Le Bonheur (1934)

An anarchist (Charles Boyer) attempts to assassinate a film star (Gaby Morlay) as a political act. But during his trial, she pleads for his life and thus begins an obsession with each other on both sides. Based on the play by Henri Bernstein (which Boyer had performed on the Paris stage) and directed by Marcel L'Herbier. This very strange love story is like the darker side of something like NOTTING HILL. It takes awhile before you're aware of what direction the film is taking but by the time it reaches its conclusion, it's made the far fetched believable. Morlay (who reminds me of Gloria Swanson) is wonderful as a vain movie star and gives an ambiguous performance so that you're never quite sure of her sincerity and Boyer is also excellent. In spite of its darkness, it remains an incredibly romantic movie. The film is quite bold in its depiction of a gay man (Michel Simon as Morlay's manager) and his boyfriend (Robert Colette), something you would never see in a Hollywood film in 1934. With Paulette Dubost and Jaque Catelain.