Search - Heartbeat on DVD

Leslie H. from NEW PRT RCHY, FL
Reviewed on 12/23/2012...

This film showcases Ginger Rogers in a great comedic role. Ginger is a runaway who manages to get enrolled in a school for pickpockets run by Basil Rathbone. She picks the wrong pocket and gets embroiled in romantic intrigue. The plot has a Cinderella flavor and the cast is marvelous with Adolphe Menjou at his most capricious, and Jean Pierre Aumont as the tres romantic interest. The plot is great, the setting is Paris, the accent is french, and this movie is a sleeper. If you like Ginger, don't miss this one!

View it again in a Heartbeat (recommended)

K. Williams | Los Angeles, CA USA | 07/08/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In this 1946 comedic role, 18-year-old Arlette Lafon (35-year old Ginger Rogers) has a Doris-Day-mixed-with-Nancy-Drew screen presence. She is lively, funny, and virtuous. Her morality makes her an obvious misfit for what will take place. Leaving reform school, Arlette joins a French pickpocket class headed by a very animated Professor Aristide (Basil Rathbone of Sherlock Holmes fame) to have room and board. With natural acting ability, she becomes a star pupil despite her desire to be honest. Unhappy with the thought of stealing, she contemplates returning to reform school. A befriended pickpocket classmate convinces her that entering a "white marriage" of convenience would prevent her from that unpleasant destiny. All she needs is money to pay for the arrangement. With such a noble goal in mind, she sets out for the French public with her newly learned craft.

The temporary success of her first heist leads to a guilty conscious and indebted service to an ambassador at a fancy ball where she meets young French diplomat Pierre La Roche (Jean Pierre Aumont) under false pretenses. After confessing her sins and goals to him, she expects him to marry her. Arlette and Pierre are obviously attracted to each other. However, he decides to sponsor a deadbeat to fill the husbandly role so as not to sully his diplomatic reputation. As she plays along with his stubbornness, Pierre's feelings grow even stronger. She even belts out a love song in a swimsuit to allure Pierre's affection. Whoever gets Arlette in the end is truly the winner.

The funny HEARTBEAT story and invigorated acting compensate for the poor B+W image quality of the DVD and the unconvincing 18-year-old claim. There are no extras but for the low price (especially when purchased used), it's an entertaining way to spend 100 minutes multiple times.

Movie quote: "Steal to stay honest? For that, I'll do it.""

Did I get the only bad copy ever made?

iheardasong | boca raton, florida United States | 01/14/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This may be a good movie; I couldn't tell because the picture/sound-quality was so bad."

Tender Tale

M. Lubrano | Westminster, CA United States | 07/14/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Most people will not be familiar with this movie in Ginger's career. However, she brings her usual professionalism and vitality to the role and make you want to cry at the happy ending."