Synopsis
Romanian-French gigolo Georges Iscovescu wishes to enter the USA. Stopped in Mexico by the quota system, he decides to marry an American, then desert her and join his old partner Anita, who's done likewise. But after sweeping teacher Emmy Brown off her feet, he finds her so sweet that love and jealousy endanger his plans.
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Cast
- Charles BoyerGeorges Iscovescu
- Olivia de HavillandEmmy Brown
- Paulette GoddardAnita Shaughnessy
- Victor FrancenVan Den Luecken
- Walter AbelInspector Hammock
- Curt BoisBonbois
- Rosemary DeCampBerta Kurz
- Eric FeldaryJosef Kurz
- Nestor PaivaFlores
- Eva PuigLupita
Recommendations
- 100
TV Guide Magazine
A touching and memorable film, this brilliant romance offers evocative performances by Boyer and de Havilland. - 83
IndieWire
[Wilder] delivered one of the finest critiques of a pre-war, isolationist U.S. committed to “America First.” - 80
The New York Times
An amazingly poignant picture, rich in humor, heart and subtle ironies. - 80
Time Out
This romantic weepie is both moving and effectively stylish. - 80
Variety
While Hold Back the Dawn is basically another European refugee yarn, scenarists Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder exercised some ingenuity and imagination and Ketty Frings' original emerges as fine celluloidia. - 80
The Observer (UK)
Smoothly orchestrated entertainment. [30 Apr 2000, p.10] - 70
Chicago Reader
Mitchell Leisen's polished direction serves this 1941 melodrama written by Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett.
