In October 1940 Universal announced the director of "Countess" would be René Clair, who had arrived in Lisbon from France in August. It was Clair's first Hollywood movie although he had directed two English-language films in England. Dietrich later said Clair's hiring was Pastenak's idea and "at first I resisted, but finally out of loyalty to my old principle that doing your duty was all that mattered, I yielded." Pasternak wrote in his memoirs that he suggested Clair, asked Dietrich "What do you say?" and she said "I think it'd be wonderful."