''Desire Me'' is a 1947 American romantic

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

starring

Robert Mitchum Robert Charles Durman Mitchum (August 6, 1917 – July 1, 1997) was an American actor. He is known for his antihero roles and film noir appearances. He received nominations for an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award. He received a star on the Holl ...

and

Greer Garson Eileen Evelyn Greer Garson (29 September 1904 – 6 April 1996) was a British-American actress and singer. She was a major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer who became popular during the Second World War for her portrayal of strong women on the homef ...

. It had a troubled production that included numerous directors and rewrites, and was released without a credited director.

Plot

In Paris, Marise Aubert is discussing her medical condition with Dr. Leclair, who explains that there is nothing physically wrong with her and that her pain is the result of her internal struggles. In a flashback to two weeks earlier, soldier Jean Renaud arrives suddenly at Marise's cottage. He explains that he was in a Nazi reprisal camp with Marise's husband Paul, who told him everything about her. He tells her that he saw Paul shot dead. She tells him to leave but relents because of a storm and allows him to stay. Marise is shocked that Jean knows practically everything about her because of what Paul had told him in the camp. Jean has fallen in love with her from these stories, but when he makes romantic advances, Marise orders him to leave. She changes her mind because she is lonely and Jean is from Paul's life. They spend some happy times together. A letter from Paul arrives, but Jean intercepts it before Marise can see it. The letter explains that Paul is not dead and that he is about to be released from a hospital so he can return to her. Jean nearly leaves after he realizes that Paul is alive, but he stays. Marise agrees to sell Paul's business and leave with Jean, but Paul returns before they leave. Marise learns of Paul's return and rushes home. Jean learns of Paul's return and retrieves an old gun that he found in Paul's office and heads to the cottage to confront Paul. Marise is ecstatic to have him back, but confesses her relationship with Jean. Paul confronts his friend over the betrayal and Jean brandishes a gun. They struggle, and Jean is killed in a fall from a cliff. In the present, the doctor tells Marise to return home. She returns to the cottage where Paul awaits her and they reunite happily.

Cast

as Marise *

as Paul * Richard Hart as Jean * Cecil Humphreys as Dr. Leclair *

George Zucco George Zucco (11 January 1886 – 27 May 1960) was a British character actor who appeared in plays and 96 films, mostly American-made, during a career spanning over two decades, from the 1920s to 1951. In his films, he often played a suave vill ...

as Father Donnard

Production

Garson injured her back while filming ''Desire Me'' in Monterey on April 26, 1946, when a wave knocked her and co-star Richard Hart from the rocks where they were rehearsing. A local fisherman and extra in the film rescued Garson from the surf and potential undertow. She was bruised and in shock and required by doctors to rest for several days. The injury to her back would require several surgeries over the coming years.

Reception

The film earned $1,451,000 in the US & Canada, and earned $1,125,000 elsewhere, but, because of its high production cost, producers suffered a net loss of $2,440,000. The Canadian filmmaker

Guy Maddin Guy Maddin (born February 28, 1956) is a Canadian screenwriter, director, author, cinematographer, film editor and installation artist. He is known for his fascination with lost Silent film, Silent-era films and for incorporating their aestheti ...

cast a vote for ''Desire Me'' on his top-ten ballot for the ''

Sight and Sound ''Sight and Sound'' (formerly written ''Sight & Sound'') is a monthly film magazine published by the British Film Institute (BFI). Since 1952, it has conducted the well-known decennial ''Sight and Sound'' Poll of the Greatest Films of All Time. ...

'' Greatest Films of All Time 2022 directors' poll.

References

External links

* * *
''Desire Me''
at MissGreerGarson.com {{Authority control 1947 films 1947 romantic drama films 1940s American films 1940s English-language films 1940s war drama films American black-and-white films American romantic drama films American war drama films Anonymous works Films based on German novels Films directed by Jack Conway Films directed by George Cukor Films directed by Mervyn LeRoy Films directed by Victor Saville Films scored by Herbert Stothart Films shot in California 1940s melodrama films Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films English-language romantic drama films English-language war drama films American war romance films