One Rainy Afternoon (1936)

Director:

Rowland V. Lee

Writers:

Stephen Morehouse Avery (writer)
Maurice Hanline (additional dialogue)

Release Date:

13 May 1936 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Actor Philippe Martin and his married date Yvonne plan to neck in a darkened cinema, but he gets the wrong seat and mistakenly kisses lovely Monique...

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman

Cast

Francis Lederer	...	Philippe Martin
Ida Lupino	...	Monique Pelerin
Hugh Herbert	...	Toto
Roland Young	...	Maillot
Erik Rhodes	...	Count Alfredo Donstelli
Joseph Cawthorn	...	Monsieur Pelerin
Liev De Maigret	...	Yvonne - Countess Live de Maigret
Donald Meek	...	Judge
Georgia Caine	...	Cecile
Murray Kinnell	...	Theatre Manager
Mischa Auer	...	Leading Man
Richard Carle	...	Minister of Justice
Phyllis Barry	...	Felice (Maillot's secretary)
Lois January	...	Mr Perelin's Secretary
Eily Malyon	...	President of Purity League

Also Known As:

Matinee Scandal (USA) (reissue title)

Runtime:

94 min | USA:80 min (2005 DVD release)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Pickford-Lasky

Quotes:

Yvonne: Do you think they will send him to jail?
Toto: Oh sure, he hasn't got a chance. Now if he were only a murderer...

Movie Connections:

Version of Monsieur Sans-Gêne (1935)

Soundtrack:

SECRET RENDEZVOUS

Charming romantic comedy well worth watching

When a European setting was considered necessary for a "sophisticated" romantic comedy and a "prestige" production, "One Rainy Night" delivered not only the setting, but also the European screenwriters and even the European lead -- Francis Lederer doing a passable Maurice Chevalier-like singing turn. The main plot is a trifle, as is appropriate for romantic comedy. Lederer plays a stage actor who accidentally kisses a stranger (Ida Lupino) in a darkened movie theater, when he thought he was kissing his married lover (billed as Countess Liev de Maigret). Lederer is prosecuted as a masher at the insistence of a public morality committee. At trial, he can't tell the true reason he kissed Lupino, so he says he was overcome by her beauty; the trial makes him a popular celebrity and his stage play a hit, and it starts a romance between Lederer and Lupino.

Lederer is a charming romantic lead and Lupino is radiant in an uncharacteristic early role as a sweet, innocent girl. Unfortunately, they have little chemistry between them, which is the weak point of the movie. But the supporting cast, including the always reliable Roland Young, Hugh Herbert, Donald Meek, Eric Rhodes, and Mischa Auer playing their usual characters, are all given either extended scenes or bits of business that keep the movie light, sparkling, and enjoyable. And Rowland Lee's direction is up to his usual high standard.