Love in the Afternoon

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Love in the Afternoon

1957

2h 10m

Romance

Comedy

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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.

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Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

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

Jan 11, 2019

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Variety Staff

Variety

The production holds enchantment and delight in substantial quantity.

Feb 3, 2009

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Don Druker

Chicago Reader

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

Aug 15, 2007

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Audience Member

Clever plot and has some witty moments.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

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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

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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

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Audience Member

Very dated humor in its portrayal of a young girl falling for an older, rich man. The gags are hammy, and Gary Cooper looked old and ill and totally miscast. Also overly long. Only worth watching for Audrey Hepburn's usual magic onscreen.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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Billy Wilder

Director

Audrey Hepburn

Ariane Chavasse

Gary Cooper

Frank Flannagan

Maurice Chevalier

Claude Chavasse

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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

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