The Rage of Paris

Clever, charming and fresh off the boat from France, Nicole de Cortillon (Danielle Darrieux) desperately needs a job. Faking her way into a modeling agency, she heads off for her first assignment with high hopes. Unfortunately, she has the wrong address and strips for a risque photo shoot, mistaking businessman Jim Trevor (Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.) for the photographer. Mortified and still penniless, she is rescued by her friend, Gloria Patterson (Helen Broderick), who concocts a scheme to marry her off to a rich man.

They target wealthy Canadian Bill Duncan (Louis Hayward) with the help of Gloria's old pal Mike Lebedovich (Mischa Auer). To win the affluent man's heart, Mike invests his savings in a makeover for Nicole. The plan works, and the couple get engaged. However, Jim Trevor (who happens to be Bill's best friend) meets Nicole again and instantly sees through the ruse. Determined to save the unwary groom-to-be from the wicked gold digger, he risks getting snared himself.

Son of the silent film legend, dashing Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. appeared in a streak of box-office hits in the 1930s, including Scarlet Dawn (1932), Captured (1933), Little Caesar (1931), Catherine The Great (1934), The Prisoner Of Zenda (1937) and the acclaimed adventure classic, Gunga Din (1939). Enjoying a career that spanned decades, the actor also starred in Angels Over Broadway (1940), Sinbad The Sailor (1947), The Fighting O'Flynn (1949), Ghost Story (1981) and many more.

A star of French cinema before making her international debut in the renowned Mayerling (1936), Danielle Darrieux returned to Europe after appearing in The Rage of Paris. She played the title role in Madame de' (1953), considered her best performance, and in 2002 played Catherine Deneuve's mother in the film hit, 8 femmes.

• comedy