It Is Foreign To Call FOREIGN AFFAIR "A Romantic Comedy"

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In the opening scene
of this 1948 film,
you see the actual ruins
of World War II Berlin.

The airplane,
whose shadow is visible,
is transporting a fact-finding
Congressional committee.

There will be no shortage
of laughter or romance
but describing
FOREIGN AFFAIR
as a Romantic Comedy
is like describing the Beatles
as a Rock n' Roll band.

They are so much more than that
and  Billy Wilder's 
FOREIGN AFFAIR
is so much more than
a funny romantic
triangle.

Heaping praise on everything
about this movie
upon its 1948 release,
the New York Times'
Bowsley Crother
alludes to the 
lead actors
in a war-torn environment
where the blood is still wet
but everything is shot
in Black and White:

Particularly, their interest is in how
human beings behave when confronted
by other human beings—especially those
of the opposite sex. 
And their logical conclusion
is that, granted attractions back and forth,
most people—despite regulations
and even differences in language
and politics—are likely to do
toward one another that which
comes naturally.

 If this film were made by someone
other than  Billy Wilder–
who escaped from Nazi Germany–
the reflection in the window
would clearly show the face
of Phoebe Frost as 
portrayed by
 Jean Arthur.

***

IMDB  accurately describes
the story line:

In occupied Berlin, an army captain is torn
between an ex-Nazi cafe singer
and the U.S. congresswoman
investigating her.

I will let you guess which role
is played by  Marlene Dietrich.

Here are the lyrics
to one of the songs:

Want to buy some illusions,
Slightly used, second hand?
They were lovely illusions,
Reaching high, built on sand.
They had a touch of paradise,
A spell you can't explain:
For in this crazy paradise,
You are in love with pain.
Want to buy some illusions,
Slightly used, just like new?
Such romantic illusions -
And they're all about you.
I sell them all for a penny,
They make pretty souvenirs.
Take my lovely illusions -
Some for laughs, some for tears.

Maybe the best thing to be said
about FOREIGN AFFAIR
is that it was denounced
on the floor of
the House of Representatives
and the Army banned the film
from being screened in Germany.

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