Monte Carlo (1930)

Monte Carlo
Directed by Ernst Lubitsch
Written by Ernest Vajda from a variety of source material
1930/US
Paramount Pictures
IMDb page
Repeat viewing/Criterion Channel

Countess Helene Mara: oh, oh, oh, oh… ohohohoo… that feels good… oh,oh… that feels even better… you must have electricity in your hands. I’ve never felt like this before! Gorgeous!

This bit of fluff might be the least of the Lubitsch musicals but it is still charming.

Countess Helene (Jeanette MacDonald) escapes her arranged marriage to the much older Duke Otto (Claud Allister) at the last possible moment. She hopes to increase her scant finances at the gaming tables of Monte Carlo. On arrival, Count Rudolph (Jack Buchanan) tries to chat her up but she won’t give him the time of day. He decides the best way to get close to her will be to pose as a hairdresser. This works out better than might be expected.

But the casino leaves Jeanette even broker than she was before and she reconsiders marrying the Duke who has come to town in search of her.  One guess as to how this will wind up.

While the songs aren’t particularly great, the dialogue is sharp and the performances are excellent.  I’ve loved Jack Buchanan since I first saw him in The Band Wagon (1953) and Zasu Pitts was a special treat as the maid.  MacDonald is at her sexy comic best and in good voice.

Clip

Also an audio of one of the songs (not sung by one of the principals) with a photo montage