Café Metropole (1937)

In Paris, a young American is in debt to a nightclub owner, who forces him to woo an heiress in hopes of reaping her fortune.

Director:

Edward H. Griffith

Writers:

Jacques Deval (screen play), Gregory Ratoff (original story)

Stars:

Loretta Young, Tyrone Power, Adolphe Menjou

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Loretta Young	...	Laura Ridgeway
Tyrone Power	...	Alexander Brown aka Alexis
Adolphe Menjou	...	Monsieur Victor
Gregory Ratoff	...	Paul / Real Prince Alexis Paneiev
Charles Winninger	...	Joseph Ridgeway
Helen Westley	...	Margaret Ridgeway
Christian Rub	...	Maxl Schinner
Ferdinand Gottschalk	...	Monsieur Leon Monnet
Georges Renavent	...	Captain
Leonid Kinskey	...	Artist
Hal K. Dawson	...	Arthur Cleveland Thorndyke
Paul Porcasi	...	Police Official
André Cheron	...	Croupier (as Andre Cheron)
George Beranger	...	Hat Clerk (as Andre Beranger)

Storyline

Victor Lobard, the smooth and nimble owner of the Café Metropole in Paris, has only ten days to replace a small fortune he embezzled from the business; he and a clerk face prison if he fails. He thinks he's won the money at a casino then learns he's in possession of a rubber check written by Alexander Brown, a well-mannered but penniless Yank. Lobard cooks up a scheme: to have Brown pretend to be a Russian prince, woo a visiting American, and get her rich father to give Brown the money Lobard needs. Several problems: Brown's not a very good impostor, a real Russian prince presents himself, and the two young people fall in love. Does prison await or do wild strawberries?

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Plot Keywords:

1930s | year 1937 | russian prince | money | russian | 

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Taglines:

The "LOVE IS NEWS" SWEETHEARTS play love's most exciting game-in the season's smartest entertainment! (Print Ad- Buffalo Courier-Express, ((Buffalo, NY)) 10 May 1937)

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Two scenes featuring Bill Robinson (aka "Bojangles Robinson") were cut from the final version of the film: a solo tap dance performance in black tie by the dancing legend and a duet in beachcomber outfits with Geneva Sawyer. Both scenes are included in a DVD released by Fox as part of "Tyrone Power, Matinee Idol."

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Quotes

Joseph Ridgeway: I have but one rule about titles. If they're charming, they're fakes. If they're genuine, they're stupid.
Laura Ridgeway: There he goes again.

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Connections

Featured in Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film Vaults (1997)

User Reviews

One Unconvincing Russian

Cafe Metropole finds Adolphe Menjou owner of said title in some trouble. He's got to replace some money he took from the business or go to prison and he's got ten days before his crime is discovered. He thinks he's won it back from a certain American playboy, but when the check is admittedly false, Menjou has a problem.

Adolphe's a clever dude though, he uses the inebriated playboy who is Tyrone Power and tells him to woo and win it from an American girl, Loretta Young traveling in Paris with her parents Charles Winninger and Helen Westley. Be an exiled Russian nobleman, there are so many of them running around Paris these days.

As a romantic Ty can't be beat, but he's certainly one unconvincing Russian going in and out of his accent in the same sentence. But he and Young do hit it off. And why wouldn't Young fall for him, it's Tyrone Power.

Cafe Metropole is an amusing comedy of sorts with a Parisian setting recreated on 20th Century Fox's back lot. Just the kind of entertainment the movie-going public wanted, escapist stuff about Americans enjoying the good life with absolutely no hint of a rumor of a Depression out there. This also showed Ty Power's versatility in handling modern comedy as well as period drama. It holds up well today as people are still embezzling and trying all kinds of madcap schemes to cover and recover.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French Russian

Release Date:

7 May 1937 (USA)

Also Known As:

Café Metropole

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1