Scandal in Paris
by Douglas Sirk
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Akim Tamiroff, Carole Landis, Gene Lockhart, George Sanders, Signe HassoDirector: Douglas Sirk
Brand: Kino International
Cinematographer: Eugen Schüfftan
Cinematographer: Guy Roe
Editor: Albrecht Joseph
Producer: Arnold Pressburger
Producer: Fred Pressburger
Writer: Ellis St. Joseph
Writer: François-Eugène Vidocq
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Black & White, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 100 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-07-22
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Model: 3022
Studio: Kino Video
Movie Reviews of Scandal in Paris
Movie Review: Amusing And Clever
Summary: 4 Stars
"In crime as in love," says Francois Eugene Vidocq, "there are only those who do and those who don't dare."
This is the amusing, clever story of Vidocq (George Sanders), who was born in a Paris prison in 1775 and spent the next 30 years as a cad, a thief and a relatively successful criminal. And then he became Paris' chief of police and spent the rest of his life catching criminals. It's based on a true story. His epiphany came, according to the movie, through the love of a virtuous woman who was prepared to join him in crime if that was the only way to show her love for him. This so affected him that he decides not to rob the Bank of Paris, confesses all to his prospective father in law (the Minister of Police), who forgives him and blesses the marriage to his daughter. Vidocq, after all, was an even better detective than he was a thief.
The story takes Vidocq through his early years, his partnership with a rough crook, Emil (Akim Tamiroff), his encounter with a mercenary and beautiful dancer (Carole Landis) whom he woos, steals from and leaves (and who later marries Vidocq's predecessor as police chief, which causes serious complications), his encounter with the aristocratic family from whom he and Emil plan to steal priceless jewels, his meeting the family's young daughter, Theresa de Pierremont (Signe Hasso), and his set-up to become police chief so that he can rob the Bank of Paris.
The film features one of George Sanders best performances as a charming cad. Akim Tamiroff starts out as an ignorant buffoon with a knife, but gradually turns the role into one of real threat and danger. The movie is laced with clever dialogue by Vidocq and the gradual resentment by Emil. When Emil suggests murdering the rich old marquise for her jewels and is surprised when Vidocq demurs, Vidocq explains, "It's a not a question of morality but of manners. A man who is capable of killing with a knife is liable to eat with one." When Emil is chortling over the family's panic when the theft of the jewels is discovered and says he can't bear it, it's so funny, Vidocq tells him, "My dear Emil, we always have enough strength to bear the misfortunes of others." And toward the end of the movie when the young daughter asks Vidocq if he loves her or still loves the dancer, he tells her, "In her eyes I see myself as I am. In your eyes, I see myself as I could be."
This is a good, long forgotten movie which is getting a second chance because of DVD. The DVD transfer isn't bad at all, although a little variable.
Summary of Scandal in Paris
SCANDAL IN PARIS - DVD MovieSuave, sardonic George Sanders eases through one of his most perfectly suited roles in this sly Douglas Sirk comedy, based on the (highly questionable) remembrances of real-life French rascal turned respected lawman and author Vidoq. Sanders plays his aristocratic thief with a blasé attitude and bemused smile. Born in a jail (his home for most of his life, as it turns out), he cons his way up from the gutter to high society. He rechristens himself with a name purloined from a fancy graveyard headstone and lands a position as the Paris chief of police after an elaborate display of Sherlock Holmesian deduction uncovers a cache of jewels stolen from his patron's house (jewels he stole himself, of course). It puts him in the perfect place to plot his biggest caper ever: cleaning out the Bank of Paris. Akim Tamiroff plays his croaking sidekick (a frog to Sanders's prince of crime, or perhaps more accurately a dragon to the sneaky St. George), and Gene Lockhart is his nemesis, the disgraced former chief of police who emerges as less a figure of fun than a sad clown. Sirk shot this little gem on a low budget almost belied by the tiny but richly realized sets, beautifully designed settings that create a Paris in miniature. His Continental wit and Sanders's droll delivery and impeccable manners add a knowing wink to the production. --Sean Axmaker
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