The Magnificent Fraud

The Magnificent Fraud
Directed byRobert Florey
Screenplay byGilbert Gabriel
Walter Ferris
Based on"Caviar for His Excellency" (short story)
by Charles G. Booth
Produced byHarlan Thompson
StarringAkim Tamiroff
Lloyd Nolan
Mary Boland
Patricia Morison
CinematographyWilliam C. Mellor
Edited byJames Smith
Production
company
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • July 21, 1939 (1939-07-21) (United States)
Running time
78 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Magnificent Fraud is a 1939 American crime film directed by Robert Florey and starring Akim Tamiroff, Lloyd Nolan, Mary Boland and Patricia Morison.

Plot

Akim Tamiroff plays an actor performing in a nameless Latin American country who is pressed into service when the president is fatally injured by a bomb. Impersonating the president, the actor balances the pleasures and temptations of office, dangerous palace intrigue, and his duty to the people of the country.

The plot is identical to the 1988 Richard Dreyfuss film Moon over Parador; both are based on a short story by Charles G. Booth called "Caviar for His Excellency".

Parts of the film were shot in Balboa Park in San Diego.

Cast

Production

George Raft had meant to play the lead but he refused the part so Lloyd Nolan replaced him. This had also happened on St Louis Blues. The disagreement led to Raft and Paramount parting ways.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ Vagg, Stephen (February 9, 2020). "Why Stars Stop Being Stars: George Raft". Filmink.


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