The Smiling Lieutenant: Why this 1930s movie is still actually funny

If you're wondering if a movie from 1931 is actually worth your time today, the answer is mostly yes. You should watch this if you like fast talking, slightly naughty jokes, and people breaking into song for no reason.

You will probably hate it if you can't stand old-school operettas or if Maurice Chevalier’s constant grinning makes you want to hide under the couch. He has a lot of teeth.

The whole plot kicks off because of a misunderstanding with a wink. Niki is in the middle of a parade and tries to wink at his girlfriend, Franzi, but the Princess thinks he’s looking at her.

It’s a dumb mistake that ruins everyone's lives for about an hour. Miriam Hopkins plays the Princess and she starts out looking like she’s sucked a lemon.

She is so stiff and awkward that you actually feel bad for her, even if she is a royal. The movie gets way better when she and the girlfriend finally meet up.

Most movies would make them rivals who claw each others eyes out. But here, they end up playing a piano duet and talking about underwear.

The song "Jazz Up Your Lingerie" is basically the highlight of the whole thing. It is probably the most famous part for a reason.

Franzi, played by Claudette Colbert, basically teaches the Princess how to be sexy so she can win back her own husband. It's kind of a weird move if you think about it too hard.

I noticed the sound is a little scratchy in the version I saw. Sometimes the background noise sounds like someone is frying bacon in the next room.

There is this one scene where the King is eating breakfast and the way he chews is just... loud. I don’t know why the microphone was so close to his mouth right then.

The King is actually pretty funny though. He’s played by George Barbier and he just seems tired of everyone’s nonsense.

Compared to something like Lady Windermere's Fan, this feels much more loose and silly. It doesn't care about being a "serious" play adaptation.

I forgot that people used to smoke this much in movies. Every five minutes someone is lighting a cigarette or a cigar or just holding one while they sing.

The sets look like they are made of very expensive cardboard. It has that 1930s glow where everything looks like it was filmed inside a wedding cake.

Maurice Chevalier spends half the movie looking directly at the camera. It’s like he’s letting us in on a secret, or maybe he just forgot where the other actors were standing.

He is very charming, but also kind of a jerk? He’s basically cheating on everyone at once and we’re supposed to think it’s cute because he plays the violin.

There’s a bit where they are in a garden and the lighting changes so fast it’s almost distracting. One second it’s bright, the next it looks like a storm is coming, but no one mentions it.

I liked the part where Franzi is leading her all-girl band. They look like they are having way more fun than the people in the palace.

The ending feels a little rushed, like they ran out of film or had to go to lunch. It just sort of stops after a big realization.

I didn't expect to find myself hummng the tunes afterward. Usually these old songs are pretty forgettable, but these have a weird beat to them.

It’s definitely a "Pre-Code" movie. They say things and imply things that they couldn't get away with just a few years later. 🍑

The way the Princess transforms is actually kind of sweet. She goes from a total bore to someone who actually has a personality.

I did find myself wondering why the lieutenant didn't just tell the truth at the start. But then I guess we wouldn't have a movie, we'd just have a five-minute short about a guy getting yelled at by a General.

It's a good one for a rainy Sunday. Just don't expect it to change your life or anything. It's just fun.

One more thing—the mustache on Chevalier is trimmed so perfectly it almost looks fake. I kept staring at it instead of listening to the dialogue in the second act.

Random notes I took:

• The uniforms have way too many buttons. How do they get dressed?
• The beer drinking scene felt very authentic.
• Miriam Hopkins has amazing facial expressions when she's annoyed.
• I wish there was more of the violin girl at the end.

If you've seen other stuff from this era, you know what to expect. It's better than Passion Flower which felt a lot more heavy-handed and slow for no reason.

This one keeps moving. It doesn't get stuck in its own feelings too much.

Anyway, give it a shot. It's short, it's funny, and the lingerie song is a bop. 🎶