Banished from various U.S. protectorates in the Pacific, a saloon entertainer uses her femme-fatale charms to woo politicians, navy personnel, gangsters, riff-raff, judges and a ship's doctor in order to achieve her aims.
Acting
Dietrich's controlled chaos—every glance is a calculated siege.
Costume
That sailor suit became iconic for a reason. Hubba.
Direction
Garnett keeps the tone just this side of parody.

Director
Tay Garnett
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Dietrich demanded top billing over Wayne and got it—this was her seventh film with director Tay Garnett.
The 'South Seas' exoticism here is pure Hollywood fabrication, filmed entirely in California with white actors in brownface.