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Temptation
Temptation
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Irving Pichel
Screenplay by	Robert Thoeren
Based on	Novel: Bella Donna; by Robert Smythe Hichens; Play: Bella Donna; by James B. Fagan
Produced by	Edward Small
Starring	Merle Oberon; George Brent; Charles Korvin; Paul Lukas
Cinematography	Lucien Ballard
Edited by	Ernest J. Nims
Music by	Daniele Amfitheatrof
Color process	Black and white
Production; company	International Pictures
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date	December 2, 1946;
Running time	98 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1.6 million

Temptation is a 1946 American film noir thriller film directed by Irving Pichel and starring Merle Oberon, George Brent, Charles Korvin and Paul Lukas. The film was based on Robert Smythe Hichens's 1909 novel Bella Donna. Other film adaptations of the novel were produced in 1915, 1923 and 1934.

Plot

In the 1890s, a London courtesan snares a loving but naive Egyptologist, marries him and moves to Egypt. She quickly becomes bored and embarks on an affair with Mamhoud Baroudi. She falls in love with him, and they plot to kill her husband.

Cast

Merle Oberon as Ruby
George Brent as Nigel Armine
Charles Korvin as Mahoud Baroudi
Paul Lukas as Sir Meyer Isaacson
Lenore Ulric as Marie
Arnold Moss as Ahmed Effendi
Robert Capa as Hamza
Aubrey Mather as Dr. Harding
Ludwig Stössel as Dr. Mueller
André Charlot as Prof. Dupont
Suzanne Cloutier as Yvonne Dupont
Gloria Lloyd as Jean McCormick

Production

The film was the first that Edward Small produced after the termination of his long contract with United Artists,^[2] and the first to be filmed at Universal under the merger with International Pictures that formed the short-lived United World Pictures.^[1] Small bought the rights to the novel in 1941, intending it as a vehicle for Ilona Massey, who had just appeared in International Lady for him.^[3]^[4] He wished to produce the film for United Artists, but other projects took priority. Over a five-year period, there were several near-starts and postponements. Small almost managed to begin production in February 1946, but there was not enough studio space.^[1]

Photographer Robert Capa made his sole acting appearance in Temptation. On a visit to the set to see his friend Charles Korvin, Capa claimed that he could perform the role of Hamza better than could the actor who had been hired to play the part. Capa auditioned for Irving Pichel, who was convinced by Capa's accent and offered him the part.^[5]

Reception

In a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic Bosley Crowther panned the film, writing: "True enough, Miss Oberon looks lovely, Mr. Korvin behaves with bold sang-froid and George Brent is sufficiently unimpressive to seem a husband that a dame would double-cross. Paul Lucas, Arnold Moss and Lenore Ulric also act as though they thought they had a script. But the whole thing is as claptrap in its nature as it was when Pola Negri played it back in 1923."^[6]

Variety magazine criticized the screenplay, writing: "Production is well-stacked with solid values in every department except for the screenplay, which falls short in its attempt to stretch an unsubstantial story line over so long a running time."^[7]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Meets Girl By FRED STANLEY (May 5, 1946). "THE HOLLYWOOD WIRE: In the Clear MORE HOLLYWOOD ITEMS". New York Times. p. X1.
^ "MICHAEL TODD SET TO FILM 'GREAT SON': Ferber Novel Will Be His First Universal Picture--Hellinger Acquires 'Criss-Cross' "Variety Girl" Planned". New York Times. June 4, 1946. p. 33.
^ "The THEATRE: Entertainment NotesZwork=Wall Street Journal". July 3, 1941. p. 13.
^ DOUGLAS W. CHURCHILL (July 1, 1941). "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Monty Woolley to Repeat His Role in 'The Man Who Came to Dinner' for Warners PICTURE TO BE HELD OVER ' Blossoms in the Dust' to Run Second Week at Music Hall -- French Films Revived". New York Times. p. 27.
^ Richard Whelan (1985). Robert Capa:A Biography. U of Nebraska Press. p. 246. ISBN 0-8032-9760-2.
^ Crowther, Bosley. The New York Times, film review, December 25, 1946. Last accessed: February 25, 2011.
^ Variety, film review, December 2, 1946. Last accessed: February 25, 2011.