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Actors: Ginger Rogers, Jean Pierre Aumont, Basil Rathbone, Melville Cooper, Adolphe Menjou
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Heartbeat |
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Professor Aristide (Basil Rathbone) is a very intelligent and educated man with an upstanding appearance. So much so, that no one ever suspects he is running a pick pocket training school in the heart of Paris. Obviously he cannot advertise for new students in a normal manner. Instead he places an employment and then tests the perspective job seeker's honesty. This is how he meets Arlete Lafont (Ginger Rogers). Arlete is a wide eyed innocent looking girl who has no idea she is being tested. The Professor throws 10 francs on the desk then leaves the room to watch through a peephole. He sees the girl get up and retrieve something from the desk. Believing that she has taken the money, he storms into the room and demands it back. He it somewhat disappointed that she has only taken an apple. The way she lies to proclaim her innocence sells him on her talent and she is immediately enrolled as a student. Later he finds out she is a reform school escapee.
It doesn't take long for her education to pay off, or so it appears. She is sent out onto the street for her first assignment. It a very busy evening and she soon spots a rich gentleman with a beautiful pearl tie pin. Itappears that luck is in her favor as he boards a crowded bus. She follows him aboard for a bump and run making her get away into the movie theatre. As she sits to calm herself, she notices a man sitting beside her. Her heart begins to flutter as she realizes it's the victim and he is not happy. She returns the pin but he is insistent on her accompanying him home.
She enters his residence to find she has pick pocketed the ambassador (Adolphe Menjou) and it seems he has a little favor to ask. She is blackmailed into compliance. It's really not so bad as all she has to do is dress up fancy, pretend to be his niece, attend a ball, dance with a handsome man and lift his watch and show the ambassador. He buys her a beautiful gown and she looks the part as she enters the ball. She is awed by the regalia. So many important people, such beautiful dresses and fine jewels. She isn't displeased with her target either. He is a fine looking young diplomat named Pierre De Roche (Jean Pierre Aumont). The ambassador has a sneaking suspicion that is wife has a sweet thing going on with Pierre. As Arlete dances with the handsome Frenchman she really begins to enjoy herself. A little too much for her own good probably. She lifts the watch, then making excuses, she slips away. Since the watch is nothing fancy she is curious as to it's value. What could warrant such a grand scheme for such a cheap item? She opens it up to find a photo of the ambassador's wife neatly tucked inside. She quickly locates the ambassador and hands him the watch. He looks inside with satisfaction and then tells her to return it. She is floored! What did he mean, return it? Never the less, she does as she is told. When the job is complete, she is told to leave as her services are no longer needed. Heartbreaking news as she would love to dream this lifestyle.
As she exits the ball, she is stopped by Pierre. It seems he is quite smitten with her and wants to drive her home. Realizing that this will be a problem, she tries to wiggle her way out. Pierre will have none of it so she finally agrees. The drive is interesting to say the least. Pierre puts the moves on her and even kisses her. Her first real kiss! Such a wonderful night!
The party is over when she returns to her actual home, the pick pocket school. The Professor is really annoyed when he finds out she was at the ball. He thinks she is holding out but he does not know the whole story. She is promptly put out.
Pierre had asked her to meet him at the train for Geneva the next day. With no where else to go, she shows up. He coerces her onto the train to meet his little dog. He is called back off and the train leaves without him taking Arlete and Fluer away. Arlete finally makes her way back with the dog and his luggage. Pierre is thrilled until he finds out the truth about Arlete's past. He can't send her away and he really doesn't want to. He devises a plan to have Arlete marry his friend Roland LaTour (Melville Cooper) even though he loves her. A woman of such class would never make a diplomat's wife. Or would she?
--Talea, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of Heartbeat |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 1930's-1950's
Romance/Love/Hugging
Yes
Crime & Scandal
Yes
Story of
- criminals stealing from honest people
- criminal falls in love with victim
Lover is...
- criminal/bad doer
Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Profession/status:
- criminal
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- blonde
Hair type
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn straight
Body type
- (woman) ample bosom & buttocks
Events of movie makes character more...
- sensitive
Ethnicity/Nationality
- French
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Hair style
- (man) short/standard wavey
Body type
- (man) average build
How much in movie?
- 40%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- French
Main Adversary
Identity:
- general circumstances
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 90%-100%
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- France
City?
Yes
City:
- Paris
Misc setting
- fancy mansion
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
Movie makes you feel...
- concerned
Check here if B&W
Yes
Any profanity?
- None
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Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 Talea
SCHOLARS:
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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