In this next to last film on his Paramount contract Maurice Chevalier was on his toes to make sure that the world's most natural scene stealer didn't steal the film A Bedtime Story from him. Who did Chevalier have to worry about? None other than Baby LeRoy, the bane of the existence of W.C. Fields.
No stories come out of the making of A Bedtime Story having Maurice Chevalier spiking Baby LeRoy's formula the way Fields did, still the whole cast is on its toes. Babies are the worst scene stealers in the world because they have no inhibitions on their behavior. The best actors don't have a chance.
Chevalier plays a titled man about town and the town is his beloved Paris. A man and woman with whom Baby LeRoy has been left with since his parents died, decide they can't care for him. One look at Maurice's expensive ride convinces them the kid will be in good hands.
In the meantime Chevalier is engaged to Gertrude Michael, but in fact he's just arrived back from a hunting trip in Africa and she doesn't know it yet. With the philosophy expressed best by Stanley Holloway in My Fair Lady, he's going to have one last fling before he has to get to the church on time. He makes a number of carefully timed rendezvous, but the discovery of the little guy upsets all his plans.
What plans Maurice had with such lovelies as Adrienne Ames and Betty Lorraine, but it all blows up on him including his engagement. Still Chevalier can't help, but get attached to Monsieur Baby and to the lovely 'nurse' whom an agency sends to help him out in the person of Helen Twelvetrees.
A Bedtime Story also has the inimitable presence of Edward Everett Horton as Chevalier's butler. No further description needed. Maurice sings some songs written by Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin, not quite up to the standard of what he usually sang in his films, but serviceable enough for the film.
Chevalier was not happy with this film or his next and last one with Paramount, The Way To Love. It was a come down from the quality of work he was doing with Ernst Lubitsch and Rouben Mamoulian, his previous film before A Bedtime Story was Love Me Tonight. Still A Bedtime Story has the irresistible Chevalier charm and a cute baby.
No stories come out of the making of A Bedtime Story having Maurice Chevalier spiking Baby LeRoy's formula the way Fields did, still the whole cast is on its toes. Babies are the worst scene stealers in the world because they have no inhibitions on their behavior. The best actors don't have a chance.
Chevalier plays a titled man about town and the town is his beloved Paris. A man and woman with whom Baby LeRoy has been left with since his parents died, decide they can't care for him. One look at Maurice's expensive ride convinces them the kid will be in good hands.
In the meantime Chevalier is engaged to Gertrude Michael, but in fact he's just arrived back from a hunting trip in Africa and she doesn't know it yet. With the philosophy expressed best by Stanley Holloway in My Fair Lady, he's going to have one last fling before he has to get to the church on time. He makes a number of carefully timed rendezvous, but the discovery of the little guy upsets all his plans.
What plans Maurice had with such lovelies as Adrienne Ames and Betty Lorraine, but it all blows up on him including his engagement. Still Chevalier can't help, but get attached to Monsieur Baby and to the lovely 'nurse' whom an agency sends to help him out in the person of Helen Twelvetrees.
A Bedtime Story also has the inimitable presence of Edward Everett Horton as Chevalier's butler. No further description needed. Maurice sings some songs written by Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin, not quite up to the standard of what he usually sang in his films, but serviceable enough for the film.
Chevalier was not happy with this film or his next and last one with Paramount, The Way To Love. It was a come down from the quality of work he was doing with Ernst Lubitsch and Rouben Mamoulian, his previous film before A Bedtime Story was Love Me Tonight. Still A Bedtime Story has the irresistible Chevalier charm and a cute baby.