Paulette Goddard comes to a small town in France to e a chambermaid in Reginald Owens' house -- although with Judith Anderson as his wife, we all know whose house it really is. Miss Goddard realizes she is tired of putting up with rich women, and obnoxious upper servants like Francis Lederer. She makes friends with Irene Ryan, a beaten-down scullery maid and retired captain Burgess Meredith (her husband in real life at the time). She's so full of conflicting emotions that she doesn't understand how she feels about Hurd Hatfield, the house's returned, tubercular son, for whom her mistress has suddenly bought Parisian uniforms and made her do up her hair.
Jean Renoir's last American film must have been frustrating for him. True, he had a chance to slang both aristocrats and parvenus, but the Production Code made him go around Robin Hood's barn to make his points about sexuality. True, it was clear to intelligent adults, but it feels like he was fighting with one hand tied behind his back, and a sudden and unbelievable happy ending dragged out of the whole thing. Still, there are some fine performances, including Lederer and Miss Ryan, but the whole thing feels a bit incoherent. Bunuel would do it much better.
Jean Renoir's last American film must have been frustrating for him. True, he had a chance to slang both aristocrats and parvenus, but the Production Code made him go around Robin Hood's barn to make his points about sexuality. True, it was clear to intelligent adults, but it feels like he was fighting with one hand tied behind his back, and a sudden and unbelievable happy ending dragged out of the whole thing. Still, there are some fine performances, including Lederer and Miss Ryan, but the whole thing feels a bit incoherent. Bunuel would do it much better.