Review of Love Me Tonight (1932) by Vincent B — 09 Nov 2008

A fantastic example of the musical genre outside the "we've got a show to put on gang!" type. This musical is pre-code so many of the songs are humerously risque, particularly "Mimi" which the enamoured Maurice Chevalier sings to a haughty Jeanette MacDonald, declairing his love for her upon their first meeting.

The opening sequence in which we watch, and hear, Paris "wake-up" is masterfully shot and choreographed. As are the scenes where we follow the song "Isn't it Romantic?", which travels from Chevalier's humble tailor's shop and continues with the customer into the street on to a cabbie and so on untill it reaches the french countryside and is picked up by MacDonald as she lingers on a castle balcony.

The film is a romantic musical but it also excels as a comedy thanks to the witty and charming Chevalier and the fantastic supporting cast, which includes the increadibly sexy and funny Myrna Loy (one of my favourites), as the broke Countess Valentine, who contributes some terrific one-liners, Charles Ruggles as the Viscount who has neglected to pay his considerable tailor's bill, and the great Sir C.

Aubrey Smith as the Duke, who must deal with his cash-strapped neice and nephew. The final sequence in which the hero and heroine's traditional roles are somewhat reversed is an excellent ending to this remarkable movie.