The Smiling Lieutenant

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The Smiling Lieutenant

Directed by	Ernst Lubitsch
Produced by	Ernst Lubitsch
Written by	Hans Müller (novel) Leopold Jacobson (operetta) Felix Dormann (operetta) Samson Raphaelson (screenplay) Ernest Vajda (screenplay) Ernst Lubitsch (uncredited) Jacques Bataille-Henri (dialogue: French version) (uncredited)
Starring	Maurice Chevalier Claudette Colbert Miriam Hopkins
Cinematography	George J. Folsey
Editing by	Merrill G. White
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date(s)	1 August 1931
Running time	89 min.
Country	United States
Language	English
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The Smiling Lieutenant is a 1931 Paramount film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Made in the Pre-Code era, it was written by Samson Raphaelson and Ernest Vajda, from the operetta Ein Walzertraum, by Leopold Jacobson and Felix Dormann, which in turn was based on the novel Nux der Prinzgemahl by Hans Müller. It was directed by Ernst Lubitsch.

Miriam Hopkins, Maurice Chevalier and Claudette Colbert

[edit] Plot

The movie stars Maurice Chevalier, Claudette Colbert, Miriam Hopkins, Charles Ruggles and George Barbier. It is a romantic comedy concerning the love of a Princess for a soldier, and the love of the soldier for another woman. The Lieutenant (Chevalier) while standing in formation before a parade honoring the visiting royal family of Flausenthurm takes an opportunity to smile at his girlfriend in the crowd.

Unfortunately the smile is intercepted by the Princess of Flausenthurm, and an international incident is narrowly avoided by having them marry. The Lieutenant continually sneaks away from his dowdy bride to visit his girlfriend (Colbert) who decides to confront the princess. She finds her to be deeply in love, and decides to save the marriage by giving the princess a makeover ("Jazz up your lingerie!") The results are a complete success as the Lieutenant follows his satin clad, cigarette puffing bride into the bedroom and closes the door- only to open it and give the audience a last song and a suggestive wink.