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James Whale directed this screen adaptation of Marcel Pagnol's French classic Fanny. Madelon (Maureen O'Hara) is a lovely young woman who lives in a seaside community, where she has fallen in love with Marius (John Beal), a sailor. Marius is called to duty and sets sail, shortly before Madelon makes the discovery that she'd pregnant with his child. Not sure what to do, Madelon confesses her predicament to Panisse (Frank Morgan), a longtime friend who is pals with Cesar (Wallace Beery), Marius's father. To spare Madelon the shame of a child born out of wedlock, Panisse offers to marry Madelon, and she agrees, though both realize this will be a union of convenience rather than love. When Marius returns after his hitch is up, he declares his love to Madelon, but time has forced her to realize that the older but loving Panisse would be a better father for her child than Marius, who she loves but rarely ever gets to see. Port of Seven Seas was written for the screen by Preston Sturges, who came aboard for the project when William Wyler was originally slated to direct.