THE RAGE OF PARIS (1938) Danielle Darrieux, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. , Mischa Auer | Comedy | B&W

The Rage of Paris is a 1938 American comedy film made by Universal Pictures. The movie was directed by Henry Koster, and written by Bruce Manning and Felix Jackson. Re-issued by Realart in 1951 re-titled 'Confessions of a Model.'

SYNOPSIS
Nicole has no job and is several weeks behind with her rent. Her solution is to try to snare a rich husband, and she enlists the help of her friend Gloria and the maitre d' to catch the eye of Bill Duncan.

In New York City, Frenchwoman Nicole de Cortillon seeks modeling work and manages to steal a name and address from a modeling agency by lying about her qualifications, but it is the wrong information. She starts undressing in the advertising office of a very puzzled Jim Trevor. When she finally realizes he is not a photographer, she storms out.

Nicole is locked out of her room by her landlady for being behind on her rent, but her friend Gloria helps her out by paying the arrears. Gloria suggests she try to snare a rich husband. Gloria is good friends with Mike, the head waiter at the ritzy Savoy Grand Hotel, so she tries to get him to hire Gloria. Mike has no openings, but mentions that he has saved $3000 to open a restaurant. He needs another $2000, so Gloria convinces him to finance a scheme to have Gloria attract the attention of Bill Duncan, a regular hotel guest who "owns half of Canada". Nicole and Gloria settle into a suite across the hall from Bill's.

The plan hits a snag when Bill's good friend Jim Trevor recognizes her. Jim demands she tell Bill the truth. She agrees, but reneges. When Jim tells Bill, Bill does not believe him, as they have both lied before to steal each other's girlfriends. Jim blackmails Nicole into dining with him and gets her to confess that she needs $3000 in front of his butler Rigley. He departs to inform Bill, but she escapes Rigley's custody and gets to Bill first. When Bill introduces Nicole to his family, Jim brings Rigley to the reception, but Bill remains unconvinced and punches Jim in the jaw. Ashamed, Nicole follows after Jim and offers to confess all, but he does not believe her. She gets into Jim's car to see if he has been injured. He then drives off with her, taking her to his isolated country retreat, where his caretaker mistakes her for his new wife.

That night, Nicole confesses to Jim that she has fallen in love with him, but he only asks her when she found out he is richer than Bill. She slips out and hitches a ride back to New York.

CAST & CREW
Danielle Darrieux as Nicole
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. as Jim Trevor
Mischa Auer as Mike
Louis Hayward as Bill Duncan
Helen Broderick as Gloria
Charles Coleman as Rigley
Samuel S. Hinds as Mr. Duncan
Nella Walker as Mrs. Duncan
Harry Davenport as Caretaker

Directed by Henry Koster
Written by Bruce Manning, Felix Jackson
Story by Bruce Manning, Felix Jackson
Produced by Buddy G. DeSylva
Cinematography Joseph A. Valentine
Edited by Bernard W. Burton
Music by Frank Skinner, Hans J. Salter, Charles Previn, Charles Henderson
Production company Universal Pictures
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date July 1, 1938
Running time 78 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $960,000

NOTES
It won the Venice Film Festival for Special Recommendation.