Release Date (US): July 2, 1937
Runtime: 89 min.
Production Co: MGM
Director: George Fitzmaurice (one of his last films)
Producer: John W. Considine Jr.
Story: Based on a book of the same name by Baroness Emmauska Orczy c. 1899 (known for writing The Scarlet Pimpernel)
Costumes: Adrian
Music: Franz Waxman
Cast:
William Powell
Luise Rainer
Robert Young
Maureen O'Sullivan
Frank Morgan
Summary: The son of the Russian Czar, the Grand Duke Peter (Young), is kidnapped while at a costume ball in Vienna, along with his aide (Morgan). The girl who lured him away (Sullivan) wants him to write to the Czar and tell him to free her father, a Polish patriot. Powell is chosen to deliver the letter, which is hidden in a compartment in a pair of fancy candlesticks. Rainer, a Russian agent, is also delivering a candlestick, one that contains warrant for Powell's arrest. The candlesticks are switched, leading to a merry chase all the way to Russia as each tries to retrieve their candlestick. When both candlesticks are stolen, they must work together to get them back. During the process they fall in love, even though they must continue to outwit each other to fulfill their duty to their respective countries.
Young and Morgan
Young and Sullivan
Sullivan
Staying at the same hotel
Discovering the mix-up
The candlestick is delivered
Your Highness, we are free.
My thoughts: I really enjoyed this movie. You knew how it was going to end but it was fun to watch them keep running into each other and getting so close to getting the correct candlestick back only to lose it again. The secret compartment in the candlesticks was really cool. A typical William Powell movie.
The only clip on YouTube. However, TCM has several clips plus the original trailer.
You may also like: Remembering Luise Rainer (with two other Powell movies!)
All images found via Pinterest.
Other sources used: TCM, Wikipedia, IMDb
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