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A Foreign Affair (1948)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
20 August 1948 (USA)
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Tagline:
It would make a cigar store Indian laugh ...
Plot:
In occupied Berlin, an army captain is torn between an ex-Nazi cafe singer and the U.S. congresswoman investigating her. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Congresswoman
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Singer
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Military
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Post War
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Birthday Cake
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Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars.
Another 1 nomination
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User Comments:
A Moment in Cinema: Dietrich Sings "Black Market"
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Jean Arthur | ... | Congresswoman Phoebe Frost | |
| Marlene Dietrich | ... | Erika Von Schluetow | |
| John Lund | ... | Captain John Pringle | |
| Millard Mitchell | ... | Col. Rufus J. Plummer | |
| Peter von Zerneck | ... | Hans Otto Birgel | |
| Stanley Prager | ... | Mike | |
| William Murphy | ... | Joe (as Bill Murphy) | |
| Raymond Bond | ... | Congressman Pennecot | |
| Boyd Davis | ... | Congressman Giffin | |
| Robert Malcolm | ... | Congressman Kramer | |
| Charles Meredith | ... | Congressman Yandell | |
| Michael Raffetto | ... | Congressman Salvatore | |
| Damian O'Flynn | ... | Lieutenant Colonel | |
| Frank Fenton | ... | Major Mathews | |
| James Larmore | ... | Lieutenant Hornby |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
116 min
Country:
Colour:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)
Certification:
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Director Billy Wilder said famously of his difficulties with Marlene Dietrich and Jean Arthur in the film. "I have one dame who's afraid to look at herself in a mirror and another who won't stop looking!"
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Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: Though the character played by Jean Arthur is an 'unmarried' American Congresswoman, the actress's real life wedding ring is visible in many scenes especially close-ups during the latter part of the film.
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Quotes:
Erika von Schluetow:
So you fly off back home. Wash your hands. Why, surely. You've got so much soap in the United States.
Congressman Pennecot: If you give a hungry man a loaf of bread, that's democracy, if you leave the wrapper on, that's imperialism.
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Congressman Pennecot: If you give a hungry man a loaf of bread, that's democracy, if you leave the wrapper on, that's imperialism.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in A Decade Under the Influence (2003)
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Soundtrack:
THE RUINS OF BERLIN
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (31 total)
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Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for A Foreign Affair (1948)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
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Recommendations
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in this excellent and underrated Billy Wilder film. Dietrich plays a former Nazi trying to hide behind a post-war American boyfriend. Jean Arthur plays a spinster American congresswoman, and John Lund is the man they both fall for. The scenes of bombed-out Berlin are astonishing, and the 3 stars are wonderful in this sly comedy that gets better with every viewing. The highlights tho are Dietrich's musical numbers sung in a basement speakeasy. She sings the great "Black Market" with composer Frederick Hollander at the piano. She sings LIVE and it's electrifying. She also sings "The Ruins of Berlin" and "Lovely Illusions." Jean Arthur is also good in one of her last films. Millard Mitchell, Bill Murphy, Stanley Prager, and Gordon Jones co-star. A must!