Wicked City (1949 film)

Wicked City (French: Hans le marin; alternate title: The Last Port) is a 1949 French-American drama film directed by François Villiers and starring the husband-and-wife team of Jean-Pierre Aumont and Maria Montez. It was Montez's first film in Europe.[4]

Wicked City
Directed byFrançois Villiers
Written byJean-Pierre Aumont
François Villiers
Based onthe novel Hans Le Marin by Edouard Peisson
Produced byAndre Sarrut
StarringMaria Montez
Jean-Pierre Aumont
Lilli Palmer
Marcel Dalio
CinematographyJean Bourgoin
Edited byHenri Taverna
Music byJoseph Kosma
Production
company
Christina Productions
Release dates
  • 16 November 1949 (1949-11-16) (France)
  • 1951 (1951) (U.S.)[1]
Running time
76 minutes
CountriesFrance
United States
LanguageEnglish
Budget80,000 francs (US $250,000)[2]
Box office1,891,994 admissions (France)[3]

Wicked City and The Man on the Eiffel Tower were the first French-American film co-productions following World War II.[2]

Plot

Hans is a Canadian sailor docked in Marseilles who is having an affair with cabaret owner Dolores. When he is robbed and left for dead, he awakens to discover that Dolores has disappeared. He takes on a job as a nightclub bouncer and has a fling with gypsy girl Tania.

Cast
  • Jean-Pierre Aumont
  • Maria Montez
  • Lilli Palmer

Production

Aumont served with the Free French army during World War II and was wounded by shrapnel near Marseilles in 1944. While recuperating, he read the novel Hans le marin by Edouard Peisson, and in 1946 he, his wife and his brother François Villiers visited Peisson to negotiate to purchase the film rights. Aumont was to write the script, Villiers was to direct and Montez and Aumont would star. The goal was to show Montez "is an actress as well as a manikin."[2]

Andre Sarrut of Safia Productions agreed to pay the production costs of the film, up to 80,000 francs (then US$250,000). Aumont was to produce through his company with Montez, Christina Productions. Christina provided the services of Aumont, Montez and Lilli Palmer; in exchange, Christina's share would be paid off first out of American box-office receipts.[2]

Filming began in Marseilles in July 1948. Approximately 60% of the film was shot on location, with the remainder filmed at the Joinville Studios in Paris.

References
  1. "'Bitter Rice' Now on View". Los Angeles Times. Feb 8, 1951. p. A8.
  2. Thomas Jr, George (12 December 1948). "Filming in Paris: Notes on First Franco -- American Projects". New York Times. p. X6.
  3. French box office of 1949 at Box Office Story
  4. Film information at Mariamontez.org


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