TROUBLE IN PARADISE (Paramount, 1932), directed by Ernst Lubitsch, is an interesting pre-code comedy starring Miriam Hopkins in one of her most amusing roles. Though she and Kay Francis head the cast, the plot actually belongs to the third-billed Herbert Marshall. Featuring Lubitsch stock players as Charlie Ruggles, Edward Everett Horton and Robert Greig, and with European setting, this is one sophisticated comedy true to the "Lubitsch touch."
The story opens in Venice, Italy, where Gaston Monescu (Herbert Marshall), a notorious thief staying at a hotel posing as a baron, observes a beautiful woman below on a gondola where she not only notices herself being watched, but comes to his hotel room where the two get acquainted. The woman us revealed to be Lily Vautier (Miriam Hopkins), a pickpocket posing as a countess. After showing off stolen items lifted from their persons, they immediately fall in love. That particular evening, Francois Filiba (Edward Everett Horton) is seen reporting his wallet stolen by a man posing as a doctor. A year later, Gaston and Lily, now in Paris, France, resume their romance as happy-go-lucky thieves. Madame Mariette Colet (Kay Francis), whose philosophy being "Marriage is a beautiful mistake which two people make together," happens to be owner of a perfume business, "Colet and Company." Her two suitors are Francois Diliba and the Major (Charles Ruggles) whom she takes at the opera, seated with The Major while the jealous Francois is outside watching them, Mariette loses her diamond star purse, which happens to be reward stolen by Gaston. Learning the identity of its owner, Lily suggests Gaston return the purse for the reward. As Monsieur La Valle, Mariette is swooned by his charm and hires him as her personal secretary. With Lily in the guise as "La Valle's" assistant, both scheme on stealing from her safe. After meeting with La Valle, Francois gets the strangest feeling he's seen that man before. Featuring C. Aubrey Smith (Adolph J. Giron); Robert Greig (Jacques, the Butler); and Leonid Kinsky (The Radical) in supporting roles.
Though the movie begins with an off-screen vocalist singing "Trouble in Paradise" over the opening titles, later followed by Tyler Brooke's rendition of "Colet and Company" on the radio, TROUBLE IN PARADISE is not a musical in the Maurice Chevalier manner but a straight comedy that needs to be seen more than once to capture the essence and humor of the story. At times Herbert Marshall, sometimes hailed as a dull actor, shows himself having a good time, which highly benefits his performance. Kay Francis, known for her dramatic roles mostly for Warner Brothers (1932-1939), displays her flair for comedy in a straightforward manner as well. Some of her humor is not only priceless, but the opening and closing scenes Hopkins and Marshall, with Robert Greig's snore noises of confusion are true highlights.
Quite popular upon its initial release, TROUBLE IN PARADISE didn't seem to get the recognition it deserves mainly due to limited reissues, which didn't come as frequent until the 1980s in revival movie houses and public television broadcasts. Interestingly, the third and final Hopkins/Lubitsch comedy, DESIGN FOR LIVING (1933), which didn't fare as well as TROUBLE IN PARADISE, had more commercial television exposure than its predecessor to become better known in later years.
Formerly shown on American Movie Classics (1990), TROUBLE IN PARADISE can be seen and studied either on DVD format or occasional broadcasts on Turner Classic Movies (since 2002). (***1/2)
The story opens in Venice, Italy, where Gaston Monescu (Herbert Marshall), a notorious thief staying at a hotel posing as a baron, observes a beautiful woman below on a gondola where she not only notices herself being watched, but comes to his hotel room where the two get acquainted. The woman us revealed to be Lily Vautier (Miriam Hopkins), a pickpocket posing as a countess. After showing off stolen items lifted from their persons, they immediately fall in love. That particular evening, Francois Filiba (Edward Everett Horton) is seen reporting his wallet stolen by a man posing as a doctor. A year later, Gaston and Lily, now in Paris, France, resume their romance as happy-go-lucky thieves. Madame Mariette Colet (Kay Francis), whose philosophy being "Marriage is a beautiful mistake which two people make together," happens to be owner of a perfume business, "Colet and Company." Her two suitors are Francois Diliba and the Major (Charles Ruggles) whom she takes at the opera, seated with The Major while the jealous Francois is outside watching them, Mariette loses her diamond star purse, which happens to be reward stolen by Gaston. Learning the identity of its owner, Lily suggests Gaston return the purse for the reward. As Monsieur La Valle, Mariette is swooned by his charm and hires him as her personal secretary. With Lily in the guise as "La Valle's" assistant, both scheme on stealing from her safe. After meeting with La Valle, Francois gets the strangest feeling he's seen that man before. Featuring C. Aubrey Smith (Adolph J. Giron); Robert Greig (Jacques, the Butler); and Leonid Kinsky (The Radical) in supporting roles.
Though the movie begins with an off-screen vocalist singing "Trouble in Paradise" over the opening titles, later followed by Tyler Brooke's rendition of "Colet and Company" on the radio, TROUBLE IN PARADISE is not a musical in the Maurice Chevalier manner but a straight comedy that needs to be seen more than once to capture the essence and humor of the story. At times Herbert Marshall, sometimes hailed as a dull actor, shows himself having a good time, which highly benefits his performance. Kay Francis, known for her dramatic roles mostly for Warner Brothers (1932-1939), displays her flair for comedy in a straightforward manner as well. Some of her humor is not only priceless, but the opening and closing scenes Hopkins and Marshall, with Robert Greig's snore noises of confusion are true highlights.
Quite popular upon its initial release, TROUBLE IN PARADISE didn't seem to get the recognition it deserves mainly due to limited reissues, which didn't come as frequent until the 1980s in revival movie houses and public television broadcasts. Interestingly, the third and final Hopkins/Lubitsch comedy, DESIGN FOR LIVING (1933), which didn't fare as well as TROUBLE IN PARADISE, had more commercial television exposure than its predecessor to become better known in later years.
Formerly shown on American Movie Classics (1990), TROUBLE IN PARADISE can be seen and studied either on DVD format or occasional broadcasts on Turner Classic Movies (since 2002). (***1/2)