Dir. Max Ophüls. 1955, 115 mins. Restored 35mm print. With Martine Carol, Peter Ustinov, Anton Walbrook. The Austrian director Max Ophüls was known for his swoon-inducing camera moves and ornate, melodramatic entertainments. His final film—his first shot in color—is his most wonderfully grandiloquent, a moving drama about a real-life courtesan and showgirl. Full of visual invention, this is large-scale filmmaking at its most extravagant, as well as a provocative, ahead-of-its-time look at the downside of fame.

Tickets for Friday evening screenings: $12 ($9 for senior citizens and students) and includes admission to the Museum's galleries, which are open until 8:00 p.m.