In 1946 Carole starred in the historical drama A Scandal In Paris. Carole is Loretta, a sexy showgirl who is hopelessly in love with a criminal in the early 1800's. Fox loaned her to United Artists to make the movie. George Sanders plays the charming thief Francois Eugène Vidocq who steals Loretta's ruby garter and breaks her heart. The cast includes Signe Hasso, Gene Lockhart, and Akim Tamiroff. In the film Carole gives a sultry performance singing "Flame Song". Censors almost cut that scene because at the beginning of the song she appears to be nude behind a screen. A Scandal In Paris was directed by Douglas Sirk. The costumes were designed by Norma Koch who became one of Carole's good friends.
Filming started on October 8, 1945 and ended on November 26. In October 1945 United Artists threw a party to promote A Scandal In Paris. The studio also sent perfumed garters to two hundred reporters. On November 14, 1945 a stalker broke into Carole's dressing room and tried to attack her. The man was arrested and sent to a mental institution. A Scandal In Paris was released on July 19, 1946. The tag line for the movie was "Every man has his price...and every woman pays it". It's original title was "The Story of Vidocq" and in England it was called "Thieves' Holiday". A Scandal In Paris was one of the biggest hits of Carole's career. Although she only had a supporting role many critics said it was her finest performances.
Silver Screen magazine said of Carole's performance "In A Scandal In Paris Carole Landis is as hotcha a babe as the Early 19th Century period of the story and modern censorship would permit. She does a song and dance number all about having a flame too hot to handle that just got by the Johnston office. George Sanders and Signe Hasso are costarred with Carole. It's an intriguing triangle, with Signe as the good girl, winning a reformed George from Carole, toast of the Marseilles cafes, who pays for her sins with death in A Scandal In Paris."
* A Scandal In Paris is available on DVD
Francois Eugène Vidocq: "There's no fool so dangerous as a fool with brains."
Loretta: "Except a woman so foolish as to fall in love."
