Horrible, fascist and poorly acted

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Andre Morestan (Brian Aherne) owns a Paris bicycle shop with his family. He's eager to serve in a jury. The trial has Natalie Roguin (Rita Hayworth) facing a murder charge. Andre convinces the jury to acquit. After the trial, he gives her a job at his shop. He keeps her identity a secret from his family but his son Pierre (Glenn Ford) recognizes her. His daughter Francois is overjoyed to be engaged to Robert LaCoste who owns the dance studio next door. Robert turns out to be a lascivious sleaze with his eye on Natalie.It's a lesser old movie. The acting is broad and so are the attempts at humor. This is a remake of a French film and I'm sure a ton of jokes don't get through the translation. The trial takes place in the first thirty minutes. Andre is a childish considering the situation. It seems to be aimed as a comedy but it's not funny. After Natalie gets the job, there are some sitcom-like misunderstandings. Again it's not funny but it's still watchable. The movie feels short-changed and the shorter running time may have something to do with that.

Greatly enjoyed this film which is full of drama and plenty of laughs along with a great cast of new stars who would become very famous and successful on the Silver Screen in Hollywood for many years. Charles Vidor produced this film and that is living proof this is a great 1940 extra special film. Brian Aheme, (Andre Moestan) is a bicycle shop owner who desperately wants to become a juror in a court case and gets himself deeply involved with the trial of Natalie Roguin played by Rita Hayworth and Andre Moestan feels great compassion for Natalie and manages to sway the jury into setting her free. Andre gives her a job in his bicycle shop and lets her live with his family above the shop. Glenn Ford plays the role as Pierre Moestan, the son of Andre and he falls madly in love with Natalie. Evelyn Keyes, (Francois Morestan) gave a great supporting role as the daughter of Andre Moestan who wants to get married in the worst way and is simply boy crazy about all men and full of the devil. It is great seeing such great super stars so very young and just starting out in their Hollywood careers. Enjoy this film. I must also mention that Evelyn Keys had just given a great performance in "Gone With The Wind", 1939 and played a great role in this film and went on to become a great Pin Up Girl for our Fighting Troops during World War II.

Where to start? They took an earthy classic French face (Gribouille) & timidly translated it into faux Oscar Wildeian summer stock frillery. Brian Aherne becomes Raimu & Rita Cansino Hayworth becomes Michele Morgan. Glen Ford (14 years Aherne's junior) plays Aherne's son.Aherne was about 38 when he made this, a handsome, debonair lightweight matinée idol (who allegedly was the object of Noel Coward's song, Mad About the Boy). Nice fellow, but a real travesty in this part. Whose fault? Probably the director, Alexander Korda, because the rest of the cast is just as bad, Irene Rich, Evelyn Keyes, Lloyd Corrigan (?).What they forgot when they bought this property is farce is not just about manners & plot, it's about character & culture.Ah well, Ford & Hayworth would grow up & make Gilda 6 years later. Same director!

A charming, cute movie, the first to pair Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford, directed by Charles Vidor. Brian Aherne is funny and touching as Andre Morestan, the family man who finds himself a jury member on the case of young Natalie Roguin (Hayworth) accused of murdering her lover. After she is acquitted, Andre takes pity on the poor girl and gives her a job in his bicycle shop, as well as providing room and board, but concealing her true identity from his family. His son, Pierre (Ford), however, knows who she is as he stole into the courthouse one day during the trial. His obvious attraction to her is sweetly presented, with his clattering case of butterfingers. Only when he begins to suspect that she is having an affair with his father, does he reveal that he knows her true identity. After the misunderstanding is cleared up, the young duo fall in love, but Andre's opposition, as well as Natalie's fear of her true identity being revealed, puts a strain on the situation. Things change for the worse when the ne'er do well fiancée, Robert (Edward Norris) of Pierre's sister Francoise (Evelyn Keyes, best remembered as Scarlett's whiny sister Suellen in GWTW), makes advances toward Natalie when he discovers the truth. Then Natalie's innocence comes into question in Andre's mind, until he learns that there is new evidence that Natalie indeed acted in self-defense. A happy little ending wraps up about an hour and a half of this interesting little gem. Irene Rich is great as Michele Morestan, wife and mother, who provides warmth and wisdom.The chemistry that Hayworth and Ford would go on to display in four more films is very apparent here; their scenes together are adorable, boil over with chemistry, and it is little wonder that they went on to become one of the great romantic screen couples, as well as stars in their own right. And Aherne regarded this as one of his favorite films - and it's easy to see why!Needs to be on DVD.