That Lady in Ermine

That Lady in Ermine

Year: 1948

Runtime: 89 mins

Language: English

Directors: Otto Preminger, Ernst Lubitsch

ComedyRomanceFantasyMusic

A lively gay musical comedy set in 1861, when the newly‑married Countess Angelina governs a tiny Italian principality that is suddenly overrun by a charismatic Hungarian army. From a centuries‑old portrait, her daring ancestor Francesca—who saved the realm three hundred years earlier—steps into the present to guide her. Amid the chaos, the countess finds herself irresistibly drawn to the attractive invader, adding a deliciously spicy twist to the political showdown.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – That Lady in Ermine (1948)

Explore the full timeline and setting of That Lady in Ermine (1948). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1861

The story unfolds in 1861, a mid-19th century European setting where regional power struggles encroach on a northern Italian fortress. A wedding night raid by Hungarian forces creates immediate danger, while the past is pulled into the present through a 16th-century flashback. The time period anchors themes of loyalty, risk, and shifting romantic loyalties in a volatile era.

Location

Bergamo, Northern Italy (near the Swiss border)

Located in Bergamo, northern Italy near the Swiss border, the castle fortress serves as the film’s central stage. The ancestral gallery within comes alive with portraits, turning history into a living backdrop for the present. The looming threat of Hungarian hussars during the wedding night heightens the castle’s sense of peril and romance.

🏰 Castle 🇮🇹 Italian setting 🗺️ Northern Italy

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:27

Main Characters – That Lady in Ermine (1948)

Meet the key characters of That Lady in Ermine (1948), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Angelina (Betty Grable)

Countess Angelina, ruler of Bergamo, mirrors her ancestor Francesca and navigates love, duty, and peril on her wedding night. Though drawn to Colonel Teglash, she remains faithful to her husband Mario and to her vows. Her courage and resolve drive the story as she balances desire with loyalty.

👑 Protagonist 💫 Loyal 💃 Charismatic

Francesca (Betty Grable)

Francesca is Angelina’s ancestor who saved the castle in the 16th century, appearing in the living gallery of portraits. She bravely confronted a tyrannical duke, leaving him slain and the fortress protected. Her legacy echoes through time, shaping Angelina’s choices and the castle’s fate.

⚔️ Ancestor 🕊️ Resourceful 🗝️ Brave

Colonel Teglash (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.)

Hungarian hussar commander who leads the attack on the castle but develops a conflicted affection for Angelina. He admires her strength, values her loyalty, and struggles between duty and desire. His presence catalyzes the romantic and dramatic tension of the story.

🎖️ Antagonist-turned-romantic 🧭 Charismatic 💔 Torn

Count Mario (Cesar Romero)

Angelina’s husband, who flees on their wedding night and later disguises himself as a gypsy. His capture and subsequent fate intertwine with Teglash’s mercy and Angelina’s choices. He embodies the personal stakes of marital commitment amid political danger.

🤵 Husband 🕵️ Mysterious 🧭 Cunning

Luigi (Harry Davenport)

Angelina’s loyal servant who unveils Francesca’s past to Teglash, acting as a bridge between the two eras. He is practical and perceptive, providing crucial insight into the castle’s history. His presence underscores themes of loyalty and the transmission of memory.

🧎‍♂️ Servant 🗣️ Informant 🤝 Loyal

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:27

Major Themes – That Lady in Ermine (1948)

Explore the central themes of That Lady in Ermine (1948), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕰️ Time and Love Across Centuries

Time blurs across generations as Angelina’s present echoes Francesca’s past. Portraits coming to life and dreamlike sequences link romance, duty, and courage across centuries. The narrative suggests that past actions shape present choices, binding lovers to a shared fate.

💖 Love vs Duty

Romance presses against marriage vows as desire challenges fidelity. Angelina’s attraction to Colonel Teglash tests her commitment to Mario and the promises of wedlock. Teglash’s mix of authority and genuine feeling complicates the line between duty and longing, prompting a reevaluation of personal autonomy within an arranged union.

🗝️ Secrets and Power

The castle embodies secrets where Francesca’s past deeds live on as living memories. The dagger, the clock, and the dream sequences symbolize power, danger, and transformation that drive present conflicts. The past’s actions determine the castle’s fate and influence current choices.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:27

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Whimsical Historical Romances with a Fantastical Twist like That Lady in Ermine

Where the pressures of history give way to magical matchmaking and musical charm.If you enjoyed the charming blend of history, romance, and fantasy in 'That Lady in Ermine', explore more movies like it. This thread features similar stories where charismatic characters in historical settings find their love lives magically complicated or simplified, often accompanied by music and a guaranteed happy ending.

whimsicalromanticplayfulfantasticalmusicalcharmingdreamlikehistorical

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically center on a protagonist, often a noble or artistocratic figure, facing a historical dilemma—war, an arranged marriage, societal pressure—that is cleverly resolved through supernatural intervention. A ghost, a wish, or a magical artifact enters the scene, creating comedic chaos and guiding the characters toward a romantic resolution that defies the gravity of their initial situation.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together because they share a unique mix: a historical backdrop, a central romantic conflict, and a whimsical, fantastical element that lightens the drama. The tone is consistently playful, the pacing is steady, and the outcome is joyfully predictable, offering a comforting and delightful escape.

Movies with Ancestral Guidance and Romantic Entanglements like That Lady in Ermine

When spirits from the past return to meddle in the love lives of the present.Love a good ghostly matchmaker? If you liked the dynamic between Countess Angelina and her ancestor Francesca in 'That Lady in Ermine', you'll enjoy these similar movies. Discover stories where characters are guided, challenged, and ultimately helped in love by playful spirits from their family's past.

supernaturalromanticcomedicplayfulheartfeltancestralguidancehistorical

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a modern (or relatively modern) protagonist at a romantic crossroads. An ancestor, often appearing from a portrait or as a ghost, intervenes based on their own historical love story. Their guidance creates a humorous and touching parallel narrative, helping the protagonist navigate jealousy, doubt, or external pressures to find true love.

Why These Movies?

These films share the specific plot device of a meddling ancestor as a central catalyst for the romantic comedy. The tone is typically light and humorous, with the supernatural element adding a layer of whimsy rather than horror. The connection between past and present storylines provides structural interest and emotional depth without heavy drama.

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That Lady in Ermine Summary

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That Lady in Ermine Summary

That Lady in Ermine Timeline

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That Lady in Ermine Timeline

That Lady in Ermine Spoiler-Free Summary

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That Lady in Ermine Spoiler-Free Summary

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