Ruth Chatterton (Poll) plays a saucy nightclub singer in this Paramount melodrama. Her love interest, a blind ex-soldier, is played by the always adequate Ralph Bellamy (Bill).
The story begins in the first World War when a shell-shocked soldier falls in love with a visiting French actress named Rosa Duchene. Apparently, no relationship occurs, but several years later, his vision failing, he still has feelings for her. After he goes entirely blind and asks permission to see Duchene, her assistants (watch for a young Charles Boyer) decide to play a trick, and have night club singer Poll pretend to be Duchene. Any more plot details would spoil the story.
If you enjoy Ruth Chatterton's singing, this is a must-see. Chatterton does three numbers and two of them are really enjoyable. Another attraction is that throughout the film, Chatterton, pretending to be Duchene, speaks and sings with a French accent. Surprisingly, her accent is quite convincing. Also, she speaks with a tough as nails Midwestern accent when not impersonating the Duchene. Still, that harsh theater English of hers does slip up at times.
For Chatterton's fans, this film is well-worth tracking down, but if you are just looking for a seedy pre-code, then steer clear of "The Magnificent Lie."
The story begins in the first World War when a shell-shocked soldier falls in love with a visiting French actress named Rosa Duchene. Apparently, no relationship occurs, but several years later, his vision failing, he still has feelings for her. After he goes entirely blind and asks permission to see Duchene, her assistants (watch for a young Charles Boyer) decide to play a trick, and have night club singer Poll pretend to be Duchene. Any more plot details would spoil the story.
If you enjoy Ruth Chatterton's singing, this is a must-see. Chatterton does three numbers and two of them are really enjoyable. Another attraction is that throughout the film, Chatterton, pretending to be Duchene, speaks and sings with a French accent. Surprisingly, her accent is quite convincing. Also, she speaks with a tough as nails Midwestern accent when not impersonating the Duchene. Still, that harsh theater English of hers does slip up at times.
For Chatterton's fans, this film is well-worth tracking down, but if you are just looking for a seedy pre-code, then steer clear of "The Magnificent Lie."