Cinema
Trouble in Paradise
Ernst Lubitsch · 1932
Synopsis
In Venice, in a hotel room, Gaston Monescu, a thief posing as a baron, dines with Lily, a pickpocket who passes herself off as a countess; as the meal goes on, each robs the other, and they decide to team up. In Paris, Gaston steals Mariette Colet's diamond-studded handbag at the opera, she being a widow and the owner of a perfume house, then returns it to her in exchange for the promised reward. He gets himself hired as her secretary, brings Lily into the office and persuades Mariette to keep a large sum in her safe. Mariette appeals to him.
Context
The film was only reissued in 1968, even though it continued to be shown in film clubs, and the Criterion disc released in 2003 at last made it easy to see. Lubitsch, who was also its producer, wrote shortly before his death that, for pure style, he had done nothing better, nor anything as good. The Art Deco sets are by Hans Dreier, Paramount's head set designer. The budget came to 519,706 dollars, Lubitsch having cut his expenses after more costly films.
Who it is for
An eighty-minute film with rapid-fire dialogue, shown in France in the original version with subtitles.
Prizes and reception
Added in 1991 to the National Film Registry, and cited among the ten best films of 1932 by the New York Times and the National Board of Review.
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