Love Me Tonight (1932, Rouben Mamoulian)

When I’m about to watch a musical I cross my fingers and pray for good music and excellent songs. But it is a true miracle when the great music comes accompanied by a witty script, superb performances and imaginative directorial touches. This is the kind of musical that could have been a great movie even without its songs. Maurice Chevalier plays a tailor who goes after a Count who refuses to pay one of his bills. Determined to get paid, Chevalier travels to the countryside where the Count lives with his aristocratic family. Chevalier is immediately mistaken for a Baron and he has fun with the snobbish upper class. The film has a great deal of music, romance and high comedy. Everything about the movie is startling fresh, and exciting. It has strong music and lyrics by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, but I dare to say it is Rouben Mamoulian’s brilliant direction what makes the film memorable. The director relies on a series of visual tricks that are unusual (for 1932) and invigorating. Jeanette MacDonald is Chevalier’s love interest. And Myrna Loy, C. Aubrey Smith and Charles Ruggles are excellent in key supporting roles.

~ by gelpi2008 on Thursday, October 29, 2009.