Fantastic!

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

In general style, this film much reminds me of the classic Gable/ Colbert romantic comedy "It Happened One Night", released 2 years earlier. It's not quite as good, but how many non-musicals in those days were? For one thing, Marlene Dietrich simply wasn't near as cute nor talented in comedy as was Claudette. I don't know how Madeleine(Marlene) previously got her money to buy fancy clothes and cars. Presumably by exploiting wealthy men, or by lesser heists than the 2,200,000 franc pearl necklace she just maneuvered from jeweler Duvalle, and slipped into the coat pocket of American Tom Bradley(Gary Cooper) when going through immigration at the French/Spanish border. Before and after the border, they have some adventures interacting with their respective autos. Eventually, Marlene steals Cooper's car, then wrecks it, without recovering the necklace. Somehow, she escaped from the wrecked car unscathed, and somehow got on a train to San Sebastian, where her partner Carlos is waiting. But, she's still no closer to getting the necklace back from Cooper, whom she hasn't told about the caper.Cooper tells the police about his stolen wrecked car. They lead him to Marlene, based on his description(unlikely). He's mad about his borrowed car, of course, but he's even madder over Marlene. So, he chooses to forget about the car. Carlos thinks up a clever way to get the necklace from Cooper. Later, Cooper thinks up a clever way to get the necklace back, so that Marlene can return it to the jeweler, and hopefully receive a minimal sentence. On the whole, the first half was more fun, including a nutty dialogue exchange between the necklace salesman: Duvalle, and the psychiatrist Pauquet, as relates to paying for the necklace(which never happens).As far as the prospect of Cooper's character marrying Marlene, as she said at one point, they came from two different worlds, with a high wall between. If I were Cooper, I'd run from this shady lady: a high maintenance gal, for sure.Available in B&W at YouTube. Some filming took place on location, in Spain and France.

DESIRE (Paramount, 1936), directed by Frank Borzage, introduces Marlene Dietrich into the genre of comedy, not so much in a sense of screwball or slapstick, but that of sophisticated comedy in the style of director Ernst Lubitsch, who also produced. Teamed opposite Gary Cooper for the first time since MOROCCO (1930), he and Dietrich are at their best here in what proved to be their final collaboration on screen. Cooper plays Tom Bradley, an engineer from Detroit, Michigan, assigned in a Paris-based auto company, who's determined to take his long-awaited vacation in Spain, regardless of how Mr. Gibson (William Frawley), his employer, might feel about it. Gibson (William Frawley), president of Bronson 8, however, surprises Bradley by approving his vacation by loaning him the company car carrying a sign which reads, "I am happy to drive a Bronson 8" as advertisement. Marlene Dietrich is later introduced as Madeleine de Beaupre, a continental jewel thief who cleverly gains possession of a pearl necklace from Aristide Duval (Ernest Cossart), a Parisian jeweler by posing as the wife of the famed psychiatrist, Doctor Maurice Pauquet (Alan Mowbray). Her path with Tom soon meets as they head to the border and await for customs to inspect their belongings. After Madeleine places her stolen pearls in Tom's coat pocket, they each pass inspection and go on their way. Purposely disabling her car, Madeleine is soon picked up by Tom and becomes his prize passenger. Eventually she drives off with his car, leaving him stranded on the road, unaware that Tom still unwittingly has the pearl necklace on his person. Abandoning the car after realizing her error, their paths meet again at the San Sebastian Continental Palace where Madeleine, posing as a Countess accompanied by her "uncle," Prince Carlos Margoli (John Halliday), her confederate, uses their friendly persuasion to get back the pearls without arousing any suspicion. When things become more complicated, Aunt Olga (Zeffie Tilbury), a third member of the gang of thieves, enters the scene.For his profile on the film, Bob Osborne, host of Turner Classic Movies where DESIRE premiered January 17, 2002, as part of the station's tribute to Marlene Dietrich, spoke about its production and original title being THE PEARL NECKLACE as more suitable than DESIRE, and rightfully so. It's interesting to point out that its title may stir up some confusion with another film of similar name, DESIRABLE (Warners, 1934) that also featured DESIRE co-star, John Halliday. Halliday, as stated, filled in for former MGM lead actor, John Gilbert, following his sudden death in January 1936. What a missed opportunity for Gilbert in a supporting role as Carlos, which might have proved favorable, though quite unlikely as one posing as Madeleine's uncle. Seen in a smaller role is Akim Tamiroff playing the police official, who would achieve recognition in another Cooper film that same year, THE GENERAL DIED AT DAWN (1936). Regardless of frequent revivals on commercial television back in the 1970s and public TV during the 1980s, DESIRE is quite underrated and nearly forgotten by today's standards. For being such an enjoyable adventure heist comedy from start to finish highlighted by many witty lines and situations, it's understandable why DESIRE is often mistaken as full fledged film directed by Lubitsch comedy rather than Borzage, best known for love stories with sentimental appeal. There may be some romance going on between the characters enacted by Dietrich and Cooper, but no sentimentality involved. In her attempt in retrieving her stolen pearls, Dietrich does take time out to recite the film's theme song, "Awake in a Dream" composed by Frederick Hollander and Leo Robin. And be sure not to miss the film's conclusion. It's as priceless as the pearl necklace itself. (***1/2 pearls)

My wife got me to watch this film the other day and i was expecting a really corny old film,but instead i found it really entertaining and i would have watched it just for the lovely vintage cars that you see so much of in this film.They don't make cars like that anymore.The plot of the film was very simple,although the robbery was very clever,in other words the film never becomes complicated,you never get lost,which is just right for a light comedy.Marlene is very seductive and very convincing as the shady lady who fools Gary Cooper,the pair are excellent together,the chemistry between them is electric.I don't know why this isn't a classic as it hasn't really dated,I think a modern audience would still enjoy this film, as i did.I think in future ill always give these 1930s romances the benefit of the doubt,as there may be others like this one that are total gems.

Marlene Dietrich and Gary Cooper show an unexpected flair for romantic comedy that goes into high gear during DESIRE. They are surrounded by some expert supporting players, including Alan Mobray as a doctor who is "taken" by Marlene's sly and crafty jewel thief.The plot is thin but pleasant and moves at a fast clip with ample chemistry between Dietrich and Cooper more than making up for the slight story. When Dietrich accidentally lets Cooper get away with the pearl necklace she has stolen, she has to follow him and lure him back with some fancy scheming. John Halliday has fun with his role as her consort in crime but it is Alan Mobray who has the plum supporting role as the doctor she so charmingly deceives.Diverting entertainment with Dietrich expert as the exotic jewel thief under Frank Borzage's direction. The whole picture has such a light touch you'd think it was directed by Ernst Lubitsch.