The Great Lover (1931)

Jean Paurel is a womanizing opera star, who agrees to help Diana Page her career in order to take advantage of her. But instead he finds falling in love with her. To complicate matters, ... See full summary »

Director:

Harry Beaumont

Writers:

Leo Ditrichstein (based on the play written by), Frederic Hatton (based on the play written by),

Stars:

Adolphe Menjou, Irene Dunne, Ernest Torrence

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Adolphe Menjou	...	Paurel
Irene Dunne	...	Diana
Ernest Torrence	...	Potter
Neil Hamilton	...	Carlo
Olga Baclanova	...	Savarova (as Baclanova)
Cliff Edwards	...	Finny
Hale Hamilton	...	Stapleton
Roscoe Ates	...	Rosco (as Rosco Ates)
Herman Bing	...	Losseck
Elsa Janssen	...	Mme. Neumann Baumbach (as Else Janssen)

Storyline

Jean Paurel is a womanizing opera star, who agrees to help Diana Page her career in order to take advantage of her. But instead he finds falling in love with her. To complicate matters, Jean's understudy out to be Diana's old flame, and tries to rekindle their relationship.

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Plot Keywords:

understudy | love affair | audition | reporter | romantic rivalry | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian German

Release Date:

18 July 1931 (USA)

Also Known As:

Le grand amour

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

71 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to contemporary newspaper advertisements, this film and Ex-Bad Boy played on a double in some theaters in early 1932.

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Connections

Version of The Great Lover (1920)

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Soundtracks

"Love Song"
(1870) (uncredited)
from "Die Walküre"
Music and libretto by Richard Wagner
Sung by Herman Bing a cappella

User Reviews

Simply delightful obscure film

What a delightful movie! For anyone interested in how opera was perceived in the 30's ,this is a must. I heartily urge a DVD release. Adolphe Menjou is superb as the womanizing real life Don GIovanni who finally succumbs to cupids arrow. What a class act. His portrayal is full of ribald humor and sensitivity. Irene Dunne is also superb as the naive young ingénue who will take the opera by storm. There is a host of wonderful supporting players who add to the sparkle of this movie. This is admittedly a very dated film but therein lies the charm. An era of the opera AND cinema is recreated beautifully. This movie will appeal not only to opera fans but also nostalgia buffs. It gives us a sense of operatic and film history. Terrific!