French Leave (1928): A Surprisingly Sweet Silent Comedy

So, is French Leave worth dusting off? If you’re a real fan of those old silent comedies, especially the ones with mistaken identities and a good bit of fuss, then yes, absolutely give it a look. Folks who need constant action or super fast-paced storytelling might find it a bit slow, honestly. But for anyone curious about how humor played out on screen nearly a century ago, or just looking for a genuinely charming, if a little creaky, bit of fun, you’ll probably get a kick out of it. It’s got a certain innocent charm that’s hard to ignore. ✨

The whole thing is set behind the lines in World War One, which is a surprisingly light backdrop for what unfolds. We’ve got Captain Harry Glenn (Haddon Mason) in France, just trying to do his thing. Then, his young wife, the very pretty Lucy (Madeleine Carroll, who really shines here), decides to surprise him. Instead of just showing up, she cooks up this wild idea to pose as the daughter of the French lady who runs the house where Harry eats his meals.

Right away, the setup is just asking for trouble. Lucy, pretending to be 'Mademoiselle,' immediately catches the eye of not one, but two other officers sharing Harry’s mess: the pompous Colonel Berners (George Owen) and the much younger, rather smitten Corporal Hammon (Arthur Chesney). You can practically see the sweat forming on poor Harry’s brow. His attempts to shoo his 'daughter' away, or explain why he keeps getting caught in very compromising positions with her, are just golden. One scene, he’s caught giving her a quick peck, and the way he tries to play it off as a fatherly goodbye? Oh, boy. It’s so clumsy, it's endearing.

Madeleine Carroll’s expressions are a big part of why this works. She’s got this mischievous glint in her eye, even when she’s trying to look innocent. You can tell she’s enjoying all the chaos she’s causing, even if Harry is absolutely losing his mind. There’s a bit where she’s serving dinner, and she almost drops a plate when the Colonel gets a little too flirty. It’s a small moment, but it just sells her fake discomfort perfectly. And the way she gives Harry these knowing glances across the table, like 'See what you’ve gotten yourself into?' — that really got me.

The Colonel, bless his heart, is so utterly convinced she’s this demure French girl. He keeps trying to impress her with his terrible French, which adds another layer of mild cringe-comedy. There’s this one bit where he’s trying to recite some poetry, and you just feel for the poor actress having to keep a straight face. It goes on a tad long, but then his really bad pronunciation kind of makes up for it. It's not laugh-out-loud funny in a modern way, but it puts a smile on your face.

And then there's Sydney Howard as Corporal Piggy, who is a hoot. He’s supposed to be the comic relief, and he actually delivers. His whole shtick is trying to avoid work and generally being a bit of a klutz. He has this whole sequence where he’s trying to sneak some food, and it’s just pure slapstick, a nice break from the main romantic tangle. It reminds you that silent film comedy wasn't just about big pratfalls, but also these quieter, more character-driven moments of silliness. The way he hides a sausage in his pocket is just… chef's kiss. 🤌

The movie does get a bit repetitive with Harry’s escalating panic. You feel like, at some point, he’s just going to explode. But the film manages to keep it moving, mostly thanks to the sheer absurdity of the situations. It’s not trying to be deep. It’s just trying to make you chuckle at people in ridiculous circumstances. The whole thing unfolds in just a handful of rooms, mostly that dining room, which really makes you focus on the actors' reactions and body language. You almost forget there's a war going on outside, which I guess is the point of a 'leave' movie.

What’s really interesting is how much of the humor relies on implied reactions. You see Harry’s face crumple, or the Colonel puff out his chest, and your brain fills in the rest. It’s a different kind of comedy than we get now, more subtle in some ways, more exaggerated in others. The scene where Lucy 'accidentally' spills tea on the Colonel's lap right when he's being extra forward? Perfect timing. It feels improvised, even though I'm sure it was painstakingly rehearsed.

It's not a film that will change your life, or even redefine the genre. But it’s a lovely little window into a particular kind of early cinema. It doesn't overstay its welcome. And honestly, for a movie from 1928, it holds up better than a lot of its contemporaries when it comes to just being a fun watch. You don't need to be a film historian to enjoy the simple pleasures here.

Quick Notes from My Watch:

• Madeleine Carroll really makes this movie. Her smiles are infectious. 😊
• The Colonel’s mustache is a character unto itself. So stiff!
• That one recurring bit where Harry tries to subtly push Lucy away from the other officers? Always gets a slight grin.
• The film makes great use of close-ups for those crucial reaction shots.
• There’s a moment where a maid gives a side-eye to the whole situation, and it's barely a second long but says so much.
• The 'French accents' conveyed through acting are pretty broad, as you'd expect.
• It's surprising how much tension they build just from misunderstandings.

So yeah, French Leave. It's a charming, slightly goofy romp. Don't go in expecting anything groundbreaking, but if you're in the mood for some old-school British comedy, with a dash of wartime romance and a whole lot of confused looks, you could do far worse. It's one of those films that just makes you feel a bit… pleasant afterwards. Not every film needs to be a masterpiece, sometimes a good chuckle is enough. And this one delivers on that front, rather sweetly.