I'm slapping myself in the forehead right now for not figuring it out myself. Those 'happy' cigarettes William Powell was handing out were of the dreaded reefer madness variety. Other reviewers on this board point that out so blatantly that my only defense is that the smokes worked their magic so quickly I never made the connection. Experience you see, ever so limited, never produced the giggles or the night watchman's hysterics so quickly.
This is a blast of a film. You never quite get to the level of Cary Grant screwball comedy, but it's wonderful nevertheless. William Powell, playing on the opposite side of the law that Nick Charles did, is just as suave and sophisticated as your intended jewel thief should be. "With your permission Hollander, we're robbing your shop" - really now, how could you refuse a request like that? Especially after verifying that insurance for the merchandise was in full effect.
There's another great Powell line (funny, but Powell's character didn't have a name, did he?) - "I'm opposed to the American school of banditry, I studied in Paris". Just the sort of quip to win over the bored Baroness Teri (Kay Francis), whose philandering lifestyle is most evident in this pre-Code film that's just brimming with innuendo and double entendre. Teri's request to The Robber in my summary line above is my favorite, but depending on your demeanor, Powell's remark to the Baroness as he throws her to the pillows is just as illicit - "You're so lovely, it's hard to be brutal with you". Where's that kind of writing today?
Maybe I was just lucky to catch this on Turner Classics today, but this is definitely one to see. I'd do it again, preferably with a rewind button handy to do over those situations I described above. It's hard to keep up with a moving target when you don't want to miss anything, sometimes the savoring takes time and reflection.
This is a blast of a film. You never quite get to the level of Cary Grant screwball comedy, but it's wonderful nevertheless. William Powell, playing on the opposite side of the law that Nick Charles did, is just as suave and sophisticated as your intended jewel thief should be. "With your permission Hollander, we're robbing your shop" - really now, how could you refuse a request like that? Especially after verifying that insurance for the merchandise was in full effect.
There's another great Powell line (funny, but Powell's character didn't have a name, did he?) - "I'm opposed to the American school of banditry, I studied in Paris". Just the sort of quip to win over the bored Baroness Teri (Kay Francis), whose philandering lifestyle is most evident in this pre-Code film that's just brimming with innuendo and double entendre. Teri's request to The Robber in my summary line above is my favorite, but depending on your demeanor, Powell's remark to the Baroness as he throws her to the pillows is just as illicit - "You're so lovely, it's hard to be brutal with you". Where's that kind of writing today?
Maybe I was just lucky to catch this on Turner Classics today, but this is definitely one to see. I'd do it again, preferably with a rewind button handy to do over those situations I described above. It's hard to keep up with a moving target when you don't want to miss anything, sometimes the savoring takes time and reflection.