This 1931 film with a screenplay by Herman Mankiewicz, co-writer of Citizen Kane, is credited in the books if not in the film to two directors, one of whom, Edward Goodman, must have been replaced somewhere during the production by Hollywood veteran Richard Wallace who receives sole screen credit. The sluggishness of the film is probably due to Goodman, one of the many successful Broadway theater directors lured to the west coast in the early days of sound pictures. He staged dialogue scenes in a conventional manner as he might have done a play. (Oddly enough, no film editor is listed in the credits, possibly because no one at Paramount wanted their name associated with what must have been perceived then as a talky failure.) Nevertheless, the fiIm is worth watching because it brings together two future stars, William Powell and Carole Lombard, soon to marry. She, a very popular ingenue of the early1930s, does her best as she always did with the thankless role of the rich American girl abroad. He has a few scenes in which he displays his suave charm. It would take a few more years before Hollywood learned how to use sound and how to pace sophisticated stories such as this, but even this failure has its moments. Guy Kibbee is particularly effective. Five years later, Powell and Lombard, three years divorced, would be reunited at Universal to make the comedy classic My Man Godfrey, directed by someone who really knew how to make movies move-the great Gregory LaCava. LaCava insisted on Powell who insisted on Lombard. Wise choice.

I just do not care for this movie. It is not because William Powell ( Michael) was bad, it is just he did nothing for me good or bad, and he played a character he could play in his sleep. Powell is at his best in two kinds of movies comedy and crime and there was no comedy and the crime was secondary. The only one I did like was Wynne Gibson ( Irene) his former partner in crime. She gives a very sophisticated and measured performance ( so much better then Kay Francis who I detest)., Carole Lombard is in the film as well and she just did nothing for me. I admit to not being a fan of hers ( especially when compared to Myrna Loy). Finally, If you want to see a great film from Powell's Paramount period I would highly recommend Shadow Of The Law, now there is a very different Powell performance. I will give it 5/10 stars all for Gibson.

In what seems to be a promising drama of rich and poor, noble and naughty Americans in Paris, William Powell and Carole Lombard rise above a dull screenplay and add class to a mediocre project. Powell is a society blackmailer, an American novelist down on his luck who sets his money hungry sights on the niece of one of his victims. That lovely lady is Lombard, probably the most likable young actress every in the movies. Her natural beauty and charm betray her 21 years, making her a delightful surprise among a list of barely legal thespians who seem artificial on screen. Lombard has much chemistry with the older Powell, and in this (their first of three films), the age difference is one that never distracts. Powell's seemingly not so noble rogue is hiding a big heart that only hardens when forced by his jealous ex-lover (Wynne Gibson), his partner in crime that can't believe that Powell would actually fall in love with Lombard.

Guy Kibbee is Lombard's wealthy fun-loving uncle who longs to see her with the more age suitable Lawrence Gray, while veteran sleazy portrayer George Chandler is Gibson's equally nefarious cohort. Viewers will find the film delightful as far as the performances, sets and costumes are concerned, but the dull dialog isn't as snappy as other similar pre-code films. A brief view of minor characters (wealthy older male and female American with obvious "working" members of the opposite sex) is amusing, particularly the stout woman's reaction when her gigolo suddenly runs off after a warning from Powell. At 71 minutes long, you'd think this would fly by, but for some reason, it seems longer and is therefore a dull disappointment. Powell and Lombard don't get much of an opportunity to utilize their tremendous comic talents, but on occasion, the magic does slip out (with some nasty dialog crispy sneered by the underrated Gibson) and for that, this is worth a viewing.