History Film / AForeignAffair

Unbeknownst to Frost, she’s also consorting with Captain John Pringle (Lund). Frost finds out that Schlütow is with an American officer, but not ''which one''. To hide his identity as Schlütow’s lover, Pringle goes along with Frost as she tries to find the mystery man.

One thing leads to another, and Pringle has to pretend to be attached to Congresswoman Frost, making things unfold from there.

* AsLongAsItSoundsForeign: Averted with the Germans, as they do actually speak German, but played straight when Phoebe decides to go with the two bicycle officers. She calls herself Gretchen Gesundheit, and there’s many “yas” involved.
* BatmanGambit: All this time, Colonel Plummer knew John was going out with Erika. [[spoiler:They used this to their advantage, because they know that Erika’s former Nazi lover would come out of hiding to kill them both. John would conveniently continue the relationship, therefore, making the capture of the war criminal easier. They eventually have to pressure John to keep up appearances when he doesn’t want to be with Erika anymore.]]
* BettyAndVeronica: Phoebe is the Betty, and Erika is the Veronica.
* BlackMarket: John trades a cake for a mattress in Berlin’s underground economy.

* CrapsackWorld: Trying to rebuild out of the ruins of what’s left of Berlin post WWII is fairly depressing, but since it’s a Wilder film, it tinkers on the line of comedy.

---> '''Phoebe Frost''': Oh, John. I’m so happy: I’m in heaven. Not that I wasn’t happy before…I was just drifting. That’s it, drifting. Drifting on a grey sea all alone. It’s not bad, but suddenly you get scared, you need another voice. So you hoist up your heart, and wait. And nobody passes by, just grey waves. Your heart gets frayed and some, lashed by the night winds and rain, so you haul it down, what’s left of it, and you resign yourself. Then, suddenly out of nowhere, comes a boat, so unexpected; all white sails on the horizon. To you, my beautiful boat.

* EstablishingCharacterMoment: One for John: He shows one of his fellow officers a silk stocking he managed to get in the black market which shows that he doesn’t care for the rules, and that he has a lady friend.
**For Phoebe: While on the plane that’s overlooking Berlin, she’s asked to look at the view, but she doesn’t until she finishes writing in her notes, puts all of her documents away in a specified, organized manner in a take that’s over 60 seconds, and ''then'' she looks outside. This shows her as organized, meticulous, and dedicated.
* FemmeFatale: An extremely light version of one, played by none other, Marlene Dietrich.
* GlamorousWartimeSinger: It’s post-WWII, but Erika sings to all the American servicemen, much to their delight.
* LoveableRogue: John does some questionable things, but he’s fairly likeable.
* NerdGlasses: Phoebe sports them as shown in the above image.
* PimpedOutDress: All the outfits for Erika’s numbers are long, sparkly, and beautiful.
** Phoebe wears one for her night out with John.

* PostKissCatatonia: Phoebe is so taken that she walks into the wrong room with the Congressman wondering why she’s at the foot of his bed.
* NoSwastikas: Averted. There’s even a little boy who won’t stop drawing swastikas wherever he goes.
* RealityHasNoSubtitles: A lot of German is spoken with no subtitles which generally is the custom with old films.

* EstablishingCharacterMoment: One for John: He shows one of his fellow officers a silk stocking he managed to get in the black market which shows that he doesn’t very much care for the rules, and that he has a lady friend.
**For Phoebe: While on the plane that’s overlooking Berlin, she’s asked look at the view, but she doesn’t until she finishes writing in her notes, puts all of her documents away in a specified, organized manner in a take that’s over 60 seconds, and ''then'' she looks outside. This shows her as organized, meticulous, and dedicated.

Congresswoman Phoebe Frost (Arthur), alongside an American committee, is sent to check the morale of American soldiers in occupied Germany. To her dismay, men are fraternizing with the local women, they trade in the black market, and go to dumpy dives for entertainment. Even more disconcerting is the fact that a former ex-Nazi, Erika von Schlütow (Dietrich), is now a nightclub singer who entertains these soldiers.

Congresswoman Phoebe Frost (Arthur), alongside an American committee, is sent to check the morale of American soldiers in occupied Germany. To her dismay, men are fraternizing with the local women, they trade in the black market, and go to dumpy dives for entertainment. Even more disconcerting, is the fact that a former ex-Nazi, Erika von Schlütow (Dietrich), is now a nightclub singer who entertains these soldiers.

* FemmeFatale: An extremely light version of one, played by none other Marlene Dietrich.

* AsLongAsItSoundsForeign: Averted with the German people, as they do actually speak German, but played straight when Phoebe decides to go with the two bicycle officers. She calls herself Gretchen Gesundheit, and there’s many “yas” involved.

* RealityHasNoSubtitles: A lot of German is spoken with no subtitles which generally was the custom with old films.

One thing leads to another, and Pringle has to pretend to be attached to Congresswoman Frost, and things unfold from there.

Congresswoman Phoebe Frost (Arthur), alongside an American committee,is sent to check the morale of American soldiers in occupied Germany. To her dismay, men are fraternizing with the local women, they trade in the black market, and go to dumpy dives for entertainment. Even more disconcerting, is the fact that a former ex-Nazi, Erika von Schlütow (Dietrich), is now a nightclub singer who entertains these soldiers.

''A Foreign Affair'' (1948) is a RomanticComedy directed by Creator/BillyWilder comedy, starring Creator/JeanArthur, Creator/MarleneDietrich, and John Lund.

Congresswoman Phoebe Frost (Arthur) is sent to Berlin with an American committee to check the morale of the American soldiers in occupied Germany. To her dismay, men are fraternizing with the local women, they trade in the black market, and go to dumpy dives for entertainment. Even more disconcerting, is the fact that a former ex-Nazi, Erika von Schlütow (Dietrich), is now a nightclub singer who entertains American soldiers.

* TheTease: Erika to everyone everyone, but especially to the [=MPs=] that plan to take her to HQ and question her. She lifts up her dress to show her legs, and hopes that they'll carry her since it has been raining. Colonel Plummer has to send several other [=MPs=] to watch those [=MPs=], and more [=MPs=] to watch those [=MPs=].

Congresswoman Phoebe Frost (Arthur) is sent to Berlin with an American committee to check the morale of the American soldiers in occupied Germany. To her dismay, men are fraternizing with the local women, they trade in the black market, and go to dumpy dives for entertainment. Even more discontenting, is the fact that a former ex-Nazi, Erika von Schlütow (Dietrich), is now a nightclub singer who entertains American soldiers.

* TheTease: Erika to everyone.

* TheTease: Erika to everyone, but especially to the [=MPs=] that plan to take her to HQ and question her. She lifts up her dress to show her legs, and hopes that they'll carry her since it has been raining. Colonel Plummer has to send several other [=MPs=] to watch those [=MPs=], and more [=MPs=] to watch those [=MPs=].

* TheTease: Erika to everyone, but especially to the MPs that plan to take her to HQ and question her. She lifts up her dress to show her legs, and hopes that they'll carry her since it has been raining. Colonel Plummer has to send several other MPs to watch those MPs, and more MPs to watch those MPs.

* TheTease: Erika to everyone.

* BatmanGambit: All this time, Colonel Plummer knew John was going out with Erika. [[spoiler:They used this to their advantage, because they know that Erika’s former Nazi lover, would come out of hiding to kill them both. They knew John would continue the relationship, and they eventually pressure him to stay in it when he doesn’t want to be with Erika anymore.]]

''A Foreign Affair'' (1948) is comedy film directed by Creator/BillyWilder comedy, starring Creator/JeanArthur, Creator/MarleneDietrich, and John Lund.

* TheVamp: Erika was the mistress to a Nazi, but has enamored John Pringle to the point where he puts her on a whitelist without really checking up on her.

[[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]

Unbeknownst to Frost, she’s also consorting with Captain John Pringle (Lund). Frost finds out that Schlütow is with an American officer, but not which one. To hide his identity as Schlütow’s lover, Pringle goes along with Frost as she tries to find the mystery man.

* RealityHasNoSubtitles: A lot of German spoken with no subtitle which generally was the custom with old films.

* FemmeFetale: An extremely light version of one, played by none other Marlene Dietrich.

**For Phoebe: While on the plane that’s overlooking Berlin, she’s asked look at the view, but she doesn’t until she finishes writing in her notes, puts all of her documents away in a specified, organized manner in a take that’s over 60 seconds, and ‘’then’’ she looks outside. This shows her as organized, meticulous, and dedicated.

* TheVamp: Erika was the mistress to a Nazi, but has enamoured John Pringle to the point where he puts her on a whitelist without really checking up on her.

Unbeknownst to Frost, she’s also consorting with Captain John Pringle (Lund). Frost finds out that Schlütow is with an American officer, but not which one. To hide his identity as Schlütow;’s lover, Pringle goes along with Frost as she tries to find the mystery man.

''A Foreign Affair'' (1948) is comedy film directed by Creator/Billy Wilder comedy, starring Creator/JeanArthur, Creator/MarleneDietrich, and John Lund.

* DefrostingIceQueen: ---> '''Phoebe Frost''': Oh, John. I’m so happy: I’m in heaven. Not that I wasn’t happy before…I was just drifting. That’s it, drifting. Drifting on a grey sea all alone. It’s not bad, but suddenly you get scared, you need another voice. So you hoist up your heart, and wait. And nobody passes by, just grey waves. Your heart gets frayed and some, lashed by the night winds and rain, so you haul it down, what’s left of it, and you resign yourself. Then, suddenly out of nowhere, comes a boat, so unexpected; all white sails on the horizon. To you, my beautiful boat.

* GlamourousWartimeSinger: It’s post-WWII, but Erika sings to all the American servicemen, much to their delight.

* PhonyCall: Type B.