The Smiling Lieutenant is so silly and fluffy, it can only have come from the Depression-era of escapism musicals. Starring MGM's jolly Frenchman, Maurice Chevalier, he gets into trouble by smiling too much. I'm not kidding. He's so happy he can't stop smiling (or singing, because this is Maurice Chevalier, after all), and Princess Miriam Hopkins (in only her second movie) falls prey to his charm. Maurice already has a girlfriend, Claudette Colbert, but Miriam wants to marry him. And will he risk disobeying a royal order?
If you're not in the mood for this, you'll probably hate it. But if you like really old movies with silly songs and a leading man who continually winks into the camera, you might find it funny and charming. I like pre-Code movie that allow women to prance around in their lingerie and made naughty jokes. Claudette and Miriam actually sing a song called "Jazz Up Your Lingerie" to entire Maurice. I like this Ernst Lubitsch flick. It definitely features the "Lubitsch Touch" and it's pure escapism.
If you're not in the mood for this, you'll probably hate it. But if you like really old movies with silly songs and a leading man who continually winks into the camera, you might find it funny and charming. I like pre-Code movie that allow women to prance around in their lingerie and made naughty jokes. Claudette and Miriam actually sing a song called "Jazz Up Your Lingerie" to entire Maurice. I like this Ernst Lubitsch flick. It definitely features the "Lubitsch Touch" and it's pure escapism.