L'Ambitieuse (1959)
Directed by Yves Allégret

Film Synopsis

When she married Georges Rancourt, the black sheep of a wealthy French family, Dominique did so for love.  But she is an ambitious woman who wants to be as rich as rest of the Rancourt family.  It takes some doing but she finally manage to persuade her weak and sentimental husband to emigrate with her to Tahiti, where he will run some phosphate mines.  Once settled on the island, Dominique finds work as a private secretary to Mike Buchanan, a cheerful adventurer who made his fortune by mining.  From a grateful native Dominique learns of the existence of several unexploited deposits, presently registered under Buchanan's name in a claim that is shortly to expire.  By subjecting her boss to her feminine wiles the calculating woman arranges for the claim to be renewed under her husband's name.  But to profit from the mining concern Dominique needs an initial outlay, which she must obtain from the Rancourts in France.  Georges disapproves of his wife's actions but is grateful of the opportunity this affords him of meeting up with his tender and lovely cousin Claire.  Leaving Georges in the care of the dependable Claire, Dominique heads back to Tahiti, confident that she can handle the furious Buchanan...