The Rage of Paris *** (1938, Danielle Darrieux, Douglas Fairbanks Jr, Louis Hayward, Mischa Auer, Helen Broderick) – Classic Movie Review 8481

The snappy acting by Danielle Darrieux, Douglas Fairbanks Jr, Louis Hayward, Mischa Auer and Helen Broderick is a treat and director Henry Koster makes the time whiz by (and it is only 78 minutes) in the fine and zippy 1938 black and white screwball comedy The Rage of Paris.

Broderick and Auer play a couple of fraudsters Gloria and head waiter Mike, who persuade pretty, fortune seeking young French woman Nicole (Darrieux in her first US film) looking for work as a nude model to use her skills to trap a handsome millionaire Bill Duncan (Hayward) and put them all in the money. But she turns up to strip naked at an amazed Jim Trevor (Fairbanks Jr)’s office in error, but Jim is Bill’s friend, and, after lots of confusion, Jim (Fairbanks) ends up putting a spanner in Auer and Broderick’s works.

It is Mary Martin’s film debut, as the drama teacher. Also in the cast are Harry Davenport, Samuel S Hinds, Charles Coleman and Nella Walker.

The Rage of Paris is directed by Henry Koster, runs 76 minutes, is made by Universal Pictures, is released by Universal Pictures (1938) (US) and General Film Distributors (1938) (UK), is written by Bruce Manning and Felix Jackson (original story and screenplay), is shot by Joseph A Valentine, is produced by Buddy G DeSylva and Henry Koster, and is scored by Charles Previn, Charles Henderson and Frank Skinner, with Art Direction by Jack Otterson.

Darrieux went to Hollywood after scoring an international hit with the historical drama Mayerling (1936). But, despite making a strong and good impression in The Rage of Paris, Darrieux returned to France from Hollywood after this single film. But then it was 1938 and war was imminent. She remained in France during the Occupation and was one of the leading French actresses.

RIP Danielle Darrieux, who died on 17 October 2017, aged 100.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8481

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