US 88m Dir: Rouben Mamoulian Key Cast: Maurice Chevalier
With this film my journey through the 1001 Films list enters a portion of cinema history I was somewhat apprehensive of- the 30s musicals. I am not someone who has a great like of musicals in general although there are one or two I enjoy. I am not keen when the cheesiness dilutes the emotion and when everyone starts singing spontaneously for no good reason.
Love Me Tonight certainly has some of the issues. For a start, it's set in Paris and only the lead character, Maurice Chevalier's Maurice, has a French accent. He is a tailor who takes a lucrative contract from aristocrat Vicomte Gilbert de Varèze who it turns out has no authority to spend money. Maurice heads to the family home to settle the debt but is convinced to pose as a Baron for a few days until the Vicomte can work out how to get hold of some money. Whilst posing as a baron he forms a relationship with Princess Jeanette (Jeanette MacDonald).
The story is pretty light and predictable. It pokes fun at the nobility as they over-react to everything and can't cope with the idea that Maurice is a lowly tailor. There's also more than a hint of innuendo (this is a pre-code film) and there are some genuinely funny moments. It's a comedy that is far more about the dialogue and performances than it is about the concept.
Ultimately, the success of any musical is down to it's songs. I wasn't keen on the way the songs were introduced here with most not existing to highlight an emotional point or play a part in the story but just a random interlude where Maurice and other characters start singing for no good reason. There is one clever moment where 'Isn't it Romantic' becomes an earworm which passes from person to person, moving the narrative of the story from Maurice in his tailor's shop to the chateau and the princess. During the opening song I was cringing at the lyrics which felt like a child had written them- it felt like someone was just coming up with words that rhyme and shoving them together into couplets. As the film continued though I had to admit that the Rodgers and Hart songs were on the whole pretty excellent with the aforementioned 'Isn't it Romantic?' and 'Mimi' being particular highlights.
My attitude to the film certainly softened as it progressed. I was apprehensive as it began and for the first ten minutes or so felt like my apprehension was well-founded. In the end though I realised I was watching an excellently directed film with some decent songs even if the story they were built around was rather weak.
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