The Girl Downstairs (1938)

• Director
  • Norman Taurog
• Writers
  • Harold Goldman
  • Sándor Hunyady
  • Felix Jackson
• Stars
  • Franciska Gaal
  • Franchot Tone
  • Walter Connolly

  "Discovered" for American films by Cecil B. DeMille, popular Hungarian actress Franceska Gaal made the last of her three Hollywood screen appearances in MGM's The Girl Downstairs. A Cinderella yarn, the film stars Gaal as scullery maid Katerina Linz, who is romanced by callous playboy Paul Wagner (Franchot Tone). Actually Paul is in love with Katerina's mistress Rosalind Brown (Rita Johnson), and is using our heroine merely as a means to gain access to Rosalind. Ultimately, however, a chastened Paul realizes that he's genuinely in love with Katerina-but now he must prove himself worthy of her. Comedy relief (and what a relief) is provided by the ever-reliable Walter Connolly and Billy Gilbert.