NEW CHEVALIER ROMANCE

Evening Star, Issue 20983, 23 December 1931, Page 8

NEW CHEVALIER ROMANCE

REGENT’S SPARKLING CHRISTMAS OFFERING Maurice Chevalier is the star and Claudette Colbert and Miriam Hopkins are his charming leading ladies in the Ernst Lubitscli directed Paramount picture, ‘ The Smiling Lieutenant,’ coming to the Regent Theatre on Boxing Day. Also prominently cast in this gay romantic comedy are Charlie Haggles and George Barbier. In ‘ The Smiling Lieutenant ’ Maurice Chevalier is a handsome military attache whose love adventures get him into plenty of mischief. But when lie finally falls in love with one girl (Claudette Colbert) he suddenly discovers that a princess -(Miriam Hopkins) has her eyes on him. And, as you undoubtedly know, when a princess sets her heart on a man complications are bound to ensue—complications, incidentally, which are sure to make for gay, ingratiating entertainment that chuckles and gurgles with spontaneous wit and humour. In that respect, of course, ‘ Tho Smiling Lieutenant ’ lives up to its promise. It swings along at a rapidfire pace as one clever, laugh-provoking situation dovetails perfectly with another. The dialogue, too, is brittle, pointed, and witty, and in the talented hands of tho cast is given added zest and meaning. So that' ‘ The Smiling Lieutenant as one of Maurice Chevalier’s most entertaining pictures, which, if memory serves you correctly, is an accomplishment not to be dismissed lightly. As the smiling lieutenant of the title Maurice Chevalier does the thing he does best in a manner to delight all audiences. He also sings any number of lively tunes written expressly for him by the distinguished composer, Oscar Strauss. Claudette Colbert is charming and believable as the gii'l who loves and loses; and Miriam Hopkins is pert and adorable as the dowdy princess who turns herself into a ravishing beauty. Charlie," Buggies as Chevalier’s fellowofficer and George Barbier as the father of the princess are excellent in comedy parts.