Review #994: Golden Earrings (1947)

Title: Golden Earrings

Year: 1947

Director: Mitchell Leisen

Country: US

Language: English

Golden Earrings is a post-war romantic spy film made by Paramount Pictures and directed by Mitchell Leisen. The director entered the film industry in the 1920s, beginning in the art and costume departments. He directed his first film in 1933 with Cradle Song and became known for his skill in soap opera romance-dramas, which would often leave audiences in tears. Unfortunately his filmography is somewhat of a mixed bag; some of his films are worthwhile endeavors whereas others feel like they should have been kept on the shelf. 

On the eve of World War II English officer Ralph Denistoun (Ray Milland) is in Nazi Germany on an espionage mission to recover a poison gas formula from Prof. Krosigk. He is helped by a Roma gypsy (Marlene Dietrich)

Much of this picture has good intention, as it is partly about the gypsies' plight against the Nazi oppressors. However while watching the film it is clear that neither writers, actors or director is actually aware of the horrifying fates that awaited real gypsies in 1939, infact I'm willing to bet that they've never met a real gypsy. Dietrich's character has all the stereotypical caricatures one would expect out of an Old Hollywood picture. 

Poor cultural depictions aside, Dietrich is the main attraction of this film. Her beauty and tongue-in-cheek performance help make the picture tolerable. It's also noteworthy that she pushes typical male/female gender roles, albeit this may seem tame for people viewing this picture in 2017. If we're purely looking at this as a romance picture then I must say it is fairly well written albeit it feels a bit too slow paced and the plot is fairly predictable. 

Golden Earrings is worth a watch just to see the grand Hollywood star that is Dietrich. Do go into the film with low expectations in regards to political correctness though, as 1940's pictures had the tendency to be slightly racist when depicting other cultures. Not entirely a memorable film, but I might watch it again someday.