Hollywood at Home: Love in the Afternoon

This 1957 film was directed and co-written (with I.A.L. Diamond) by Billy Wilder, and stars Gary Cooper, Audrey Hepburn and Maurice Chevalier. Filming locations included Château de Vitry in Val-de-Marne, Palais Garnier, and the Hôtel Ritz Paris.

Audrey Hepburn as Ariane Chavasse in "Love in the Afternoon."

MGM

Claude Chavasse (Chevalier) is a private detective, widowed, with one daughter, Ariane (Hepburn). Claude’s work involves investigating the infidelities of wealthy clients.

Ariane eavesdrops on a phone conversation between her father and his client “Monsieur X,” who has just found out his wife is having an affair with American business magnate Frank Flannagan (Cooper). After hearing the news “Monsieur X” says he plans to shoot Flannagan later that day. Ariane panics and contacts the authorities. The police won’t get involved until a crime has actually been committed, so Ariane decides to warn Flannagan herself.

Ariane gets to the American businessman’s hotel suite before “Monsieur X.” When the jealous husband arrives, he finds Flannagan with Ariane. The American businessman is intrigued by the mysterious young woman, who will not divulge her identity. Calling her “thin girl,” he asks her to meet him at the Ritz the next afternoon. Ariane is determined not to see Flannagan, but can’t resist, and meets him in the late afternoon the next day. She stays with him until his flight leaves that night. After he leaves, Ariane finds she has fallen in love with the American.

Flannagan returns to Paris and through a chance meeting, sees Ariane again and the two begin seeing each other every afternoon. Ariane continues to refuse to divulge her name or other personal information to Flannagan. The American decides to find out the truth about the “thin girl.” In an effort to find Ariane’s identity, Flannagan unwittingly hires her father to investigate.

Hollywood at Home: Love in the Afternoon, Saturday at 9 p.m. on PBS-HD 6.