Temptation

Temptation is a 1946 American film noir thriller film directed by Irving Pichel and starring Merle Oberon, George Brent, Charles Korvin and Paul Lukas. The film was based on Robert Smythe Hichens's 1909 novel Bella Donna. Other film adaptations of the novel were produced in 1915, 1923 and 1934. Plot In the 1890s, a London courtesan snares a loving but naive Egyptologist, marries him and moves to Egypt. She quickly becomes bored and embarks on an affair with Mamhoud Baroudi. She falls in love with him, and they plot to kill her husband. Cast Merle Oberon as Ruby George Brent as Nigel Armine Charles Korvin as Mahoud Baroudi Paul Lukas as Sir Meyer Isaacson Lenore Ulric as Marie Arnold Moss as Ahmed Effendi Robert Capa as Hamza Aubrey Mather as Dr. Harding Ludwig Stössel as Dr. Mueller André Charlot as Prof. Dupont Suzanne Cloutier as Yvonne Dupont Gloria Lloyd as Jean McCormick Production The film was the first that Edward Small produced after the termination of his long contract with United Artists, and the first to be filmed at Universal under the merger with International Pictures that formed the short-lived United World Pictures. Small bought the rights to the novel in 1941, intending it as a vehicle for Ilona Massey, who had just appeared in International Lady for him. He wished to produce the film for United Artists, but other projects took priority. Over a five-year period, there were several near-starts and postponements. Small almost managed to begin production in February 1946, but there was not enough studio space.