“Known, and rather more aptly, as The Pearl Necklace during its incubation period in the Paramount studios, (Desire) is set briskly in motion when Marlene Dietrich brazenly filches a pearl necklace from a Parisian jeweler and races for the Spanish border. Driving more leisurely in the same direction happens to be Gary Cooper, cheerfully representing a Detroit engineer on vacation.
“When the customs officials begin inspecting their baggage, Miss Dietrich slips the necklace into Mr. Cooper's coat pocket, he tosses the coat into his suitcase and, from then on, Miss Dietrich is compelled to flirt outrageously - but to the engineer's wholly understandable delight - until an opportunity is presented to recover the bauble. By that time - unless you have anticipated the story - the lovely jewel thief has decided to leave her criminal associates and become a housewife in Detroit.
“Familiar as the yarn may be, it sparkles and twinkles under the Lubitsch touch, moves with the proper suspense and has an unbeatable combination, Cooper and Dietrich, to carry the light romantic interest. If the picture proves anything beyond the genius of its producer, it is that Miss Dietrich is not dependent upon stylized photography and direction, but has a proper talent of her own; it proves, too, that Mr. Cooper, who has had comparatively few comic opportunities heretofore, can be as engaging a light comedian as the screen has found.” --Frank S. Nugent, N.Y. Times