The film is elegant, although it is a bit cold, without harming, however, its remarkable level. In fact, it perfectly counterbalances the expressed love of Baron Donati for Madame Louise, the unexpressed love of Madame Louise for the Baron, her pastiches and dangerous lies, the mystery that surrounds her, starting from the original title, "Madame De
", a mystery by which she likes to be surrounded. Also the love concealed under formal acts of a daily routine of the General towards Louise, his wife, is very important for the story as well as his jealousy, which is very refined, under the aspect of a "nonchalant" friendship for Baron Donati, up to the final cruelty. The lightness of music, the high rhythm of dances, the brilliant military and diplomatic uniforms, the precious toilets, all cooperates to construct a romantic but not too sweet atmosphere around passions, secrets, untrue confessions, disappointments, pains, death. Danielle Darrieux, Charles Boyer, Vittorio De Sica, in spite of their different extractions as actors, are softly melted in a plot tasting peach and lemon. Danielle Darrieux is faithful to certain roles performed by her, Charles Boyer appears to have forgotten his passionate roles as a lover and Vittorio De Sica is deprived of his humorous vein, but all of them deserve a standing ovation in my opinion.