Director: Ernst Lubitsch
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Top Billed Actors: Maurice Chevalier, Jeanette MacDonald, Genevieve Tobin
Won 0 Oscars
Nominated for 1 more:
Outstanding Production - Paramount Publix
Plot: A Parisian doctor cheats on his wife with her best friend right under her nose, so they sing songs, kiss, and make up.
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Top Billed Actors: Maurice Chevalier, Jeanette MacDonald, Genevieve Tobin
Won 0 Oscars
Nominated for 1 more:
Outstanding Production - Paramount Publix
Plot: A Parisian doctor cheats on his wife with her best friend right under her nose, so they sing songs, kiss, and make up.
One Hour with You (1932) is yet another Ernst Lubitsch musical. Lighthearted and fun, there isn't much to it. At this point in the project, it feels like its the same old, same old when it is released on the heels of The Love Parade (1929) and The Smiling Lieutenant (1931), the latter being nominated alongside this film as Best Picture in the 5th Awards. All three feature Maurice Chevalier as a romantic man who has multiple women who want to be with him. They all feature songs that have a lot of spoken word in them. Two of them have Jeanette MacDonald co-star with Chevalier. It grows rather tiring.
I did enjoy some of the music in this one. The songs can be catchy and there is some musical score that plays in the film even when there is no singing. This is a noticeable step forward as, even in 1932, most films appear rather quiet when compared to today's movies. The comedy is also funny at times. In one scene, the professor (played by Roland Young) is speaking in a high pitch voice to his wife while explaining to his detective (he is trying to get a divorce) that they are both lying to each other. It almost feels like a Mel Brooks moment.
However, some of the music and jokes fell rather flat. Perhaps it is because I recently watched Lubitsch's other two films from this project or perhaps it is due to Lubitsch's formula getting old, but everything in this movie is rather dull and contrived. If I watched this as a stand alone feature I might have enjoyed it more. But after The Love Parade and The Smiling Lieutenant I just wanted it to end. The story is nonexistent and the pacing is lethargic. The plot most suits a sitcom rather than a feature length movie. I also don't like when Chevalier and MacDonald break the fourth wall. Spoiler alert: the message of the movie is just relationship advice.
Overall, this 1930's rom-com is definitely not for me. The music and comedy are pleasing at times, but I am glad the Lubitsch-Chevalier movies have come to an end for this project.
My Score: 5/10
I did enjoy some of the music in this one. The songs can be catchy and there is some musical score that plays in the film even when there is no singing. This is a noticeable step forward as, even in 1932, most films appear rather quiet when compared to today's movies. The comedy is also funny at times. In one scene, the professor (played by Roland Young) is speaking in a high pitch voice to his wife while explaining to his detective (he is trying to get a divorce) that they are both lying to each other. It almost feels like a Mel Brooks moment.
However, some of the music and jokes fell rather flat. Perhaps it is because I recently watched Lubitsch's other two films from this project or perhaps it is due to Lubitsch's formula getting old, but everything in this movie is rather dull and contrived. If I watched this as a stand alone feature I might have enjoyed it more. But after The Love Parade and The Smiling Lieutenant I just wanted it to end. The story is nonexistent and the pacing is lethargic. The plot most suits a sitcom rather than a feature length movie. I also don't like when Chevalier and MacDonald break the fourth wall. Spoiler alert: the message of the movie is just relationship advice.
Overall, this 1930's rom-com is definitely not for me. The music and comedy are pleasing at times, but I am glad the Lubitsch-Chevalier movies have come to an end for this project.
My Score: 5/10