Desire

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Matthew D @OceanSage Mar 13, 2026 Marlene Dietrich is deliriously dazzling as a femme fatale dame named Madeleine de Beaupre. Director Frank Borzage’s romantic, crime, comedy-drama Desire (1936) is my new favorite film from 1936. Marlene Dietrich is simply marvelous as this lovable jewel thief Madeleine. Gary Cooper has rarely been as charming as his car designer Tom in a Cary Grant like performance. Marlene Dietrich is drop dead gorgeous as the sultry femme fatale and sneaky lady thief Madeleine de Beaupre. She made me feel sympathy for her. She makes for an adorable love interest, charming cat thief, glamorous Countess de Beaupre, cunning villainess, and delightful heroine. She is captivating in every moment of Desire as this absolutely alluring lady thief. Gary Cooper is handsome, amiable, and funny as the gullible romantic lead Tom Bradley. He’s so easily duped by Dietrich’s Madeleine that it’s a blast to watch. In all, Marlene Dietrich is simply dazzling as this enticing jewel thief heroine Madeleine. See more Jul 28, 2021 After one of the most elaborate jewel heists in European history — in which our female protagonists convinces not just one, but two men that she's about to marry them — Madeleine de Beaupre (Marlene Dietrich) has escaped with a small fortune of pearls. On her way to Spain to fence the goods, she runs into car trouble and is helped by Tom Bradley (Gary Cooper), a kindly American who just wants to help. She leaves him behind but he accidentally ends up with the hot pearls. That means that she has to romance him in the hopes of getting them back. But what happens when she falls for someone instead of just trying to work them? A remake of Happy Days in Aranjuez, which was based on the play Die Schönen Tage von Aranjuez, by Hans Székely and Robert A. Stemmle, this movie was supposed to be the comeback movie for John Gilbert after a series of failures. Only days before shooting started, he had a heart attack and got replaced by John Halliday. Supposedly, Gilbert and Dietrich were living together when she tried to use her influence to have him cast opposite her. However, she withdrew her support when he started seeing former fiancée Greta Garbo again. Dietrich then got back with Gary Cooper and Gilbert had a fatal heart attack occurred on the same day that Cooper's casting was officially announced by Paramount. Dietrich spoke highly of this movie, saying: "The only film I need not be ashamed of is Desire…" and "Desire became a good film and, moreover, also proved to be a box-office success. The script was excellent, the roles superb – one more proof that these elements are more important than actors." She must have really enjoyed this movie, because she played the role at least two more times in radio adaptions. See more Thomas M @TMProofreader Jan 31, 2019 The best romance movie ever made! See more ashley h @ashleyhobgood87 Aug 9, 2017 Desire is an excellent film. It is about an automotive engineer bound for a holiday in Spain who meets a sultry jewel thief. Marlene Dietrich and Gary Cooper give incredible performances. The screenplay is well written. Frank Borzage did a great job directing this movie. I enjoyed watching this motion picture because of the drama and romance. Desire is a must see. See more Sep 3, 2014 #2 ngpairi oof cooper & dietrich the 1st was 'morocco' pre-code sizzler See more Jan 21, 2011 "Don't underestimate America, it's a big country... " See more Read all reviews

Desire

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