In1861,CountessAngelina,rulerofBergamoinsoutheasternEurope,isatalosswheninvadedbyaHungarianarmy.HerlookalikeancestressFrancesca,whos*edasimilarsituation300year*efore,comestolifefromaportraittohelpherdescendant.*omplicatingfactor:thenewlywedcountessfeelsstrangelydrawntothehandsomeHungarianinvader,ColonelTeglash,whocommandeersthecastletogivehi*haustedsoldiersarest,butlate*llsinlovewiththeowneroftheplace.ThefilmwasLubitsch'sfirstmusicalprojectsincedirectingTheMerryWidowforMGMin1934.Itprovedtobehislastfilm.Eightdaysafterprincipalphotographybegan,hediedofaheartattack,andOttoPreminger,whohadcompletedARoyalScandalwhenLubitschwasforcedtowithdrawduetoillnessin1944,tookoverthereins.HestipulatedsolescreencreditshouldgotoLubitsch"asamarkofrespectandadmirationforthedepartedmaster."
