A Notorious Affair
About A Notorious Affair
Lady Patricia Hanley drops an aristocratic fiancé and marries the poor violinist Paul Gherardi. Countess Olga Balakireff makes Paul's name and takes him as a lover. He collapses at her house. Dr. Pomeroy, once Patricia's suitor, sends him home, and Patricia learns the affair. Paul goes to the South of France with Olga until she leaves him, then suffers a paralysis. After surgery he pretends for a month that he cannot move, so Patricia cannot divorce him for Pomeroy. She hears his violin. He says fame had paralyzed his heart as well, and they stay together.
Cast & crew
More about A Notorious Affair
Lloyd Bacon directed. The script comes from the play Fame by Audrey and Waverly Carter. Ernest Haller photographed it and Cecil Copping wrote the music. Billie Dove plays Patricia, Basil Rathbone plays Paul, and Kay Francis plays Olga. First National produced and released it.
Themes
Reviews
Leonard Maltin gives it two stars out of four and writes that a plush production cannot save the stagy soap opera. The New York Times review gives the acting edge to Rathbone and Kay Francis over Billie Dove.
Look
Ernest Haller shot the London drawing rooms and the South of France episode.
Music
Cecil Copping composed the score. Paul's violin is the sound that tells Patricia he can play again.
Preservation
An intact print is held by the Library of Congress and in the Turner library. It has been shown on television and cable.
Notes
- Kenneth Thomson plays Dr. Alan Pomeroy. Montagu Love plays Sir Thomas Hanley.
- The New York Times wrote that Dove's lines sit in the shade of Rathbone, and that Francis, as the countess, also outplays her.
- A print is at the Library of Congress and in the Turner library. Warner Archive has issued it on DVD.
Scenes
- Paul collapses at the countess's house and Pomeroy is the doctor who is called.
- Patricia hears the violin after a month of pretended paralysis.
Influenced by
- Fame (play by Audrey and Waverly Carter)
Also available
- Internet Archive (notorious-affair-1930)
- Warner Archive DVD
Quotes
I will always be lying here between you.
