A Foreign Affair
Performance & Direction: A Foreign Affair Review
Last updated: February 15, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is A Foreign Affair (1948) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 7.1/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Romance.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Romance is often anchored by its ensemble, and A Foreign Affair features a noteworthy lineup led by Jean Arthur . Supported by the likes of Marlene Dietrich and John Lund , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: A Foreign Affair
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 1948, A Foreign Affair is a Romance, Comedy, Drama film directed by Billy Wilder. The narrative explores the complexities of love and relationships with emotional depth and authenticity. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Jean Arthur.
Ending Explained: A Foreign Affair
Ending Breakdown: Directed by Billy Wilder, A Foreign Affair resolves its central conflict while maintaining thematic consistency. The finale has been praised for its approach to romance resolution.
The emotional climax centers on character transformation involving Jean Arthur, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes with clear resolution of its central conflicts, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Main characters complete meaningful transformations, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the romance themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of A Foreign Affair reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch A Foreign Affair?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Romance films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of Jean Arthur or the director
- Want solid genre entertainment
Box Office Collection: A Foreign Affair
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $1.5M |
| Worldwide Gross | $5.0M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
A Foreign Affair Budget
The estimated production budget for A Foreign Affair is $1.5M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: A Foreign Affair
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Where to Watch A Foreign Affair Online?
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Amazon VideoApple TV StoreGoogle Play MoviesYouTubeA Foreign Affair Parents Guide & Age Rating
1948 AdvisoryWondering about A Foreign Affair age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of A Foreign Affair is 116 minutes (1h 56m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 7.1/10, and global performance metrics, A Foreign Affair is classified as a HIT. It remains an essential part of the 1948 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is A Foreign Affair worth watching?
A Foreign Affair is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Romance movies. It has a verified rating of 7.1/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find A Foreign Affair parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for A Foreign Affair identifies it as NR. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of A Foreign Affair?
The total duration of A Foreign Affair is 116 minutes, which is approximately 1h 56m long.
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Critic Reviews for A Foreign Affair
Billy Wilder pulls together a great script and two engaging performances from Jean Arthur and Marlene Dietrich in this entertaining story of a US Congresswoman who visits post-war Berlin to check up on the morals of the American troops. She falls for one of them who just happens to be already spoken for. There ensues a bit of a tug-of-war between the two women over the rather charmless John Lund. Millard Mitchell is good value as the war-weary colonel; there are enough Dietrich songs to keep her fans content and we even get a twist at the end. There may well have been some murmurings Stateside once this film was released. It doesn't exactly show the Yanks in a great light as they party and black-market their way through a bomb wrecked Berlin but it does demonstrate the need for a "release" for so many from the years of war and deprivation with style and occasionally, some humour.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
