Desire Starring Marlene Dietrich and Gary Cooper

The 1936 film “Desire” fits quite nicely in the comedy and romance genres, although it basically revolves around a crime committed by its female lead, Marlene Dietrich, as Madeline de Beaupre. We’ve got some great quotes from the film in this post.

William Frawley and Gary Cooper

Gary Cooper, as Tom Bradley, is the male lead and in the opening scene, we meet him rehearsing a determined “won’t take no” speech he plans to use to get a 2-week vacation from his job as an engineer in Detroit. When he storms into his boss’s office, before he can say a word, Mr. Gibson says his vacation has been granted:

Mr. Gibson: Oh, I forgot to tell you, to show you how much we appreciate your services, we’re lending you a car for your trip.
Tom Bradley: Well, that’s great.
Mr. Gibson: But we thought we might as well utilize you for a little publicity

Marlene Dietrich and Ernest Cossart

When Bradley arrives in Paris, Madeline de Beaupre is paying a visit to well-known jeweler, Aristide Duvalle, conning him into believing she is the wife of a famous doctor.

Madeline de Beaupre: I am not in the habit of bargaining when I see something I want and I want this necklace. I would like to wear it tonight. The address is 145 Rue des Elysees.
Aristide Duvalle: 145 Rue des Elysee. Madame Pauquet.
Madeline: Madame Maurice Pauquet.
Duvalle: Maurice Pauquet? Dr. Pauquet, the nerve specialist?
Madeline: Yes, he’s my husband. Do you know him?
Duvalle: No, but who has not heard of him?
Madeline: Would bring the pearls to my husband’s office at 6:00 and my husband will give you the check.
Duvalle: Thank you, madame. It will be an honor to meet the doctor and one never knows when one will go crazy.

Marlene Dietrich and Alan Mowbray

Madeline then pays Dr. Pauquet a visit and tells him that she is Duvalle’s wife. Her husband is suffering from hallucinations and wearing nightgowns instead of pajamas.

Madeline de Beaupre: Oh, doctor, there’s one other thing. I don’t know how important it is, but I think I should mention it before you see him. Just imagine this very shrewd, honest man, for whom everyone in the business world has the highest respect, again and again presents bills to people who don’t owe him anything.
Dr. Pauquet: Don’t worry about that, Madame. I’ll take care of the bill. Just leave it to me.

Ernest Cossart and Alan Mobray

Madeline is at Pauquet’s office when Duvalle shows up. She slips aways with the necklace while this hilarious scene takes place:

Dr. Pauquet: Now, M. Duvalle, Aristide Duvalle, look at me. Now tell me: why you do want 2,200,000 francs?
Aristide Duvalle: For the pearls I have given to your wife.
Dr. Pauquet: Listen to me. I don’t owe you 2,200,000 francs. You didn’t give any pearls to my wife. I don’t have a wife.
Aristide Duvalle: You owe me 2,200,000 francs! I have given the pearls to your wife and I think you are crazy!
Dr. Pauquet: Now, M. Duvalle, don’t worry. Everything’s going to be quite all right. Now, tell me, where do you buy your nightgowns?

Marlene Dietrich and Gary Cooper

Madeline heads to Spain and so does Tom Bradley, in the company Bronson 8. Their paths cross when she has car trouble and they end up at the customs station together. Madeline sneaks the pearls into her purse just when the customs agent asks the woman in front of him to give him her bag for inspection. So Madeline slips the pearls into Tom’s suit jacket which he takes off and puts in the suitcase. On the road again, Madeline talks Tom into getting out of the car to put his suit jacket back on. When he does, she takes off with his car.

Madeline meets up with Carlos Margoli (John Halliday), her accomplice in crime. She is supposed to be a countess now and Carlos is her uncle. Tom catches up with her and demands to know why she stole his car:

Madeleine de Beaupre: I was really afraid.
Tom Bradley: Of what?
Madeleine: Of you.
Tom: Huh. Well there was no need of it. I paid you a few compliments. I told you how charming and how lovely you were, and I’d still repeat it. But I didn’t do anything.
Madeleine: No, but you intended to.
Tom: I did not!
Madeleine: You had it in your eyes.
Tom: I didn’t know it showed.

It’s a very enjoyable film. The supporting cast also includes Zeffie Tilbury as “Aunt Olga,” another member of the crime ring. Akim Tamiroff plays a Spanish police officer investigating the theft.

You can catch it on Turner Classic Movies or watch some clips on youtube.

Marlene Dietrich had previously been nominated for an Oscar for 1931’s “Morocco.” Gary Cooper was her co-star in that, too. He got his first Oscar nomination for another 1936 film, “Mr. Deeds Goes to Washington.” Four nominations later, he won Best Actor for his role as Marshall Will Kane in “High Noon” (1952). William Frawley, of course, went on to everlasting fame in the 1950s as Fred Mertz on TV’s “I Love Lucy.”