Overview
In the aftermath of war, love and deception intertwine in a city divided by history.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- sardonic
- smoky
- classic cinema night
- romantic comedy evening
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as an entertaining, sharply written romantic comedy that mixes postwar political satire with realistic observations about desire and occupation.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Phoebe's congressional morality investigation repeatedly collides with the romantic and sexual realities of occupied Berlin.
Erika's former association with a wanted war criminal and Pringle's protected relationship place intimacy within a compromised political environment.
The American congressional delegation evaluates Berlin through official regulations while encountering black markets, divided loyalties, and local survival strategies.
Erika's cafe-singer performances, especially her black-market song, turn Berlin nightlife into a stage for political and erotic hypocrisy.
Films like A Foreign Affair, and why
The Apartment
shared Billy Wilder wit, romantic entanglement, and sharply observed social comedy
Ninotchka
shared postwar setting, cynical romance, and morally complicated comedy
The More the Merrier
shared romantic rivalry, political satire, and sophisticated screwball tone
Movie Details
- Director
- Billy Wilder
- Release Date
- 1948-08-20
- Runtime
- 116 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (166)
Cast
- Jean Arthur
- Marlene Dietrich
- John Lund
- Millard Mitchell
- Peter von Zerneck
- Stanley Prager
- William Murphy
- Gordon Jones
- Freddie Steele
- Raymond Bond
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is A Foreign Affair about?
- In occupied Berlin, a moralizing congresswoman becomes entangled in the very romantic misconduct her committee came to expose.
- What is A Foreign Affair like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of A Foreign Affair as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is A Foreign Affair violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in A Foreign Affair.
- What did critics think of A Foreign Affair?
- Critics broadly regard the film as an entertaining, sharply written romantic comedy that mixes postwar political satire with realistic observations about desire and occupation.
- Which films are like A Foreign Affair?
- Films with a similar feel include The Apartment, Ninotchka, and The More the Merrier.
- How long is A Foreign Affair?
- A Foreign Affair runs 116 minutes.
- Where can I watch A Foreign Affair?
- In United States, A Foreign Affair is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
