Bedtime Story

The 1964 American comedy-drama film tells the story of two con artists operating on the French Riviera. Lawrence Jamieson (David Niven) is a sophisticated and seasoned swindler who poses as a deposed prince from a small European country, seducing wealthy women into donating money to his fictitious revolutionary cause. Freddy Benson (Marlon Brando) is a small-time hustler who uses sob stories to extract money from women. Their paths cross in the fictional town of Beaumont-sur-Mer, where Lawrence realizes that Freddy could jeopardize his operations. Initially attempting to get rid of Freddy, Lawrence eventually agrees to mentor him in the art of the con. However, their partnership turns into a rivalry when they make a bet: the first to extract $25,000 from a selected woman will stay in town, and the loser must leave. Their target is Janet Walker (Shirley Jones), a naive American known as the "American Soap Queen." Freddy pretends to be a soldier suffering from psychosomatic paralysis in need of expensive treatment, while Lawrence impersonates Dr. Emil Schaffhausen, a renowned Swiss psychiatrist. As events unfold, they continually try to outwit each other, leading to comedic situations. The film explores themes of deception, rivalry, and morality, showcasing the lengths individuals will go to for personal gain. Filming took place on the French Riviera and at Universal Studios in California.