed, however: the film was condemned by the Catholic Legion of Decency and denied a Production Code Seal. Eventually, producer Howard Hughes got the Seal--along with a million dollars' worth of free publicity, which is what he intended all along. Filmed in 3D, The French Line is the film that was ballyhooed with the classically tasteless ad campaign "J.R. in 3D--It'll knock both your eyes out!" ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Lloyd Bacon
- Genres
- Musical & Performing Arts, Comedy
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Feb 8, 1954 Wide
- Studio
- VCI
Critic Reviews
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The film was made as an excuse to show off Jane's anatomy.
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)
No Featured Audience Ratings Found…
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Cast
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Jane Russell
as Mary Carson
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Gilbert Roland
as Pierre
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Craig Stevens
as Phil Barton
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Arthur Hunnicutt
as "Waco" Mosby
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Mary McCarty
as Annie Farrell
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Joyce Mackenzie
as Myrtle Brown
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Scott Elliott
as Bill Harris
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Laura Elliot
as Katherine Hodges
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John Wengraf
as 1st Mate
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Barbara Darrow
as Donna Adams
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Barbara Dobbins
as Kitty Lee
- Suzanne Alexander
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Michael St. Angel
as George Hodges
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Ray Bennett
as Foreman
- Dan Bernaducci
- Jack Boyle
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Lane Bradford
as Cowboy
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Mary Jane Carey
as American Nurse
- Sue Casey
- Helen Chapman
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Jack Chefe
as Wine Steward
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Rita Corday
as Celeste
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Billy Daniel
as Andre
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Sandy Descher
as Girl
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Arthur Dulac
as French Steward
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Stanley Farrar
as French Man
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Fritz Feld
as French Cabbie
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Bess Flowers
as Saleslady
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William Forrest
as Sam Baker
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Joel Friend
as Actor-dancer
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Steven Geray
as Francois
- Jo Gilbert
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Theresa Harris
as Clara
- Helene Hayden
- Joi Lansing
- Peggy Leon
- Jarma Lewis
- Frank Marlowe
- Ellye Marshall
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Louis Mercier
as Steward
- Dolores Michaels
- John Mooney
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Kim Novak
as Model
- Gloria Pall
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Shirley Patterson
as Elsie
- Jeffrey Sayre
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Elizabeth Slifer
as French Woman
- Charles Smith
- Nick Stuart
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Lomax Study
as French Waiter
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Taylor Wayne
as French Bellhop
- Beverly Thompson
- Ralph Volkie
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Young Buck
as Photographer
- Maureen Stephenson
- George Wallace I
- Jane Easton
- Charmienne Harker
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Bert LeBaron
as Doorman
- Jean Moorhead
- Allan Ray
- Carlos Albert
- Suzanne Ames
- Virginia Bates
- Bobette Bentley
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Shirley Buchanan
as Model
- Al Cavens
- Edward Coch
- Eileen Coghlan
- Mary Ellen Gleason
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Lonnie Pierce
as Showgirl
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Edward Short
as Willie
- Shirley Tegge
- Doreen Woodbury
