Trouble in Paradise (1932)

A gentleman thief and a lady pickpocket join forces to con a beautiful perfume company owner. Romantic entanglements and jealousies confuse the scheme.

Director:

Ernst Lubitsch

Writers:

Aladar Laszlo, Samson Raphaelson (screenplay),

Stars:

Miriam Hopkins, Kay Francis, Herbert Marshall

2 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Miriam Hopkins	...	Lily
Kay Francis	...	Madame Mariette Colet
Herbert Marshall	...	Gaston Monescu
Charles Ruggles	...	The Major (as Charlie Ruggles)
Edward Everett Horton	...	François Filiba
C. Aubrey Smith	...	Adolph J. Giron
Robert Greig	...	Jacques, Mariette's Butler
Leonid Kinskey	...	The Communist
George Humbert	...	Waiter

Storyline

High class European thief Gaston Monescu meets his soul mate Lily, a pickpocket masquerading as a countess. The two join forces and come under the employ of Mme. Colet, the beautiful owner of the Colet perfume company. Gaston works as Mme. Colet's personal secretary under the alias Monsieur Laval. Rumors start to fly as 'M. Laval' steals Mme. Colet away from her other suitors. When the secret of his true identity catches up to him, Gaston is caught between the two beautiful women.

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Plot Keywords:

thief | jealousy | perfume | pickpocket | love | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian Russian Spanish German

Release Date:

21 October 1932 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Honest Finder

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$519,706 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of over 700 Paramount Productions, filmed between 1929 and 1949, which were sold to MCA/Universal in 1958 for television distribution, and have been owned and controlled by Universal ever since.

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Goofs

(at around 10 mins) A very clearshadow of a boom mic moves against the wall/screen behind Lily, anticipating her next action (rising and moving toward Gaston).

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Quotes

Waiter: Yes, Baron. What should we start with, Baron? Hmm?
Gaston Monescu: Oh yes. That's not so easy. Beginnings are always difficult.
Waiter: Yes, Baron.
Gaston Monescu: If Casanova suddenly turned out to be Romeo having supper with Juliet, who might become Cleopatra, how would you start?
Waiter: I would start with cocktails.

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Crazy Credits

In the opening credits the words 'Trouble in' appear and then a bed before the word 'paradise,' subliminally indicating that sex is at least part of the film's plot. It was done so subtly for the time that censors didn't notice it until the film's attempted re-release in 1935.

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Connections

Referenced in Maltin on Movies: Romantic Movies for Valentine's Day (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Colet and Company"
Music by W. Franke Harling
Lyrics by Leo Robin
Sung by Tyler Brooke on radio

User Reviews

Exquisite

Beautiful, spellbinding romantic comedy with a suave jewel thief (Herbert Marshall) falling in love with his intended victim (luminous Kay Francis) much to the displeasure of his girlfriend (Miriam Hopkins). Beautifully shot (the scenes seem to glow), incredible sets and costumes, a very witty script, wonderful performances by everybody, superb direction by Ernst Lubitsch and some fairly racy Pre-Code material. What more can I say? It's perfection. A must-see!