One Rainy Afternoon
Encyclopedia
One Rainy Afternoon is a 1936 romantic comedy
film directed by Rowland V. Lee
, starring Francis Lederer
and Ida Lupino
and featuring Hugh Herbert
, Roland Young
and Erik Rhodes
. 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. The film was reissued in 1948 under the title Matinee Scandal.
) goes to a darkened movie theatre for a romantic assignation with his married mistress, Yvonne (Liev De Maigret), but sits in the wrong sit 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 Phillip, and the priggish head of the Purity League (Eily Malyon) exploits the incident until it becomes a national scandal, with Phillipe dubbed "The Kissing Monster." When Phillipe 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. In the meantime, the tabloids have made Phillipe 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 Phillipe to do his performance. At the show, Phillipes finds that Monique has taken the place of the actress he was to re-enact the kiss with.
sound films which were produced by its vice-president, Mary Pickford
,, and the first film for Pickford-Lasky Productions. This film also marked Francis Lederer's first starring role for the studio.
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."
The film began production in early January 1936. It was released on 13 May of that year, and re-released in January 1948.. The film was made for an estimated $511,383, and grossed $603,903 worldwide.
Romantic Comedy
Romantic Comedy can refer to* Romantic Comedy , a 1979 play written by Bernard Slade* Romantic Comedy , a 1983 film adapted from the play and starring Dudley Moore and Mary Steenburgen...
film directed by Rowland V. Lee
Rowland V. Lee
Rowland Vance Lee was a U.S. film director, writer, and producer....
, starring Francis Lederer
Francis Lederer
Francis Lederer was a film and stage actor with a successful career, first in Europe, then in the United States.-Europe:...
and Ida Lupino
Ida Lupino
Ida Lupino was an English-born film actress and director, and a pioneer among women filmmakers. In her 48-year career, she appeared in 59 films and directed seven others, mostly in the United States. She appeared in serial television programmes 58 times and directed 50 other episodes...
and featuring Hugh Herbert
Hugh Herbert
Hugh Herbert was a motion picture comedian. He began his career in vaudeville, and wrote more than 150 plays and sketches.-Career:...
, Roland Young
Roland Young
Roland Young was an English actor.-Early life and career:Born in London, England, Young was educated at Sherborne School, Dorset and the University of London before being accepted into Royal Academy of Dramatic Art...
and Erik Rhodes
Erik Rhodes (actor)
Erik Rhodes was an American film and Broadway singer and actor. He is best remembered today for appearing in two classic Hollywood musical films with popular dancing team of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, The Gay Divorcee and Top Hat .-Biography:Born Ernest Sharpe at El Reno, Indian Territory,...
. It was written by Stephen Morehouse Avery, with additional dialogue by Maurice Hanline, from the screenplay for the 1935 French film
Cinema of France
The Cinema of France comprises the art of film and creative movies made within the nation of France or by French filmmakers abroad.France is the birthplace of cinema and was responsible for many of its early significant contributions. Several important cinematic movements, including the Nouvelle...
Monsieur Sans-Gêne by Emeric Pressburger
Emeric Pressburger
Emeric Pressburger was a Hungarian-British screenwriter, film director, and producer. He is best known for his series of film collaborations with Michael Powell, in a multiple-award-winning partnership known as The Archers and produced a series of classic British films, notably 49th Parallel , The...
and René Pujol, which was based on the story "The Satyr" by Pressburger. The film was reissued in 1948 under the title Matinee Scandal.
Plot
On a rainy afternoon in Paris, debonair actor Phillipe Martin (Francis LedererFrancis Lederer
Francis Lederer was a film and stage actor with a successful career, first in Europe, then in the United States.-Europe:...
) goes to a darkened movie theatre for a romantic assignation with his married mistress, Yvonne (Liev De Maigret), but sits in the wrong sit and kisses instead lovely Monique Pelerin (Ida Lupino
Ida Lupino
Ida Lupino was an English-born film actress and director, and a pioneer among women filmmakers. In her 48-year career, she appeared in 59 films and directed seven others, mostly in the United States. She appeared in serial television programmes 58 times and directed 50 other episodes...
), the daughter of a powerful publisher (Joseph Cawthorn). Monique, who is engaged to powerful Count Alfredo Donstelli (Erik Rhodes
Erik Rhodes (actor)
Erik Rhodes was an American film and Broadway singer and actor. He is best remembered today for appearing in two classic Hollywood musical films with popular dancing team of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, The Gay Divorcee and Top Hat .-Biography:Born Ernest Sharpe at El Reno, Indian Territory,...
), makes a public accusation against Phillip, and the priggish head of the Purity League (Eily Malyon) exploits the incident until it becomes a national scandal, with Phillipe dubbed "The Kissing Monster." When Phillipe 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. In the meantime, the tabloids have made Phillipe into a national hero, and instead of his producer, Maillot (Roland Young
Roland Young
Roland Young was an English actor.-Early life and career:Born in London, England, Young was educated at Sherborne School, Dorset and the University of London before being accepted into Royal Academy of Dramatic Art...
), 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 Phillipe to do his performance. At the show, Phillipes finds that Monique has taken the place of the actress he was to re-enact the kiss with.
Cast
- Francis LedererFrancis LedererFrancis Lederer was a film and stage actor with a successful career, first in Europe, then in the United States.-Europe:...
as Philippe Martin - Ida LupinoIda LupinoIda Lupino was an English-born film actress and director, and a pioneer among women filmmakers. In her 48-year career, she appeared in 59 films and directed seven others, mostly in the United States. She appeared in serial television programmes 58 times and directed 50 other episodes...
as Monique Pelerin - Hugh HerbertHugh HerbertHugh Herbert was a motion picture comedian. He began his career in vaudeville, and wrote more than 150 plays and sketches.-Career:...
as Toto - Roland YoungRoland YoungRoland Young was an English actor.-Early life and career:Born in London, England, Young was educated at Sherborne School, Dorset and the University of London before being accepted into Royal Academy of Dramatic Art...
as Maillot - Erik RhodesErik Rhodes (actor)Erik Rhodes was an American film and Broadway singer and actor. He is best remembered today for appearing in two classic Hollywood musical films with popular dancing team of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, The Gay Divorcee and Top Hat .-Biography:Born Ernest Sharpe at El Reno, Indian Territory,...
as Count Alfredo Donstelli - Joseph CawthornJoseph CawthornJoseph Cawthorn was an American stage and film comic actor....
as Monsieur Pelerin - Liev De Maigret as Yvonne
- Donald MeekDonald MeekDonald Meek was a Scottish-born American character actor. He first worked as a stage actor and later became a film actor, starring in several movies including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Little Miss Broadway, and State Fair. Before becoming an actor, he fought in the Spanish-American War and...
as Judge - Georgia CaineGeorgia CaineGeorgia Caine was an American actress who performed both on Broadway and in over 80 films in her 51 year career.-Early career:...
as Cecile - Murray KinnellMurray KinnellMurray Kinnell was an English actor. He appeared in 71 films between 1930 and 1937. He was best known as the two-timing petty-larceny hood Putty Nose in The Public Enemy...
as Theatre Manager - Mischa AuerMischa AuerMischa Auer was a Russian-born American actor.-Early life:Auer was born Mikhail Semyonovich Unskovsky in St. Petersburg, Russia...
as Leading Man - Richard CarleRichard CarleRichard Carle was an American film actor. He appeared in 132 films between 1915 and 1941.He was born as Charles Nicholas Carleto in Somerville, Massachusetts...
as Minister of Justice - Phyllis BarryPhyllis BarryPhyllis Barry was an English film actress. Born in Leeds, England, Barry appeared in over 40 films between 1932 and 1947.-Career:...
as Felice (Maillot's secretary) - Lois JanuaryLois JanuaryLois January was an American actress who performed small roles in several B-movies during the 1930s.Born in McAllen, Texas as Laura Lois January, her first credited role was in 1933, in the film UM-PA...
as Monsieur Pelerin's Secretary - Eily MalyonEily MalyonEily Malyon was an English character actress in the 1930s and 1940s.Born as Eily Sophie Lees-Craston in London in 1878 or 1879. Her mother, Agnes Thomas, was also an actress...
as President of Purity League
Songs
- "One Rainy Afternoon" - by Ralph Erwin (music) and Jack Stern (lyrics)
- "Secret Rendezvous" - by Ralph Erwin (music) and Preston Sturges (lyrics)
Production
One Rainy Afternoon was the first of a small number of United ArtistsUnited Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
sound films which were produced by its vice-president, Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford was a Canadian-born motion picture actress, co-founder of the film studio United Artists and one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
,, and the first film for Pickford-Lasky Productions. This film also marked Francis Lederer's first starring role for the studio.
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."
The film began production in early January 1936. It was released on 13 May of that year, and re-released in January 1948.. The film was made for an estimated $511,383, and grossed $603,903 worldwide.