Main Cast: Maurice Chevalier, Claudette Colbert, Miriam Hopkins, Charlie Ruggles, George Barbier
Release Year: 1931
Country: US
Run Time: 88 minutes
Plot
Maurice Chevalier plays a 19th century Viennese lieutenant, conducting an affair with sexy violinist Claudette Colbert. While publicly flirting with Colbert, Chevalier is spotted by a dowdy princess (Miriam Hopkins), who thinks that the lieutenant's wink was meant for her. Forced to marry the Princess, Chevalier despairs at her lack of charm. But good-hearted Colbert takes the princess aside, dolls her up, and instructs her how to bewitch--and keep--her man. Chevalier is enchanted by the "new" princess, while Colbert, who will have no trouble finding someone else to keep her warm and comfortable, cheerfully sashays out of his life. Long thought lost, The Smiling Lieutenant was rediscovered in an East European vault in the 1970s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Ernst Lubitsch had no finer interpreter of the Lubitsch style -- in musicals, at least - than Maurice Chevalier, and The Smiling Lieutenant takes full advantage of Chevalier's unique persona. Indeed, without that blend of Gallic charm, earthiness and amiability, Lieutenant would be heavy going for contemporary audiences; they may still wince at the male-dominating worldview the film evinces, even with Chevalier. The male lead has plenty to play off of in the delightful forms of Claudette Colbert and Miriam Hopkins, each of whom gives Chevalier a run for the money and manages to occasionally steal the film away from him. Although the script sometimes loses its punch, the score is generally strong, with Chevalier given a break-the-fourth-wall specialty in "Toujours L'Amour in the Army" and even triumphing over some peculiar lyrics (e.g., "With every bit of liver, I start to quiver") in "Breakfast Table Love." Not to be outdone, Colbert also makes "Jazz Up Your Lingerie" into a real treat. Although visually Lieutenant lacks some of the fluidity of Lubitsch's other work (most likely due to the constraints of the still-new sound camera), there's still enough flair to keep things lively. Lubitsch and Chevalier's chemistry would be shown to even better advantage the next year in One Hour With You. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
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 continually sneaks away from his dowdy bride to visit his girlfriend (Colbert) who decides to confront the princess. She finds her to be deeply in love, 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.
Fräulein Seifenschaum ·Aufs Eis Geführt ·Blindekuh ·Zucker Und Zimmt ·Der Erste Patient ·Der Letzte Anzug ·Der Kraftmeier ·Wo Ist Mein Schatz? ·Schuhpalast Pinkus ·Der Gemischte Frauenchor ·Das Schönste Geschenk ·Der G.m.b.H. Tenor ·Leutnant auf Befehl ·Seine Neue Nase ·Ossis Tagebuch ·Der Blusenkönig ·Wenn Vier Dasselbe Tun ·Das Fidele Gefängnis ·Prinz Sami ·Der Rodelkavalier ·Der Fall Rosentopf ·Ich Möchte Kein Mann Sein ·Das Mädel Vom Ballet ·Meyer Aus Berlin ·Das Schwabenmädel ·Kohlhiesels Töchter ·Romeo Und Julia Im Schnee ·If I Had A Million(segment "The Clerk")
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