Review of Trouble in Paradise (1932) by Sabrina I — 29 Jan 2011

A sparkling pre-code romantic comedy with sophistication and wit. It's got that old Hollywood glamour feel to it that classic fans love along with fun dialogue makes this one a keeper. I think its one of the most perfect romantic comedies.

I enjoyed every minute of it...the story is good but the way the character's interact and how everything unfolds is what makes the film special. Herbert Marshall's character is charming and suave, he's smooth talker who can get anyone to believe anything.

..Marshall plays him perfectly. You can see how the two women fell for him. I loved the dinner scene early on in the film where Miriam Hopkins and Herbert Marshall find out they both are thieves. It's a wonderfully charming scene that as the famous "Lubitsch Touch" all over it.

It just might be my favorite. I think what makes that scene special is that you don't expect them to find out like THAT, it takes the audience aback and you truly charmed by it all. It's such a clever way to introduce the characters.

The film has several scenes that don't go over as you would expect, the film is delightfully unpredictable and unique. Even though it's a pre-code film, it's not really that risque. Though I think there's several aspects of the film that would have been taken out a few years later.

Such as perhaps even the main character's themselves, they are thieves and get away with it. They are HAPPY being who they are. I think later on the studios wouldn't have allowed them to be so content with themselves and especially the ending would have been changed.

Although you never know since this is a COMEDY and not a DRAMA, perhaps they would have allowed some of those characteristics to stay. Who knows however luckily the film was made before the production code so it stands as a great example of a romantic comedy unspoiled by studio interference.

Overall, a wonderful, funny, stylish and memorable Hollywood classic.