Darling film starring Marlene Dietrich from 1941.
Flame of New Orleans takes place in -- right, New Orleans, in 1840, where Claire Ledoux, engaged to a banker, Giraud (Roland Young). Unfortunately for Claire, at a party, while she is up on stage singing, a man who knew her in Europe shows up. What he has to say is whispered in people's ears. By the time the song is through, so is Claire.
She gets out of it by telling her fiancée that they're talking about her cousin, who looks like her.
A sea captain, Robert LaTour (Bruce Cabot) owes Giraud money, so Giraud tells him that he will forgive the loan if LaTour can get this cousin removed and out to sea before the wedding.
Lots of great people in this, including Mischa Auer, Andy Devine, Laura Hope Crews, Franklin Pangborn, Theresa Harris, and Anne Revere.
Much of the movie takes place with a background derived from Donizetti's Lucia, the love duet in the beginning of the opera - in fact, there's a heavenly choir singing it at the end.
Marlene's clothes are beyond magnificent. Absolutely bedazzling with huge full skirts, sparkles, feathers - amazing. A must see for the costumes alone.
The whole cast is great, and Marlene is stunning as usual as she plays both her slutty cousin and the flirtatious Clare. Wait for the scene where Laura Hope Crews gives her a lecture on what she'll have to "endure" during marriage. Dietrich's face there is classic. And she was a class act all the way.
Well directed by Rene Clair.
