Love in the Afternoon

Play trailer

Love in the Afternoon

1957

2h 10m

Romance

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

79%

Tomatometer

28 Reviews

78%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

French private investigator Claude Chavasse (Maurice Chevalier) discovers his client's wife has been having an affair with an American playboy, Frank Flannagan (Gary Cooper). When the client decides to kill Frank, Claude's sheltered daughter, Ariane (Audrey Hepburn), throws off the plan and saves his life. The two are instantly attracted to one another, but Ariane doesn't reveal her name. Frank then hires Claude to locate Ariane, unaware he has sent him on a mission to find his own daughter.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

A degree of sweetness and innocence is maintained despite some remarkably lewd jokes.

Jan 11, 2019

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

The production holds enchantment and delight in substantial quantity.

Feb 3, 2009

Full Review

Don Druker

Chicago Reader

As Andrew Sarris says, not without its cruelties, but not without its beauties as well.

Aug 15, 2007

Full Review

Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

It’s not Gary Cooper’s fault that Billy Wilder wanted Cary Grant here so very badly, and that icon’s connotations are hard to shake in how the character has been conceived. But neither does Cooper seem particularly comfortable with what he brings to it.

Rated: 2.5/5

Jul 7, 2025

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The film mostly works due to several eccentric touches and a good-hearted performance by Maurice Chevalier.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 6, 2025

Full Review

Jennifer O’Callaghan

PopMatters

Love in the Afternoon deserves credit for its artistic merit but also for serving as the beginning of a beautiful affair between Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond.

Sep 12, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Emily S

This film has not aged well. Watching Gary Cooper's character, a man who is 30+ years her senior and a well known sexual predator, verbally and physically attempt to coerce the young Audrey Hepburn's character into a sexual relationship with him is absolutely cringe worthy. It's appalling that almost 70 years ago this storyline was acceptable, and that the character is not the villain.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

08/20/25

Full Review

Edoarda P

It is a marvellous movie; sentimental but funny at the same time. There is no vulgarity whatsoever. Sweet story of love between a young girl and a middle-aged successful businessman. But the age difference does not spoil the fun of the love story, which is beautiful. Edoarda Paolini

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/29/24

Full Review

X O

Wow. What a film. Gary Cooper is really not a great actor, but Audrey Hepburn ... wow. What class. And the ending is truly amazing. Truly. Wow. I have to see more of Bulky Wilder's work. It's a shame there is so little class left in wooing someone, man or woman. Classy stuff. Really nice work.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Clever plot and has some witty moments.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

farah r

Not one of Audrey Hepburn's best films, Love in the Afternoon offers a few moments of pleasure but not an overall pleasant experience.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

10% rating. Did not find this film interesting. I was rather bored during this film.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Billy Wilder

Director

Audrey Hepburn

Ariane Chavasse

Gary Cooper

Frank Flannagan

Maurice Chevalier

Claude Chavasse

Van Doude

Michel

John McGiver

Monsieur X

The Other Woman

26%

57%

The Other Woman

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Other Woman

Hands Across the Table

80%

71%

Hands Across the Table

Watchlist

Magic in the Moonlight

52%

45%

Magic in the Moonlight

Watchlist

Jack & Sarah

74%

79%

Jack & Sarah

Watchlist

Good Advice

29%

49%

Good Advice

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

French private investigator Claude Chavasse (Maurice Chevalier) discovers his client's wife has been having an affair with an American playboy, Frank Flannagan (Gary Cooper). When the client decides to kill Frank, Claude's sheltered daughter, Ariane (Audrey Hepburn), throws off the plan and saves his life. The two are instantly attracted to one another, but Ariane doesn't reveal her name. Frank then hires Claude to locate Ariane, unaware he has sent him on a mission to find his own daughter.

Director: Billy Wilder
Producer: Billy Wilder
Screenwriter: Billy Wilder, I.A.L. Diamond
Production Co: Billy Wilder Productions
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 21, 2016
Runtime: 2h 10m

Most Popular at Home Now