The Flame of New Orleans

The Flame of New Orleans

Year: 1941

Runtime: 79 mins

Language: English

Director: René Clair

ComedyRomance

THE FLAME IN HER EYES scorched a thousand hearts! In old New Orleans, a beautiful adventuress juggles the attentions of a rich banker and a dashing sea captain.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Flame of New Orleans (1941)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Flame of New Orleans (1941). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1840s

The action unfolds in the early 1840s, a period wealthy with salons, duels, and public displays of affection and power. Opera houses, weddings, and social gatherings frame romance and ambition within a rigid hierarchical society. The era’s mood is one of opulence, suspicion, and the lure of fortune along the Mississippi.

Location

New Orleans, Mississippi River

New Orleans serves as the bustling port city where high society and river life mingle. The story moves between the opera house, parks, and dockside haunts along the Mississippi, with the riverboat world forming a constant backdrop. The Oyster Bed Café by the docks and the social circles surrounding Mardi Gras anchor the plot in a vibrant, pre-Civil War port town.

🎭 City life 🚢 River setting 🎷 Opera culture 🎉 Mardi Gras 💰 Wealth & status

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:10

Main Characters – The Flame of New Orleans (1941)

Meet the key characters of The Flame of New Orleans (1941), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Claire Ledoux (Countess Claire Ledoux), aka Lili

Ambitious and resourceful, Claire navigates New Orleans’ social ladders with calculated charm. She uses disguises and staged moments to influence powerful men around her. Though driven by wealth and status, she is deeply drawn to Robert, revealing a tension between fortune and genuine affection.

💃 Noblewoman 💔 Romance 🕵️‍♀️ Deception

Robert Latour

A rugged riverboat captain with a protective, independent streak. He clashes with Charles over Claire and pursues her with a blend of grit and tenderness. His love for Claire shapes bold, sometimes impulsive actions that test both of their loyalties.

🚢 River captain ❤️ Romance 🗡️ Valor

Charles Giraud

A wealthy banker obsessed with social status and securing a prestigious marriage. He is quick to anger and ready to duel to defend his honor. His ambitions are constantly tested by love, deception, and the unpredictable actions of those around him.

💼 Banker 🥀 Pride ⚔️ Duel

Zolotov

A Russian nobleman whose knowledge of Claire’s past stirs jealousy and fear of scandal. His presence adds tension and fuels misunderstandings that propel confrontations at social gatherings.

🧭 Informant 🗣️ Gossip 🗡️ Rival

Clementine

Claire’s practical maid and confidante who acts as the conduit to carry plans into action. She demonstrates loyalty while also highlighting the sly side of social climbing through their coordinated schemes.

🧹 Maid 🗝️ Messenger 🕵️‍♀️ Complicity

Bellows

Charles’s brother-in-law and keen observer of gossip. He amplifies rumors and provides a backdrop of social mechanics that influence the characters’ decisions and the plot’s twists.

🗣️ Gossip 🧭 Observer 🗡️ Rivalry

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:10

Major Themes – The Flame of New Orleans (1941)

Explore the central themes of The Flame of New Orleans (1941), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Identity

Claire repeatedly shifts between identities—Countess Ledoux, Lili, and a determined social climber—to control her fate. The, line between who she is and who she pretends to be drives much of the plot and motivates others to act. The story probes how much of a person’s truth remains when society expects a certain guise.

💰 Love vs Wealth

Claire’s plan to secure wealth through marriage clashes with genuine feelings for Robert. The narrative tests whether love can outpace social ambition and financial security. In the end, romantic choice reshapes her future more than any contract of marriage could.

🕵️ Deception

Misdirection and hidden identities propel the romance and danger. Characters weave schemes, misread signals, and hide motives, only for the truth to surface at critical moments. Revelations reconfigure loyalties and alter destinies.

🌊 Freedom

The river embodies escape from social constraint, culminating in a choice to run away with Robert. The ending pivots on a leap toward a life defined by love and autonomy rather than public approval. The Mississippi becomes a symbol of new beginnings.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:10

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The Flame of New Orleans Summary

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The Flame of New Orleans Summary

The Flame of New Orleans Timeline

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The Flame of New Orleans Timeline

More About The Flame of New Orleans

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