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Desire Me

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the film. For the 1979 song, see The Doll (band).

Desire Me
Theatrical release poster
Directed by
Screenplay by
Based onKarl and Anna  [de]
by Leonhard Frank
Produced byArthur Hornblow Jr.
Starring
CinematographyJoseph Ruttenberg
Edited byJoseph Dervin
Music byHerbert Stothart (uncredited)
Production
company
Distributed byLoew's Inc.
Release date
  • October 31, 1947 (1947-10-31)
Running time
91 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$4,149,000[1][2]
Box office$2,576,000[1]

Desire Me is a 1947 American romantic drama film starring Robert Mitchum and Greer Garson. It had a troubled production that included numerous directors and rewrites, and was released without a credited director.[3]

Plot

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In Paris, Marise Aubert is discussing her medical condition with Dr. Leclair, who explains that there is nothing physically wrong with her and that her pain is the result of her internal struggles.

In a flashback to two weeks earlier, soldier Jean Renaud arrives suddenly at Marise's cottage. He explains that he was in a Nazi reprisal camp with Marise's husband Paul, who told him everything about her. He tells her that he saw Paul shot dead. She tells him to leave but relents because of a storm and allows him to stay.

Marise is shocked that Jean knows practically everything about her because of what Paul had told him in the camp. Jean has fallen in love with her from these stories, but when he makes romantic advances, Marise orders him to leave. She changes her mind because she is lonely and Jean is from Paul's life. They spend some happy times together.

A letter from Paul arrives, but Jean intercepts it before Marise can see it. The letter explains that Paul is not dead and that he is about to be released from a hospital so he can return to her. Jean nearly leaves after he realizes that Paul is alive, but he stays. Marise agrees to sell Paul's business and leave with Jean, but Paul returns before they leave. Marise learns of Paul's return and rushes home. Jean learns of Paul's return and retrieves an old gun that he found in Paul's office and heads to the cottage to confront Paul.

Marise is ecstatic to have him back, but confesses her relationship with Jean. Paul confronts his friend over the betrayal and Jean brandishes a gun. They struggle, and Jean is killed in a fall from a cliff.

In the present, the doctor tells Marise to return home. She returns to the cottage where Paul awaits her and they reunite happily.

Cast

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Production

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Garson injured her back while filming Desire Me in Monterey on April 26, 1946, when a wave knocked her and co-star Richard Hart from the rocks where they were rehearsing. A local fisherman and extra in the film rescued Garson from the surf and potential undertow. She was bruised and in shock and required by doctors to rest for several days. The injury to her back would require several surgeries over the coming years.[4]

Reception

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The film earned $1,451,000 in the US & Canada, and earned $1,125,000 elsewhere, but, because of its high production cost, producers suffered a net loss of $2,440,000.[1][2][5]

The Canadian filmmaker Guy Maddin cast a vote for Desire Me on his top-ten ballot for the Sight and Sound Greatest Films of All Time 2022 directors' poll.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Mannix, Eddie (1983). The E. J. Mannix Ledger. Howard Strickling papers. Beverly Hills, California: Margaret Herrick Library. OCLC 801258228.
  2. ^ a b Eyman, Scott (2005). Lion of Hollywood: The Life and Legend of Louis B. Mayer. London: Robson Books. p. 398. ISBN 978-1-86105-892-8.
  3. ^ "Desire Me". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Los Angeles: American Film Institute. n.d. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  4. ^ Troyan, Michael (1999). A Rose for Mrs. Miniver: The Life of Greer Garson. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky. pp. 198–200. ISBN 978-0-8131-2094-2.
  5. ^ "Top Grossers of 1947". Variety. Vol. 169, no. 5. New York: Variety, Inc. January 7, 1948. p. 63. Retrieved April 7, 2024 – via the Internet Archive.
  6. ^ Maddin, Guy (Winter 2022–23). "Guy Maddin". Sight and Sound. Vol. 33, no. 1. London: British Film Institute. p. 102. ISSN 0037-4806. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved April 9, 2024 – via BFI.org.uk.
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