The Smiling Lieutenant
| The Smiling Lieutenant | |
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| Directed by | Ernst Lubitsch |
| Produced by | Ernst Lubitsch |
| Written by | Novel: Hans Müller-Einigen Operetta: Leopold Jacobson Felix Dörmann Screenplay: Samson Raphaelson Ernest Vajda Uncredited: Ernst Lubitsch French dialogue: Jacques Bataille-Henri |
| Starring | Maurice Chevalier Claudette Colbert Miriam Hopkins |
| Music by | Oscar Straus |
| Cinematography | George J. Folsey |
| Editing by | Merrill G. White |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
| Release date(s) | August 1, 1931 (US) |
| Running time | 89 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Smiling Lieutenant (1931) is an American film directed by Ernst Lubitsch, starring Maurice Chevalier and Claudette Colbert, and released by Paramount Pictures.
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[edit] Production background
Made in the Pre-Code era, it was written by Samson Raphaelson and Ernest Vajda, from the operetta Ein Walzertraum by Oscar Straus (libretto by Leopold Jacobson and Felix Dörmann), which in turn was based on the novel Nur der Prinzgemahl (Only the Prince Consort) by Hans Müller-Einigen. The film was directed by Ernst Lubitsch and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
This was the first of three films directed by Lubitsch and starring Miriam Hopkins. The other two were Trouble in Paradise and Design for Living.
[edit] Preservation status
Long considered a lost film, a print was discovered in Denmark in the 1990s.[1]
[edit] Plot
The movie stars Maurice Chevalier, Claudette Colbert, Miriam Hopkins, Charles Ruggles and George Barbier. It is a romantic comedy concerning the love of a Princess for a soldier, and the love of the soldier for another woman. The Lieutenant (Chevalier) while standing in formation before a parade honoring the visiting royal family of Flausenthurm takes an opportunity to smile at his girlfriend in the crowd.
Unfortunately the smile is intercepted by the Princess of Flausenthurm, and an international incident is narrowly avoided by having them marry. The Lieutenant sneaks away from his bride to wander the streets of Flausenthurm and discovers his girlfriend Franzi (Colbert). The princess receives notice of this and decides to confront Franzi. After the initial confrontation, Franzi sees that the princess is in fact deeply in love with the lieutenant, and decides to save the marriage by giving the princess a makeover ("Jazz up your lingerie!") The results are a complete success as the Lieutenant follows his satin-clad, cigarette-puffing bride into the bedroom and closes the door — only to open it and give the audience a last song and a suggestive wink.
[edit] Cast (in credits order)
- Maurice Chevalier as Lieutenant Nikolaus 'Niki' von Preyn
- Claudette Colbert as Franzi
- Miriam Hopkins as Princess Anna
- Charles Ruggles as Max
- George Barbier as King Adolf XV
- Hugh O'Connell as Niki's Orderly
[edit] References
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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