Princesse, à vos ordres! is a weirdly charming 1930s musical fluff piece

Is this worth watching today? Only if you really like black-and-white movies where people smile way too much while singing. If you want something deep or gritty, you will probably hate this with a passion.

It's basically a fairy tale for adults who like fancy hats. It's the kind of thing you put on when you want to forget that the real world exists for about ninety minutes.

So, the whole plot is about Henri Garat and Lilian Harvey. They are both pretending to be poor, or at least "middle class," which is always funny in these old movies.

He says he is a deli clerk. She says she is a manicurist. They meet at a ball and sparks fly, but obviously, they are both lying through their teeth.

I found the deli scenes actually pretty funny. The shop looks so clean and shiny, like no one has ever actually touched a piece of meat in there.

Henri Garat is charming enough, I guess. He has that 1930s "leading man" face where his hair never moves, even when he's supposed to be stressed out.

Lilian Harvey is the real star here though. She has this huge energy that almost feels like she's about to jump out of the screen and grab you. 💃

I noticed that she does this little squint with her eyes when she's trying to be funny. It's very endearing, even if the movie is a bit old-fashioned.

Billy Wilder actually helped write this. You can see his fingerprints on some of the faster dialogue bits, even if it's all in French.

It’s not quite as sharp as his later stuff, but you can tell someone smart was behind the jokes. The way they poke fun at the government is actually kind of sassy for 1931.

The Prime Minister character is such a typical movie grump. He spends half his time looking at papers and the other half looking annoyed that young people want to be happy.

There is a scene at a ball where everyone is dancing in these massive circles. It goes on for a bit too long, honestly.

I started counting the candles in the background because the dancing just kept going. But the music is catchy, so I didn't mind too much.

The Comedian Harmonists are in this movie too! They are like a 1930s boy band but with actual talent and very neat suits. 🎶

Their singing is so perfectly in sync it’s almost creepy. I wish they had more screen time than the actual politicians in the movie.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Princesse, à vos ordres! (1931) through its definitive frames.

I kept thinking about The Love Trap while I was watching. It has that same vibe of people pretending to be someone else to get what they want.

It also reminded me a bit of Die Kleine aus Amerika because of how light it feels. These movies were like the popcorn of their day.

One weird thing I noticed: the sound quality is a bit fuzzy. Sometimes it sounds like they are talking through a tin can, but that's just how movies from 1931 are.

The sets are really pretty though. Everything looks like it was made of marble and expensive silk.

The scene where they are arguing about the marriage for "political reasons" is a bit dry. I found myself wishing they would just go back to the deli shop.

It's funny how movies back then thought being a deli clerk was the most romantic job ever. I don't think I've ever seen a deli clerk look that good in real life.

I also liked the weird little reactions from the background extras. There is one lady at the ball who looks like she's actually bored, and it made me laugh.

The ending is pretty much what you expect. No big surprises here, just a lot of smiles and probably some more singing off-camera.

If you have seen La Glu, this is the exact opposite of that. It's not heavy at all.

It’s more like a sugary snack. You enjoy it while it's there, and then you forget most of it an hour later.

I did notice one shot where the camera lingers on a plate of food for no reason. Maybe the director was hungry that day?

Anyway, it’s a nice enough movie. It’s got that old-world charm that you just don't see anymore. 🍿

Just don't go into it expecting a masterpiece. It's a silly musical about a princess and a sandwich man, and it knows it.

The French version feels a bit more relaxed than the German one, if that makes sense. Like they were having more fun on set.

I’d say give it a watch if you find it on a streaming service or a dusty DVD. It’s a nice little trip back in time.