Songs (both Chevalier): "You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me" by Irving Kahal, Pierre Norman and Sammy Fain; "Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight" by Al Lewis and Al Sherman. Sound recording: Ernest F. Zatorsky. Producer: Monta Bell.
Copyright 6 May 1930 by Paramount Pictures. 6,984 feet. 77 minutes. New York opening at the Rialto: 17 May 1930. [Available on a 7/10 VintageFilmBuff DVD. Contemporary reviewers drew attention to poor sound in the Venice scenes, do don't blame VFB!
COMMENT: A delight! Alas, in the English version, Chevalier has only two songs (there are four in the French version, La Grande Mer) and the charming Colbert does not have much of a role, but Maurice, of course, is a constant joy as he runs riot in a chewing gum factory and befriends a really entrancing little boarding-house slavey, Elaine Koch. Preston Sturges has contributed some witty dialogue, and production values are top-drawer.
The movie opens promisingly in Venice with Chevalier as a singing gondolier. When he delivers Claudette back to her home away from home, however, our enjoyment slips as George Barbier rushes all over the set. The camera manages to follow him, but the sound mikes cannot. Fortunately, the directors evidently decided not to repeat this experiment. Once the action moves back to the U.S.A., Barbier stops running and the sound recording settles down.
Copyright 6 May 1930 by Paramount Pictures. 6,984 feet. 77 minutes. New York opening at the Rialto: 17 May 1930. [Available on a 7/10 VintageFilmBuff DVD. Contemporary reviewers drew attention to poor sound in the Venice scenes, do don't blame VFB!
COMMENT: A delight! Alas, in the English version, Chevalier has only two songs (there are four in the French version, La Grande Mer) and the charming Colbert does not have much of a role, but Maurice, of course, is a constant joy as he runs riot in a chewing gum factory and befriends a really entrancing little boarding-house slavey, Elaine Koch. Preston Sturges has contributed some witty dialogue, and production values are top-drawer.
The movie opens promisingly in Venice with Chevalier as a singing gondolier. When he delivers Claudette back to her home away from home, however, our enjoyment slips as George Barbier rushes all over the set. The camera manages to follow him, but the sound mikes cannot. Fortunately, the directors evidently decided not to repeat this experiment. Once the action moves back to the U.S.A., Barbier stops running and the sound recording settles down.