The Smiling Lieutenant
Directed by Ernst Lubitsch
Written by Ernst Vajda and Samuel Raphelson
1932/US
Paramount Pictures
IMDb page
Repeat viewing/my DVD collection
Lieutenant Niki: When we like someone, we smile. But when we want to do something about it, we wink.
This musical comedy is pure naughty fun simply dripping with the Lubitsch touch.
A bon vivant Viennese Lieutenant (Maurice Chevalier) starts a new romance with violinist Fritzi (Claudette Colbert). The affair ends all too quickly when dowdy Princess Anna (Miriam Hopkins) believes a wink aimed at the violinist was meant for her. He has to choose between marriage or court martial for his indiscretion. He chooses marriage and moves to her equally dreary country of Flausenthurm.
He refuses to consumate the marriage however. In the meantime, Fritzi takes her all-girl band on tour to Flausenthurm and takes up with Niki where she left off. Eventually she goes to the Palace and gives Princess Anna the advice she will need to seduce Niki in the song “Jazz Up Your Lingerie”.
I just love this movie. I’m not always a Hopkins fan but she is always superb in comedies and this is no exception. I can’t find a single fault. Highly recommended.
The Smiling Lieutenant was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.
