The King and the Chorus Girl (1937)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Writers:

Norman Krasna (writer) and
Groucho Marx (writer)

Release Date:

27 March 1937 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

Ex-King Alfred VII is a young, handsome, and charming erstwhile monarch who once ruled a nation of two million people...

Plot Keywords:

Love | Paris | Chorus Girl | Yacht | Nobility

Cast

Fernand Gravey	...	Alfred Bruger VII (as Fernand Gravet)
Joan Blondell	...	Miss Dorothy Ellis
Edward Everett Horton	...	Count Humbert Evel Bruger
Alan Mowbray	...	Donald Taylor
Mary Nash	...	Duchess Anna of Elberfield
Jane Wyman	...	Babette Latour
Luis Alberni	...	Gaston
Kenny Baker	...	Folies Bergère Soloist
Al Shaw	...	Folies Bergère Entertainer (as Shaw)
Sam Lee	...	Folies Bergère Entertainer (as Lee)
Lionel Pape	...	Professor Kornish
Leonard Mudie	...	Footman
Adrian Rosley	...	Concierge (as Adrian Roseley)

Also Known As:

Grand Passion (USA) (working title)
Romance Is Sacred (UK)
Romance in Paris (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #2873)

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Quotes:

Duchess Anna of Elberfield: You're a very fortunate young lady, Miss Ellis.
Miss Dorothy Ellis: And a very nervous one. You see, I've never met royalty before. I don't think I'll know how to act. We haven't any royalty in America.
Count Humbert Evel Bruger: Well, I don't want to tell you how to run your country, but that is a mistake. A smart, well-dressed royalty--awfully good for the tourist trade.
Miss Dorothy Ellis: Well, we're getting along...
Count Humbert Evel Bruger: Oh, well...mmm-hmm...well, of course, if you're satisfied just to be 'getting along'!

Soundtrack:

On the Rue de la Paix

A favorite of the Cinderella genre--

Since the first time I watched this a few years back, I have thought it was a little gem. As an older woman, I really enjoy Joan Blondell as the caberet chorus line gal, who catches the eye of a former king (Fernand Gravet) of a small country, who thinks she is flirting with him because in the act each girl is to pick one part of the audience to sing to.

As a lush who drinks and parties all night and sleeps all day, his retinue is most concerned about him. When Blondell spurns his advances which piques his interest, his staff (Edward Everett Horton & wife) decide to get her to keep doing it so he will try to win her. Of course, he keeps chasing her until she catches him.

The fun is in watching Gravet and Blondell interact with each other. Both are charming and we have fun right along with them. For a sweet and witty comedy from the 30's, I give it a 9/10 for pure sit back and enjoyment.