The Gay Deception (1935)

Director:

William Wyler

Writers:

Stephen Morehouse Avery (original screenplay) and
Don Hartman (original screenplay)

Release Date:

13 September 1935 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Mirabel wins a $5,000 lottery which will enable her to live like a queen in New York. There she meets Sandro...

Plot Keywords:

Prince | Socialite | Consul | Restaurant | False Arrest

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Francis Lederer	...	Sandro
Frances Dee	...	Mirabel Miller
Benita Hume	...	Miss Cordelia Channing
Alan Mowbray	...	Lord Clewe
Lennox Pawle	...	Consul-General Semanek
Adele St. Mauer	...	Lucille - a Maid (as Adele St. Maur)
Akim Tamiroff	...	Spellek
Luis Alberni	...	Ernest
Lionel Stander	...	Gettel
Ferdinand Gottschalk	...	Mr. Squires
Richard Carle	...	Mr. Spitzer
Lenita Lane	...	Peg DeForrest
Barbara Fritchie	...	Joan Dennison
Paul Hurst	...	Bell Captain
Robert Greig	...	Adolph

Also Known As:

April Folly (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

77 min (copyright length) (FMC Library Print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #1171) | USA:TV-G (TV rating)

Company:

Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Several cast members in studio records/casting call lists did not appear or were not identifiable in the movie. These were (with their character names, if any): Dave O'Brien (Bellhop), Doro Merande (Linen Maid), Robert Graves, Francis Sayles and Gus Reed (Chefs), Lew Kelly (Hotel Carpenter), Olaf Hytten (Butler), Nell Craig and 'Sam Ash'

Gay Comedy of Errors

Fun romp with dashing Francis Lederer and lovely Frances Dee.

This is the kind of screwball movie that Hollywood can never make again. We have become too jaded, too complicated, too sophisticated.

You know the ending way before it comes, but the ride is full of smiles and giggles and silly surprises that will make your insides gurgle with joy and harken you gently into a more innocent time.

William Wyler's direction is nearly flawless. He wasn't Bette Davis' favorite director for nothing. It seems that he could do most anything.

Also, watch for the wonderfully goofy Lennox Pawle, stately Alan Mowbray and instantly recognizable Akim Tamiroff in one of the many roles that made their faces well-known but not necessarily their identities household names.

Sit back and take it in. Smile. You deserve it.