A French version with dialogue and lyrics by Henri Bataille was shown in New York on 15 October 1931 and was also a big hit in Paris. It had the same three leading actors and was filmed at the same time as the English language version, as dubbing had not yet been invented.
Paramount's biggest grossing film of 1931.
The rhythmic underscoring of the film. which comments on the mood of the characters, may be the first work of the orchestrator, Conrad Salinger, whose symphonic arrangements set the style of the MGM musicals of the 1940s and 50s. Salinger was a pupil of Frederick Delius.
Advanced ticketing for the film at its New York engagement sold out immediately.
The first of three films that Ernst Lubitsch made with Miriam Hopkins, the others being Trouble in Paradise (1932) and Design for Living (1933).
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
