The Magnificent Lie (1931 film)

The Magnificent Lie
The Magnificent Lie
Directed by	Berthold Viertel
Screenplay by	Vincent Lawrence; Leonard Merrick; Samson Raphaelson
Starring	Ruth Chatterton; Ralph Bellamy; Stuart Erwin; Françoise Rosay; Sam Hardy; Charles Boyer; Tyler Brooke
Cinematography	Charles Lang
Music by	Karl Hajos; Rudolph G. Kopp; John Leipold
Production; company	Paramount Pictures
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	July 25, 1931;
Running time	81 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The Magnificent Lie is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by Berthold Viertel and written by Vincent Lawrence, Leonard Merrick and Samson Raphaelson. The film stars Ruth Chatterton, Ralph Bellamy, Stuart Erwin, Françoise Rosay, Sam Hardy, Charles Boyer and Tyler Brooke. The film was released on July 25, 1931, by Paramount Pictures.^[1]^[2] It was based on Merrick's novel Laurels and the Lady.^[3]

Plot[edit]

Recovering from a World War I head wound, soldier Bill Childers is paid a hospital visit by Rosa Duchene, a renowned French singer and actress who is contributing to the war effort. It is love at first sight, but Bill does not see her again for 12 years, during which time his combat injury has left him almost totally blind.

In the lumber business with partner Elmer Graham, word comes that the famous Rosa is coming to town to perform. Bill excitedly brings her flowers, but is duped by two French actors into believing that another woman, known as Poll, is actually Rosa.

Bill goes permanently blind and the haughty Rosa has no interest in him. Poll falls for Bill, but during her impersonation of the other woman, Bill recognizes their disparity in height. He is angered by her deception, he angrily leaves. An auto accident results in a serious leg injury for Poll but the sudden restoration of Bill's eyesight. Both agree to give their relationship one more try.

Cast[edit]

Ruth Chatterton as Poll
Ralph Bellamy as Bill Childers
Stuart Erwin as Elmer Graham
Françoise Rosay as Rosa Duchêne
Sam Hardy as Larry
Charles Boyer as Jacques
Tyler Brooke as Pierre LeCoeur
Tyrell Davis as Clarence
Jean Del Val as Stage Manager

References[edit]

^ Hal Erickson (2015). "The-Magnificent-Lie - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes - NYTimes.com". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 20, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
^ "The Magnificent Lie (1931) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
^ "Ruth Chatterton in The Magnificent Lie At The Hippodrome". The Sacramento Bee. July 25, 1931. p. 19. Retrieved October 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

External links[edit]

The Magnificent Lie at the American Film Institute Catalog
The Magnificent Lie at IMDb

This 1930s drama film-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] Hal Erickson (2015). "The-Magnificent-Lie - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes - NYTimes.com". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 20, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2015.

[2] "The Magnificent Lie (1931) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 19, 2015.

[3] "Ruth Chatterton in The Magnificent Lie At The Hippodrome". The Sacramento Bee. July 25, 1931. p. 19. Retrieved October 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

[1]

[2]

[3]