32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
over-looked gem!, March 25, 2002
This review is from: Foreign Affair [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Billy Wilder was such a genius in film-making,it's astounding. What really set him apart, I think, was his knack for knowing who to cast in what role. What really gives this film its kick, is Marlene Dietrich in a role that proved once and for all that yes, she can act!
Set in Berlin right after the end of World War Two, and at the beginning of the American occupation of their sector of Berlin,
the film is really a dialogue on the human trait of survival through the worst. The main charactors are bent on surviving their individual circumstances, as each interacts with the others in the story.
Dietrich portrays a former Nazi lounge singer, keeping an American officer sugar-daddy so she can stay alive and well in Berlin, John Lund plays her American officer on a leash, and Jean Arthur is the upright(and uptight) US congresswoman from Iowa who throws a wrench into everybodys life by arriving to check on troop morale.
This film has many truly wicked one-liners, and puts one to mind of Dietrich's days with Von Sternberg, what with all the shadows and over-head lights. Certainly, Dietrich definately benefited from this, she never looked at all her 47 years. Jean Arthur, I've heard, wasn't pleased with the pains Dietrich took with the lighting, but mainly she wasn't too thrilled with her part. She needn't have worried. She portrays the straight-laced congresswoman perfectly, the right foil to Dietrich's sultry singer. Each actor is just right in their role, and one also wonders why John Lund sort of disappeared after this, he was very good in this film.
The cast and script are just perfect, and the lighting and photography are top-notch. This film was a sucess, but due to its subject matter and time frame(at a time when most americans still thought of Germany as the enemy), it wasn't a huge hit. However, it did rejuvenate Dietrich's career yet again, for perhaps the hundredth time. Well worth having in your collection!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Marlene Classic!, December 2, 1998
This review is from: Foreign Affair [VHS] (VHS Tape)
An Iowa congresswoman (Jean Arthur) is sent to the ruins of Berlin after the war to check on the moral of U.S. troupes. What she finds is a bunch of soldiers having too much fun with the German women, including an Army Captain, (John Lund) who is having too much fun with Marlene Dietrich, a local caberet entertainer and Nazi. Arthur tries to expose Dietrich's Nazi past, while at the same time Lund is trying to protect her. And of course, Arthur falls in love with Lund in the process. The comedy is directed by the great Billy Wilder, who flew a film crew to Berlin to shoot scenes of the bombed-out city, making it look like the entire film was shot on location. Dietrich was given 3 songs to perform in the film, "Illusions", "Black Market", and "Ruins of Berlin". She had returned to the role that made her famous almost 20 years earlier. At first, Dietrich didn't want to do the film because of her characters association with the Nazi party. She eventually took the part after Billy Wilder convinced her how fabulous a role it was. "Foreign Affair" was a major success for Dietrich, putting her back at the top of the list of Hollywoods most glamours leading ladies. During filming, legendary costumer Edith Head was quoted as saying "...you don't design clothes 'for' Dietrich, you design them 'with' her." This film is a must see for all Dietrich fans. It is one of the last films of Dietrich to be made available on video, and like they say, they save the best for last!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An almost unknown classic by a great director!!, December 21, 2001
This review is from: Foreign Affair [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Hard to believe this film is barely acknowledged today,except in maybe a cultish way. If Carroll Reeds' THE THIRD MAN was the great post-war Vienna must-see, Billy Wilder's A FOREIGN AFFAIR must be the great post-war Berlin must-see. This one starts out with some of the best aerial footage of bombed-out Berlin ever seen. The ruins seem to go on for miles. Certain burnt-out US soldiers main concerns are making a killing on the black market, and making a hit with the local Frauleins. Mr. Lund's character says it best, that he,like many of his peers, is sick of the battles, politics,phony causes, and just wants to live, if that's possible. The civilians go from one moment to the next in earnest persuit of mere survival. The naive US Congresswoman(Arthur) wants to "reform" these military slackers,but she slowly realizes her cause is pretty pointless. Then we have the sultry cabaret singer (Dietrich) living in a bombed out ruin,who may have some answers to nasty questions about war criminals. Some great scenes are here,including Mr. Lund doing the old tablecloth trick (ie. pulling off a tablecloth so the silverware stays in place.) Great bar/carbaret scenes with Marlene making an attempt to keep the drunken soldiers under control. And a lot more...Like THE THIRD MAN, this one reeks with world weary atmosphere and cynicism, the latter a staple in any Wilder movie. Don't miss this one!!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192250339_.gif){kind=small}
