Interlude (1957)

A young and naive American girl (June Allyson) travels to Germany for work where she becomes involved with a worldly symphony conductor (Rossano Brazzi) who she later discovers is married to an unstable woman (Marianne Koch A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS) with mental and emotional problems. Made during director Douglas Sirk's most creative period, this film doesn't get as much attention as his other Universal melodramas. Granted, it's nowhere near his great works like ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS, WRITTEN ON THE WIND or IMITATION OF LIFE but it's an engrossing, interesting film. The film is part Henry James (DAISY MILLER, Allyson's unsophisticated, guileless American girl ripe for European "corruption") and part Charlotte Bronte (JANE EYRE the romance with a married man with an insane wife). Koch's loony wife is by far the most interesting character and one wishes her character had been developed more. This was the German born Sirk's first film made in Germany since he emigrated to America and I don't think I've seen Germany look so beautiful and lovingly photographed (by William Daniels in CinemaScope). Based on a story by James M. Cain. With Jane Wyatt, Francoise Rosay, Keith Andes and Frances Bergen.