A_Foreign_Affair

A Foreign Affair

A Foreign Affair is a 1948 film directed by Billy Wilder, starring Marlene Dietrich, Jean Arthur and John Lund. The film was produced by Charles Brackett with cinematography by Charles Lang. Now, rights are held by Universal Pictures.

Plot

A congressional committee visits occupied Berlin to investigate G.I. morals. Congresswoman Phoebe Frost (Jean Arthur), appalled at widespread evidence of human frailty, hears rumors that cafe singer Erika Von Schluetow (Marlene Dietrich), former mistress of a wanted war criminal, is being "protected" by an American officer. Frost enlists Captain John Pringle (John Lund) to help her find out who he is...not knowing that it is Pringle himself. Pringle romances Frost in order to distract her, but that only increases his problems when she falls in love with him.

Cast

Jean Arthur as Congresswoman Phoebe Frost
Marlene Dietrich as Erika Von Schluetow
John Lund as Captain John Pringle
Millard Mitchell as Col. Rufus J. Plummer
Peter von Zerneck as Hans Otto Birgel
Stanley Prager as Mike
William Murphy as Joe

Production

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!"

Reception

It was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Cinematography, Black-and-White and Best Writing, Screenplay.

Music

The songs "(Want to Buy Some) Illusions?", "Black Market" and "In The Ruins of Berlin" were composed by Friedrich Hollaender and sung by Dietrich. Hollaender appears in the film as the piano accompanist to Dietrich's character.