Temptation (1946)

Temptation (1946)

„Temptation“ is a 1946 film noir thriller film directed by Irving Pichel. The screenplay by Robert Thoeren is based on a 1911 play by James B. Fagan, which in turn is based on the 1909 novel „Bella Donna“ by Robert Hichens.

In 1900 in Cairo, police chief Ahmed Effendi questions wealthy socialite Ruby Chepstow Armine, without informing her husband Nigel Armine.

Later that afternoon, Ruby takes Nigel’s best friend, Sir Meyer Isaacson, to her garden to ask for his help, and relates the events of the last three years.

Meyer interrupts a dinner between Ruby and Nigel, and exposes Ruby as a gold-digger. So, Ruby decides to leave London, but her devoted maid Marie convinces her to try again. That same night, Ruby encounters Nigel and when he proposes, and Ruby accepts. After marrying, they move to Egypt, where Nigel is searching for the tomb of Ramses V.

Ruby is initially delighted with the exotic surroundings. One evening at a dinner party, a bored Ruby notices the distress of a young guest, Yvonne Dupont. She has unwittingly gotten involved in an innocent flirtation with a young man who is now blackmailing her over letters she wrote to him. Ruby offers to intercede and upon meeting the suave Mahmoud Baroudi, quickly sees through his proclamations of sincerity, yet gets him to agree to destroy Yvonne’s letters.

Ruby becomes involved with Baroudi. Soon, even the faithful Marie is disgusted by Ruby’s flagrant behavior. Panicked and guilt-ridden, Ruby breaks with Baroudi, yet remains obsessed with the playboy.

When Nigel returns he says nothing about Ruby’s distracted mood, which is exacerbated when she reads in the newspaper that Baroudi is publicly escorting American heiress Jean McCormick.

Ruby and begins seeing Baroudi again, but Baroudi grows restless after quickly spending all the money gambling. Baroudi observes that should Nigel suddenly meet with an abrupt end, Ruby would be wealthy.

During the unveiling ceremony for the Ramses tomb, Ruby recognizes Baroudi’s servant as one of the attendants, and realizes he has poisoned Nigel's coffee, but remains silent. During the ceremony, Nigel collapses and the attending physician, Dr. Harding, is unable to diagnose his ailment.

Ruby goes to Baroudi only to find him with another woman. Ruby protests that she cannot endure watching Nigel suffer, but Baroudi points out that while he cannot be connected with the poisoning, she can easily be implicated.

Overcome with remorse, Ruby tells Baroudi that Nigel is dead. When Baroudi orders drinks to celebrate, Ruby, realizing that Baroudi will soon want to rid himself of her, uses the poison on him and watches him die.

Back in the present, in the Villa Bella Donna garden, Ruby finishes her story, explaining that since Baroudi's death, she has lived in complete fidelity to Nigel. Meyer is uneasy with Ruby's confidences and remains skeptical of her self-proclaimed reformation.

Later that evening, Ruby writes an entire confession and privately gives it to Meyer to give to Nigel after she turns herself in to Ahmed the next day. Some days later at Ruby's funeral, Ahmed meets with Meyer to inquire about the likelihood that she died accidentally in an unexpected rockslide while taking a walk on the night of her confession. Meyer assures him that it was accidental and although he hands over Ruby's confession, he pleads for him to reveal nothing to Nigel. Ahmed agrees and returns the note, which Meyer destroys.

Cast:

• Merle Oberon – Ruby
• George Brent – Nigel Armine
• Charles Korvin – Mahoud Baroudi
• Paul Lukas – Sir Meyer Isaacson
• Lenore Ulric – Marie
• Arnold Moss – Ahmed Effendi
• Robert Capa – Hamza
• Aubrey Mather – Dr. Harding
• Ludwig Stössel – Dr. Mueller
• André Charlot – Prof. Dupont
• Suzanne Cloutier – Yvonne Dupont
• Gloria Lloyd Roberts – Jean McCormick
• Samir Rizkallah – Abdullah
• John Alban – Banquet Guest
• William A. Boardway – Banquet Guest
• Jack Deery – Banquet Guest
• Ella Ethridge – Banquet Guest
• J.C. Fowler – Banquet Guest
• Jack W. Johnston – Banquet Guest
• Eric Mayne – Banquet Guest
• Bobbie Hale – Coachman
• George David – Conductor
• John Eldredge – Don Gibbs
• Eddie Abdo – Egyptian Policeman
• Ilka Grüning – Frau Mueller
• Egon Brecher – Ibrahim
• George M. Carleton – Mr. McCormick
• Mary Young – Mrs. McCormick
• George Humbert – Mustapha Pasha
• Nick Thompson – Native Waiter
• Rouhia Bey – Oriental Dancer
• Fred Essler – Pepito
• Tom Stevenson – Photographer
• Jean Ransome – Receptionist
• Gavin Muir – Smith-Parrington
• Reginald Sheffield – Wickersham

„Temptation“ (dt. Versuchung, Verlockung) ist ein Film-Noir-Thriller von 1946 unter der Regie von Irving Pichel. Das Drehbuch von Robert Thoeren basiert auf einem Theaterstück von James B. Fagan aus dem Jahr 1911, das wiederum auf dem Roman „Bella Donna“ von Robert Hichens aus dem Jahr 1909 beruht.

Im Jahr 1900 verhört der Polizeichef Ahmed Effendi in Kairo die wohlhabende Ruby Chepstow Armine, ohne ihren Ehemann Nigel Armine zu informieren.

Später am Nachmittag holt Ruby Nigels besten Freund, Sir Meyer Isaacson, in ihren Garten, um ihn um Hilfe zu bitten, und erzählt ihm die Ereignisse der letzten drei Jahre.