The Devil Is a Woman

The Devil Is a Woman

Year: 1935

Runtime: 80 mins

Language: English

Director: Josef von Sternberg

ComedyHistoryDramaRomance

During a Spanish carnival, Antonio Galvan arrives from Paris to see his friend Captain Don Pasqual “Pasqualito” Costelar. He meets Concha Pérez and arranges a secret rendezvous. Pasqualito warns that his own obsession with Concha and her mother ruined his life and begs Antonio to stay away. Tempted, Antonio yields, endangering their friendship.

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Timeline & Setting – The Devil Is a Woman (1935)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Devil Is a Woman (1935). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Early 20th century

Set in a period when old social codes collide with modern desires, the film places romance and danger against a backdrop of aristocratic propriety. The Seville Carnival provides a chaotic, vivid stage for secret liaisons, rivalries, and political undercurrents.

Location

Seville, Spain

The action unfolds on the bustling boulevards of Seville during Carnival, where revelers wear grotesque costumes and masks. Civil Guards mingle with the masqueraders, adding a sense of order amid the chaos. The city feels alive with music, spectacle, and a hint of public scrutiny.

🎭 Carnival atmosphere 🏛️ Historic Seville

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:08

Main Characters – The Devil Is a Woman (1935)

Meet the key characters of The Devil Is a Woman (1935), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Antonio Galvan (Cesar Romero)

A young bourgeois revolutionary who returns from exile to confront his rival for Concha's affection. Impulsive and fiercely romantic, he seeks to crush the rival through passion and, when necessary, force. His loyalty is tested by manipulation, leading to risky decisions that propel the plot toward a dramatic confrontation.

💘 Romance ⚖️ Loyalty 🕊️ Rebellion 🗝️ Risk

Concha Perez (Marlene Dietrich)

A dazzling, calculating presence who uses charm to navigate power structures and secure her desires. Her allure draws men into her orbit, yet her choices leave emotional wreckage in their wake. She moves between lovers with a self-serving pragmatism that ultimately tests the boundaries of love and loyalty.

💃 Charm 💔 Manipulation 🎭 Seduction

Don Pasqual (Lionel Atwill)

An aristocratic former Captain whose life was tarnished by Concha's actions. He remains deeply in love, choosing pride and propriety over reunion, and his actions reveal a man torn between duty and desire. His past decisions shape the present clash as he guards his honor and the woman he loves.

🏛️ Honor 💔 Love 🗡️ Duel-legacy

Gov. Don Paquito 'Paquitito' (Edward Everett Horton)

The cautious governor who wields political influence to resolve conflicts and grant escape requests. His hesitation belies a pragmatic mind, balancing mercy with the law. His involvement ultimately enables a reprieve that shapes the fate of Concha, Antonio, and Pasqual.

🏛️ Authority 🕊️ Mercy 🤝 Policy

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:08

Major Themes – The Devil Is a Woman (1935)

Explore the central themes of The Devil Is a Woman (1935), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💘 Romance & Betrayal

A seductive love triangle drives the plot as Concha uses charm to influence powerful men, while Antonio and Pasqual vie for her affection and respect. The relationships are tangled by loyalty, desire, and fear of social critique. Choices in love come with bold risks and harsh consequences.

⚔️ Honor & Duel

The duel scene embodies a code of honor that governs the characters’ actions. Antonio and Pasqual confront their feelings and past wounds, with violence framed as a test of masculinity and reputation. The outcome exposes the limits of traditional notions of pride and protection.

🧭 Escape & Consequence

Concha orchestrates a path toward Paris, leveraging political clout to secure freedom for Antonio. The pursuit of escape highlights how personal ambition intersects with state power. The final choice—seeking stability with Pasqual or continuing the flight—reveals who truly commands the characters’ loyalties.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:08

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Fatalistic Melodramas of Destructive Love like The Devil Is a Woman

Stories where an all-consuming passion leads to ruin and bitter regret.If you were captivated by the tragic romantic obsession in The Devil Is a Woman, discover more movies where irresistible passions lead to ruin. These stories share a melancholic, dramatic tone, exploring themes of betrayal, self-sacrifice, and the bittersweet end of destructive relationships.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative often follows a character who becomes hopelessly entangled with a captivating but toxic lover. This obsession becomes the central conflict, eclipsing friendships, morals, and self-preservation, typically culminating in a dramatic, life-altering confrontation or sacrifice that leaves the characters forever changed.

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These films are grouped by their shared exploration of love as a destructive force. They feature a consistent melancholic and dramatic tone, a steady pacing that builds towards an inevitable, bittersweet conclusion, and a focus on the psychological turmoil of characters caught in a web of their own desires.

Bittersweet Historical Character Dramas like The Devil Is a Woman

Period stories where personal desires clash with societal confines, ending with poignant reflection.For viewers who enjoyed the historical setting and complex characters of The Devil Is a Woman, this list features similar period dramas. These movies blend romance, drama, and a steady pace to tell intimate stories of passion, regret, and bittersweet resolutions set against a rich historical backdrop.

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Narrative Summary

Centered on a flawed protagonist, the story unfolds in a vivid historical period that often symbolizes or contrasts with their inner turmoil. The plot revolves around a consequential romantic or personal choice that defines their life, leading to a conclusion that is not wholly tragic but deeply reflective and tinged with regret.

Why These Movies?

They share a specific mix of a historical setting, a steady narrative pace, and a moderate level of narrative complexity focused on character psychology. The emotional journey consistently builds to a bittersweet, reflective ending, creating a coherent experience of poignant historical storytelling.

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The Devil Is a Woman Summary

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The Devil Is a Woman Summary

The Devil Is a Woman Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Devil Is a Woman with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Devil Is a Woman Timeline

The Devil Is a Woman Spoiler-Free Summary

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The Devil Is a Woman Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Devil Is a Woman

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