Directed by Sam Wood, Heartbeat (1946) is a charming romantic comedy and a remake of the 1939 French film Battement de coeur. It blends a whimsical “Cinderella” premise with the lighthearted tropes of the classic Hollywood caper.
The Plot
The story follows Arlette, a young woman who escapes from a reformatory and finds herself destitute on the streets of Paris. In her desperation, she is recruited by a sophisticated but unscrupulous man named Professor Aristide, who runs a “school” for pickpockets.
During her first professional assignment at a high-society ball, Arlette attempts to steal a gold watch from a handsome young diplomat, Pierre de Roche. However, Pierre catches her in the act. Instead of turning her over to the police, he strikes a peculiar bargain: he will keep her secret if she agrees to help him with a delicate social deception involving his social circles. As Arlette is thrust into the world of the Parisian elite, she must navigate a web of lies while trying to keep her heart—and her true identity—from being discovered.
Key Information
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Director: Sam Wood
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Lead Actors:
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Ginger Rogers as Arlette
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Jean-Pierre Aumont as Pierre de Roche
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Supporting Cast: Adolphe Menjou (as Professor Aristide), Basil Rathbone, Melville Cooper, and Mikhail Rasumny.
Why It’s Notable
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Ginger Rogers’ Range: Coming off her success in musicals and dramas, Rogers displays her expert comedic timing and vulnerability as the “thief with a heart of gold.”
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Supporting Powerhouse: The film features Basil Rathbone and Adolphe Menjou, two of Hollywood’s most reliable character actors, who provide much of the film’s wit and sophistication.
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Parisian Atmosphere: Though filmed on a Hollywood backlot, the movie successfully captures the romanticized, post-war American vision of a “glamorous” Paris filled with intrigue and elegance.
Note: Fans of the “Pygmalion” trope (the student transformed by the teacher) will find a fun twist here, as Arlette’s education in crime leads her into a world where honesty is the rarest commodity of all.
