Director Ernst Lubitsch may be best known for To Be Or Not To Be and Ninotchka but this delightful lost gem is one of his finest. The simple set up sees thieves Gaston (Herbert Marshall) and Lily (Miriam Hopkins) go to work for the wealthy Madame Colet (Kay Francis) with the intention of robbing her. The plan is dependent on Madame Colet falling head over heels for the charming Gaston and by gum he is charming, we’re talking Terry Thomas mixed with John Le Mesurier mixed with a terribly charming duck. Wouldn’t you know it? Gaston ends up having feelings for the very woman he’s trying to con and a delicious game of romantic cat and mouse ensues.
Made in 1932 before the dreadful Hayes Code infected Hollywood, Trouble in Paradise has a suprising sexuality not often seen in early American cinema. It was for this reason that the film was effectively banned, remaining unseen again until the late 1960s. Luckily it’s now been registered as a film of cultural importance and like a Nathional Trust manor house will be preserved for generations to come. Which is fantastic as Trouble in Paradise is genuinely more entertaining than a lot of recent rom-coms released. Yes that’s partly the opinion of someone who has a love for the nostalgic, seemingly naive looking cinema but I was also entertained the entire time with many a grin crossing my face at the sitcom like humour.
The dialogue and acting is over-the-top at times. Miriam Hopkins does become a little grating and the comedy stylings is verging Three Stooges territory but you can forgive these faults by falling back on the “it’s of it’s time” mentality. The pluses far out way the negative script itself is snapping and lively. Marshall makes for a very endearing leading man. The climax which leads to a “whom will he choose” love triangle did have me wondering how it would end. Yes the title sounds like you’re about to embark on some turgid melodrama but Trouble in Paradise is one of those perfect films for a crappy Sunday afternoon in with takeway and a huge log fire.
The Masters of Cinema print is beautifully restored and makes me realise that Ernst Lubitsch is a director that I need to watch up on.
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