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A Foreign Affair (1948)

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Average Rating: 7.6/10
Reviews Counted: 9
Fresh: 9 | Rotten: 0

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 2
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 0

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Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 1,181

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Movie Info

Writer/director Billy Wilder (in collaboration with producer/writer Charles Brackett) earned his first critical condemnation with A Foreign Affair. Reviewers accused Wilder (as they would so often in the future) of moral bankruptcy, challenging him to prove what could possibly be funny about the Nazi war guilt, the bombed-out city of Berlin, the postwar European black market or attempted suicide. All of these elements are in Foreign Affair, and all are very funny. John Lund is an American army

Unrated, 1 hr. 56 min.

Comedy, Romance

Directed By: Billy Wilder

Written By: Charles Brackett, Richard L. Breen, David Shaw, Billy Wilder

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1948 Limited

On DVD: Sep 29, 1998

Paramount Pictures

Cast

Jean Arthur
Phoebe Frost
Marlene Dietrich
Erika von Schluetow
John Lund
Capt. John Pringle
Millard Mitchell
Col. Rufus J. Plummer
Bill Murphy
Joe
Peter von Zerneck
Hans Otto Birgel
Stanley Prager
Mike
Gordon Jones
First M.P.
Freddie Steele
Second M.P.
Raymond Bond
Pennecott
Boyd Davis
Griffin
Robert Malcolm Young
Kramer
Charles Meredith
Yandell
Michael Raffetto
Salvatore
Damian O'Flynn
Lieutenant Colonel
George Carleton
Gen. Finney
William Neff
Lt. Lee Thompson
Harland Tucker
Gen. McAndrew
Bobby Watson
Adolf Hitler
Frank Fenton
Maj. Mathews

Critic Reviews for A Foreign Affair

All Critics (10) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (9) | Rotten (0) | DVD (1)

As usual, it's more clever than meaningful, but this 1948 film is one of his most satisfactory in wit and pace.

August 14, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

A dandy entertainment which has some shrewd and realistic things to say.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

Top Critic

A stinging satirical look at black marketeering in post WW II Berlin.

August 14, 2007 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

| Comment

TV Guide's Movie Guide

This may not be Wilder at his best -- the story develops along fairly predictable lines, with Arthur switching her starchy uniform for a glistening evening gown -- but there are some precious set pieces.

January 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

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Time Out

Despite its predictable story line makes for a somewhat enjoyable satire.

December 7, 2005 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

| Comment

Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Lesser Billy Wilder with great actresses and a weak leading man.

November 26, 2003 Comment

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for A Foreign Affair

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dark comedy set against the brutal backdrop of post-war berlin. jean arthur plays a stuffy american congresswoman who becomes involved with an army officer who's trying to cover up his lover's nazi past. i like that both jean and marlene were close to 50 when this was made. the script is vintage wilder if a little

May 1, 2010

Stella Dallas

Super Reviewer

In "A Foreign Affair", Congresswoman Phoebe Frost, R-Iowa(Jean Arthur), is part of a congressional delegation sent to postwar Berlin to investigate the reportedly poor morale of the American soldier. Frost helps in this matter by personally delivering a birthday cake to Capt. John Pringle(John Lund) from his girlfriend

July 4, 2006