Armand Bernard Movies

This German musical epic is based on Greek mythology and centers upon the tale of Alcmene who yearns for her husband who has gone to fight a war. The trouble begins when Jupiter is smitten by her mortal beauty and comes down to Earth in human form to seduce her. Though strongly tempted, she remains steadfast to her husband when the god drinks too much liquor and ends up unconscious and unable to have her. Suddenly Juno, his wife, angrily descends and drags her wayward spouse back to Olympus. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Relying on sexual encounters to maintain interest yet trying for a literary veneer, this is another semi-erotic drama by director Luis Saslavsky. Lina (Belinda Lee) is a prostitute who has attracted the romantic ardor of two half-brothers. She eventually decides to marry one of them but soon their relationship deteriorates. Underneath it all, Lina is not yet convinced that she is loved for herself -- and her days as a prostitute come back to haunt her relationship. As time goes on, however, she comes to realize that one of the brothers is honestly in love with her. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

During the 1814 Congress in Vienna, the crowned heads of Europe gather together to decide the shape (and fate) of the continent (which would hold -- with some serious cracks -- for exactly 100 years) and devise a strategy for dealing with Napoleon. The ordinary Austrians chafe at the cost of hosting these dignitaries, while the dignitaries find some of the efforts at entertaining them well-intentioned but absurd; the Russian czar Alexander (Willy Fritsch), for instance, doesn't understand why anyone would think he came all the way to Vienna to watch a Russian ballet. Meanwhile, the Austrian prince chancellor Metternich (Conrad Veidt) hopes to keep the Czar away from the congressional table by diverting him with a bevy of beautiful women. But Alexander is one step ahead of Metternich; the Russian leader has engaged the services of an exact double, Oralski (also played by Fritsch), to fulfill his least important social obligations. Into this game of political deception comes glove-maker Christel Weinzinger (Lilian Harvey), whose efforts at greeting the dignitaries (and promoting her shop) leave her mistaken for an anarchist, until the Czar -- advised of her beauty -- intercedes on her behalf. She ends up being romanced by both the Russian ruler and his double, until Metternich's intrigues and Napoleon's distant machinations combine to bring the focus back to official events. Filmed in German, French, and English-language versions, Der Kongress Tanzt was a worldwide success, and one of Harvey's most popular films. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide

Fra Diavolo is based on the 1830 comic opera by Daniel Auber. Tino Pattiera plays the title character, based on a real-life Italian bandit who disguised himself as a Marquis to divest the wealthy and famous of their valuables undetected. The original Eugene Scribe libretto has been altered several times over the past 170 years, depending on the political mood of the times: in this version, Diavolo is no mere outlaw but the Robin Hood-like leader of a band of revolutionaries, bent on toppling the rotting royalty. He disguises himself as a royal ambassador, intercepts an important message from the King, and successfully mounts his revolution, with his sweetheart Anita (Madeleine Breville) at his side. Surprisingly, this Fra Diavolo is far less faithful to its source to the more famous Hollywood version of 1933, which starred Laurel and Hardy and Dennis King and was released in most areas as The Devil's Brother. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A play by Paul Gavault and Robert Charvay was the source for L'Enfant du Miracle (Miracle Child). In order to inherit a fortune, widow Blanche Montel must produce the child she claims to have had by her late husband. Of course, there is no such child, but that doesn't stop Montel from seeking out a likely candidate for fatherhood. With ten months to spare, our heroine tries her best to get pregnant, but it's not as easy as she thought. Meanwhile, the village clerk keeps a diligent watch on Montel so that she won't skip town -- and her unpaid debts -- without delivering the requisite baby. The music in L'Enfant du Miracle was composed by director Jean Renoir. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide