Trouble in Paradise

First of all, let me say that this film is as close to perfection as one can get---look at the "throw away gags", the play with words, the wardrobe (Miriam Hopkins stole the show; especially in the Opera scene when she comes out of the "Parlour des femmes" & asks her "Sugar Daddy" for some "francs" to give to the ladies room attendant---that black dress was haute couture at its best!), the gait of the actors, the snappy dialogue. They all look so-o sophisticated & worldly. SHEER PERFECTION! It took me 5 years to get this film & it was worth every minute! This is MY FAVORITE film!

That rare thing: the perfect film comedy. "Trouble in Paradise," Ernst Lubitsch's sparkling 1932 comedy, stars Herbert Marshall and an adorable Miriam Hopkins as con artists in love, while Kay Francis plays the woman who comes between them. The film is fast, sexy, effortless and absolutely charming. People always refer to "the Lubitsch touch" when talking about the famous director's films, and I understand completely what they mean. There's something about his films that's common to all of them but is very hard to describe. It has something to do with tone -- all of his films feel like they're perfectly balanced between humor, sentimentality, pathos and melancholy. They're funny, but none of them feel like insignificant fluff; there's an underlying strain of melancholy running through all of them, yet none of them make the mistake of taking the world too seriously. I don't know what it was that made his films so delightful, but I love it. Grade: A+

Ernst Lubitsch had a tendency towards pushing the boundaries, whether it was the boundaries of the Production Code or the boundaries of one's stomach, as it's splitting from laughing at his films. "Trouble in Paradise" is one hundred percent, absolutely, no exception to this rule. This film has got to be the greatest film comedy of the 1930's (toss up between this and "Bringing Up Baby" ... perhaps??). The situations, the dialogue, the characterizations, the rich sexual undercoating ... FANTASTIC!!!

Beautiful, spellbinding romantic comedy with a suave jewel thief (Herbert Marshall) falling in love with his intended victim (luminous Kay Francis) much to the displeasure of his girlfriend (Miriam Hopkins). Beautifully shot (the scenes seem to glow), incredible sets and costumes, a very witty script, wonderful performances by everybody, superb direction by Ernst Lubitsch and some fairly racy Pre-Code material. What more can I say? It's perfection. A must-see!