Coming up next is 1957's "Love In The Afternoon", the story of the daughter of a private investigator who goes to warn a notorious playboy that one of her father's clients is coming for him with a gun.
The film's cast includes Gary Cooper, Audrey Hepburn, Maurice Chevalier, John McIver, Van Doude, Lisa Bourdin, and Olga Valery.
In Paris, private investigator Claude Chevasse is working to find evidence of a wife's infidelity with a notorious playboy, a Mr. Frank Flannagan.
When Claude shows proof of the wife's infidelity to her husband, Monsieur X, the man informs Claude that he intends to kill Flannagan.
Claude's daughter Ariane overhears the conversation and has to think quickly in order to stop a murder from happening.
Monsieur X arrives at the Ritz Hotel, where Flannagan is staying, intent on a showdown. However, a little dog keeps him in a hiding place.
With Monsieur X outside the door, Ariane is able to slip in the room through the balcony and warn Flannagan that he's about to be shot by the lady's husband.
They arrange a switch. Ariane borrows Madame X's hat and the husband is fooled and very apologetic. Flannagan is relieved that he wasn't shot and very grateful to Ariane.
Well, with a celebratory drink, Ariane becomes very intrigued by Flannagan. With no previous experience with romance, she starts to fall a little in love with the man.
The afternoon of the next day finds Ariane paying a visit to Flannagan again. He's about to leave France, and the two share a few tender moments before he goes. The whole time they've known each other, she's never told him her name. He only knows her as "Thin Girl".
One year later, while attending the opera with her friend Michel, Ariane is shocked when she sees a familiar figure walk into the opera house. It's Flannagan, accompanied by an elegant lady.
During the intermission, Ariane talks with him, and he definitely remembers her. He invites her to visit with him in the afternoon (knowing she can't make evenings because she has cello practice).
Seeing him with his date, Ariane doesn't know how she's going to land him, but an idea starts to form inside her brain.
She decides to match him conquest for conquest. At their meeting the next day, Ariane appears very self-confident and boasts that Flannagan is actually her twentieth boyfriend. He goes from being amused to jealous very quickly. He begins to fall for her.
Ariane realizes that jealousy just may be the key to helping her unlock his feelings. She confides to her friend Michel, "They're very odd people, you know. When they're young, they have their teeth straightened,
their tonsils taken out, and gallons of vitamins pumped into
them.Something happens to their
insides!
They become immunized,
mechanized, air-conditioned, and hydromatic.I'm not even sure whether he has a heart." When Michel wants to know if he's an alien from outer space, Ariane says, "No, he's an American."
Flannagan starts to pursue Ariane, all while she plays it calm and cool. She goes on an on about how he's just another in a long line of boyfriends. (I love how he's followed by his own small orchestra wherever he goes.)
He becomes completely enamored with her. Ariane drives Flannagan to distraction.
And so, he decides to find out who she is. Having been been given Claude Chavasse's name as a recommendation, Flannagan goes to him and gives him the particulars on Ariane, except for her name, which he still does not know and which she has withheld.
It doesn't take Claude long to piece together that the mystery woman is his daughter Ariane. He tells Flannagan to let her go. She's serious about the relationship and he is only in it for the casual fling.
When Ariane comes to see him, Flannagan has been packing and is ready to leave to go and meet up with "two crazy Swedish twins".
Saddened, Ariane decides to accompany him to the train station. As the train departs, she cracks. With tears in her eyes, she assures Frank that she will be alright.
By now, however, Flannagan is firmly in love with her. He pulls her onto the train and kisses her, uttering her name for the first time. We later find out that the two are married and living in New York.
Cast rundown:
Gary Cooper.....................................Frank Flannagan
Maurice Chevalier.............................Claude Chavasse
John McIver.....................................Monsieur X
Van Doude.......................................Michel
Lisa Bourdin.....................................Madame X
Olga Valery......................................Hotel Guest With Dog
And that's it for Love In The Afternoon. To sort of tone down the age difference between Cooper and Hepburn, the legendary actor was filmed in shadow for a lot of the movie. The camera was also positioned behind his back in several scenes. This was the first film in which Maurice Chevalier appeared in which he did not sing.
This film also is famous for its iconic music "Fascination". Gary Cooper is followed by the band "The Gypsies" throughout the film. He even has them serenading him while he's in a Turkish bath!
You can watch the film in its entirety here. It's been called "a grandly sophisticated romance". Perfect for Valentine's Day!
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