The Guardsman (1931)

A Vienna based acting couple make magic when they perform together on stage. Unknown to the theater going public and despite being married for only six months, that magic seems no longer to... See full summary »

Director:

Sidney Franklin

Writers:

Ferenc Molnár (from the play by), Ernest Vajda (screen play),

Stars:

Alfred Lunt, Lynn Fontanne, Roland Young

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Alfred Lunt	...	The Actor
Lynn Fontanne	...	The Actress
Roland Young	...	The Critic
Zasu Pitts	...	Liesl
Maude Eburne	...	'Mama'
Herman Bing	...	A Creditor

Storyline

A Vienna based acting couple make magic when they perform together on stage. Unknown to the theater going public and despite being married for only six months, that magic seems no longer to translate to their personal life, where they are constantly arguing, even under their breaths during on-stage curtain calls. These arguments stem from the actress' moody behavior, which the actor believes means that she no longer loves him and that she is looking for another man to replace him in her personal life. He believes she even scans the audience for potential suitors, probably being most attracted to the soldier type. Their feuding is at a point where they take pot shots at each other about everything in their lives, even the quality of the other's acting. The actor may have a valid point as the actress has been receiving bouquets of roses of late and a Russian guardsman has been seen hanging around outside their home. The actor knows these things as he is that Russian guardsman (who is ...

---

Plot Keywords:

actor | russian | actress | marriage | disguise | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

---

Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 November 1931 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sólo ella lo sabe

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ferenc Molnár's play opened in Budapest in 1911. English versions were staged in London (as "Playing With Fire") and New York (as "Where Ignorance Is Bliss") in 1913. But the definitive English version, adapted by Philip Moeller, opened in New York in 1924 and starred Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne.

---

Quotes

[encouraging the Actor to test his wife's fidelity]
Bernhardt the Critic: Follow her now, or you'll never know. You'll *never* know.
[Actor leaves]
Bernhardt the Critic: Nor will I.

---

Connections

Remake of Der Gardeoffizier (1927)

User Reviews

I'm Jumping for Joy Over This Movie!

I first saw this movie on TCM, and I became enamored of this fabulous acting couple. I won't repeat the fabulous reviews of this film, but I hounded TCM to reschedule the movie, but alas. Then thanks to an amazon.com seller, I bought the video. I have watched it over and over. What fun to see Lunt running around in disguise and thinking he was putting something over on his wife. And Zasu Pitts as the maid, she's priceless!

The Guardsman has also put me in touch with their biographies, what wonderful lives they led. They were Broadway stars, Lunt and Fontanne, they have a Broadway theater named for them.

And 77 years later, the Guardsman still brings laughs to us. Thank goodness for them!