Gary Cooper

MOROCCO

Paramount-Publix Corp., 1930.  Directed by Josef  von Sternberg.  Camera:  Lee Garmes.  With Gary Cooper, Marlene Dietrich, Adolphe Menjou, Ullrich Haupt, Juliette Compton, Francis McDonald, Albert Conti, Eve Southern, Michael Visaroff, Paul Porcasi, Emile Chautard.

Click for larger image

Click for larger image

Tom Brown, a devil-may-care American Legionnaire and ruthless in his treatment of women, is singled out for attention by cabaret singer Amy Jolly despite the clamor of other suitors, among them debonair man-of-the-world Kennington.  Surreptitiously she arranges a rendezvous with Tom in her apartment, where he finds her embittered with life and scornful of men, though hypnotically attractive.

He leaves abruptly and goes into the street to meet an officer's wife, but Amy, intrigued by him, follows and interrupts their interview.  The woman urges the street beggars to attack Amy, but Tom defends her, and he is arrested and assigned to a dangerous mission.

Learning that Kennington has offered her wealth and happiness, Tom elects to remain at a desert outpost after accomplishing his mission.  Amy hears that he is wounded and goes to the post, accompanied by Kennington; realizing their love, Kennington offers to aid Tom in deserting the Legion.  Tom, however, tells Amy that if she loves him, she must be prepared to be a good soldier.

As he marches with his column into the desert, Amy joins the ragged wives and sweethearts who follow in the trail of the departing soldiers.

American Film Institute Catalog

Additional photos courtesy of Rikke and Joe