One Rainy Afternoon

One Rainy Afternoon
(Matinee Scandal)

DVD cover
Directed by Rowland V. Lee
Produced by Jesse L. Lasky
Mary Pickford
Written by Screen story:
Emeric Pressburger
René Pujol
Screenplay:
Stephen Morehouse Avery
Add'l Dialogue:
Maurice Hanline
Starring Francis Lederer
Ida Lupino
Music by Ralph Erwin (music)
Preston Sturges (lyrics)
Jack Stern (lyrics)
Cinematography Merritt B. Gerstad
J. Peverell Marley
Edited by Margaret Clancey
Distributed by United Artists
Release dates
 May 13, 1936
January 1948 (re-release)
Running time
 94 min.
80 min. (dvd)
Country United States
Language English
Budget $511,383 (est)
Box office $603,903 (world)

One Rainy Afternoon is a 1936 American romantic comedy film directed by Rowland V. Lee, starring Francis Lederer and Ida Lupino, and featuring Hugh Herbert, Roland Young and Erik Rhodes. It also marked the last film appearance by actress Florence Lawrence, who died in 1938, who had an uncredited bit role in the film. It was written by Stephen Morehouse Avery, with additional dialogue by Maurice Hanline, from the screenplay for the 1935 French film Monsieur Sans-Gêne by Emeric Pressburger and René Pujol, which was based on the story "The Satyr" by Pressburger.[1][2] The film was reissued in 1948 as Matinee Scandal.

Plot

On a rainy afternoon in Paris, debonair actor Philippe Martin (Francis Lederer) goes to a darkened movie theatre for a romantic assignation with his married mistress, Yvonne (Liev De Maigret), but sits in the wrong seat and kisses instead lovely Monique Pelerin (Ida Lupino), the daughter of a powerful publisher (Joseph Cawthorn). Monique, who is engaged to powerful Count Alfredo Donstelli (Erik Rhodes), makes a public accusation against Philippe, and the priggish head of the Purity League (Eily Malyon) exploits the incident until it becomes a national scandal, with Philippe dubbed "The Kissing Monster". When Philippe is tried, his defense is that he was overcome by Monique's beauty, and that it is a Frenchman's nature to be romantic, even to perfect strangers. His punishment is to spend just three days in jail, but when he is released, he discovers that Monique has paid his fine, supposedly to avoid more publicity, but actually because she is secretly attracted to him.

Meanwhile, the tabloids have made Philippe into a national hero, and instead of his producer, Maillot (Roland Young), firing the actor, he gets a raise. His new show will have him re-enact the kissing incident, but on the day of the opening Monique's father has him arrested, only be released when Yvonne, who turns out to be the wife of the Minister of Justice, convinces him to allow Philippe to do his performance, where Philippe learns that Monique has taken the place of the actress with whom he was to re-enact the kiss.[3][4][5]

Cast

Songs

Production

One Rainy Afternoon was the first of a small number of United Artists sound films which were produced by its vice-president, Mary Pickford,[4] and the first film for Pickford-Lasky Productions. This film also marked Francis Lederer's first starring role for the studio.[1]

United Artists ran an advertisement in the Hollywood Reporter with "thank-you's" to executives from other studios who allowed their stars to appear in One Rainy Afternoon. The ad states: "We are returning these artists to you with increased box office value."[1]

The film began production in early January 1936.[7] It was released on 13 May of that year, and re-released in January 1948.[8] The film was made for an estimated $511,383, and grossed $603,903 worldwide.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 TCM Notes
  2. ↑ Monsieur Sans-Gêne at the Internet Movie Database
  3. ↑ TCM Full synopsis
  4. 1 2 Erickson, Hal Plot synopsis (Allmovie)
  5. ↑ Crawford, Rod. film profile, IMDb.com
  6. ↑ TCM Music
  7. ↑ TCM Overview
  8. ↑ IMDB Release dates
  9. ↑ IMDB Business data
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