The Magnificent Fraud

The Magnificent Fraud

Directed by	Robert Florey
Screenplay by	Gilbert Gabriel Walter Ferris
Based on	"Caviar for His Excellency" (short story) by Charles G. Booth
Produced by	Harlan Thompson
Starring	Akim Tamiroff Lloyd Nolan Mary Boland Patricia Morison
Cinematography	William C. Mellor
Edited by	James Smith
Production company	Paramount Pictures
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	July 21, 1939 (1939-07-21) (United States)
Running time	78 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The Magnificent Fraud is a 1939 American crime film directed by Robert Florey and starring Akim Tamiroff, Lloyd Nolan, Mary Boland and Patricia Morison.

Plot

Akim Tamiroff plays an actor performing in a nameless Latin American country who is pressed into service when the president is fatally injured by a bomb. Impersonating the president, the actor balances the pleasures and temptations of office, dangerous palace intrigue, and his duty to the people of the country.

The plot is identical to the 1988 Richard Dreyfuss film Moon over Parador; both are based on a short story by Charles G. Booth called "Caviar for His Excellency".

Parts of the film were shot in Balboa Park in San Diego.

Cast

Akim Tamiroff as Jules LaCroix / President Alvarado
Lloyd Nolan as Sam Barr
Mary Boland as Mme. Geraldine Genet
Patricia Morison as Claire Hill
Ralph Forbes as Harrison Todd
Steffi Duna as Carmelita
Ernest Cossart as Duval
George Zucco as Dr. Luis Virgo
Robert Warwick as General Pablo Hernandez
Frank Reicher as Mendietta Garcia
Robert Middlemass as Morales
Abner Biberman as Ruiz
Donald Gallaher as Dr. Diaz

Production

George Raft had meant to play the lead but he refused the part so Lloyd Nolan replaced him. This had also happened on St Louis Blues. The disagreement led to Raft and Paramount parting ways.^[1]