Tuesday 4 August 2015

Trouble in Paradise (1932 Ernst Lubitsch & prod)

Written by Samson Raphaelson, adapted (by Grover Jones) from play 'The Honest Finder' by Aladar Laszlo. Romantic triangle comprises Herbert Marshall, Miriam Hopkins and Kay Francis.

The Criterion edition is usefully introduced by Peter Bogdanovich, who argues that this film paved the way for the classic romantic comedies of the thirties (It Happened One Night), and that before Lubitsch, Hollywood films lacked sophistication. This one has in in spades making modern movies look terribly old-fashioned and crude, with gags and filming of the subtlest order (the film is about thieves, PB says, yet you don't see one thing being stolen).

Great supporting cast too of Charlie Ruggles, Edward Everett Horton, C Aubrey Smith and Robert Greig. Shot by Victor Milner.

The lines about 'suite 53, 5, 7 & 9' make me think of Billy Wilder particularly.

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