Trouble in Paradise (1932)
a great director once said that he have a sign on the wall of his office that asked, ''What would Lubitsch have done?' that director is the one im my avatar sitting with his five oscars.
wilder was probably referring to what's known by The "Lubitsch touch" which is the style that can be found in his movies and that emphasizes subtlety and elegance, expressive of good taste, and being economical about what does and doesn't need to be shown. at least that's how imdb describes it
this was the second time i watch this movie and i gotta say that i'm happy that i nominated it for this HoF because i think that this movie is like the basis of all the romantic comedies of that era and we can easily notice the influence that it had on Screwball comedy subgenre movies like Bringing Up Baby, The Lady Eve, Pat and Mike and many many others.
the movie is filled with delightfull little subtleties, and there is few that i would like to mention:
- at the beginning credits the title reads just "Trouble in", doesn't show the word "Paradise" and then at the bottom is a bed. It means "Trouble in Bed".
- when he says if he were her father he give her "a good spanking" then pauses and adds in the business sense of course...
They continue with her asking him: What would you do if you were my secretary?
And he replies: Then I would give you a good spanking too.
Her: You are hired.
- When the two are talking about their plan for the next day. He suggests activities like breakfast, a stroll, lunch, etc. and she adds "together" to the end of each. He then suggests that after lunch they could take a nap. She starts to respond "to-" then stops herself and smiles a little.
- when we see their reflection on the bed..
and many many others..
needless to say that the dialogue was excellent , witty , charming and fun with a lot of memorable quoets like the one by Lily Vautier: I wouldn't fall for another man if he was the biggest crook on earth! and many others.
finally the actors were all great from the three leading roles to the secondary supporting ones, but i must say that i liked miriam hopkins the most.