Agrega una trama en tu idiomaA jealous stage actor disguises himself as a Russian guardsman in order to test his actress wife's loyalty.A jealous stage actor disguises himself as a Russian guardsman in order to test his actress wife's loyalty.A jealous stage actor disguises himself as a Russian guardsman in order to test his actress wife's loyalty.
- Dirección
- Guionistas
- Elenco
- Nominado a 2 premios Óscar
- 4 premios ganados y 2 nominaciones en total
Opiniones destacadas
... because seeing it today it seemed as creaky as a rusty swing set. Yet the leads were nominated for Best Actor and Best Actress for that year. Some Oscar decisions do not age well.
The plot is about a stage actress (Lynne Fontaine) and a stage actor (Alfred Lunt) who are constantly bickering after just a short time of marriage. The actor believes his wife is now looking to replace him, and he thinks that she would prefer a soldier type, because she seems to scan the audience for such men. Several days latter a Guardsman - he instead looks like the doorman at one of your better New York hotels pre pandemic - begins sending flowers and then asks if he can come and see the actress. She says yes. Perhaps the husband is right and he is about to be replaced. Watch and find out what happens.
The leads here were famous stage actors of the 20th century, and furthermore they actually were married and made very few film appearances. Their next one after this wasn't for another twelve years in 1943. But if they bickered in real life it must have all been in good fun because they were married for 55 years until death separated them in 1977. I thought it odd that they were making the actress 29-30 years old, because in 1931 that was approaching middle age, and the plot is also painting her as a great beauty, but I just couldn't help noticing she had a matronly figure. Fontaine's actual age at the time of the production was 44 years old. Husband Lunt was five years younger than that. Actually, during her life, Fontaine kept the year of her birth such a secret that her own husband thought she was ten years younger than she was. Quite a trick.
Actually, these two characters - actor and actress - are both behaving insufferably, and are very vain people, so it's easy to laugh at them but very hard to like either of them. What's fun in it? Zasu Pitts as a servant because Zasu is always lots of fun in that deadpan way of hers. Then there is Maude Eburne as "Mama", a kind of lady in waiting to the actress. This is rather funny because at the beginning of the movie the married acting couple are in a play about Queen Elizabeth and Queen Elizabeth had a nurse for 23 years who acted as a substitute mother to her. This might be just a coincidence but I enjoyed it. Finally there is Roland Young as a theatre critic who pals around with the acting couple and gives them great reviews. Great shades of Citizen Kane isn't this a conflict of interest?
By the way, I call the leads "actor" and "actress" because that is how they are billed. I never heard any of the cast call them by their actual names. I would mildly recommend this one.
The plot is about a stage actress (Lynne Fontaine) and a stage actor (Alfred Lunt) who are constantly bickering after just a short time of marriage. The actor believes his wife is now looking to replace him, and he thinks that she would prefer a soldier type, because she seems to scan the audience for such men. Several days latter a Guardsman - he instead looks like the doorman at one of your better New York hotels pre pandemic - begins sending flowers and then asks if he can come and see the actress. She says yes. Perhaps the husband is right and he is about to be replaced. Watch and find out what happens.
The leads here were famous stage actors of the 20th century, and furthermore they actually were married and made very few film appearances. Their next one after this wasn't for another twelve years in 1943. But if they bickered in real life it must have all been in good fun because they were married for 55 years until death separated them in 1977. I thought it odd that they were making the actress 29-30 years old, because in 1931 that was approaching middle age, and the plot is also painting her as a great beauty, but I just couldn't help noticing she had a matronly figure. Fontaine's actual age at the time of the production was 44 years old. Husband Lunt was five years younger than that. Actually, during her life, Fontaine kept the year of her birth such a secret that her own husband thought she was ten years younger than she was. Quite a trick.
Actually, these two characters - actor and actress - are both behaving insufferably, and are very vain people, so it's easy to laugh at them but very hard to like either of them. What's fun in it? Zasu Pitts as a servant because Zasu is always lots of fun in that deadpan way of hers. Then there is Maude Eburne as "Mama", a kind of lady in waiting to the actress. This is rather funny because at the beginning of the movie the married acting couple are in a play about Queen Elizabeth and Queen Elizabeth had a nurse for 23 years who acted as a substitute mother to her. This might be just a coincidence but I enjoyed it. Finally there is Roland Young as a theatre critic who pals around with the acting couple and gives them great reviews. Great shades of Citizen Kane isn't this a conflict of interest?
By the way, I call the leads "actor" and "actress" because that is how they are billed. I never heard any of the cast call them by their actual names. I would mildly recommend this one.
Alfred Lunt and Lynne Fontanne won Oscar nominations for their roles as bickering theater stars in this sly film. In their only starring film together, Lunt and Fontanne are superb. He masquerades as a Russian count and woos her to see if she is a faithful wife. Maybe show knows and maybe she does not. It's all part of the game. Fontanne (who was 44) coos and smiles as the Actress, while Lunt (39) plays the dolt who never knows if his wife his faithful. Great fun. Stylish. But maybe a tad stagy. Lunt lost the Oscar to a tie between Wallace Beery and Fredric March, while Fontanne lost to Helen Hayes (Marie Dressler was also nominated). Zasu Pitts is fun as the dim maid; Herman Bing is good as the creditor. Roland Young shines as the friend and Maude Eburne is super as "mama." Terrific acting and "chemistry" between the biggest theater stars of the early 20th century: Lunt and Fontanne. Both had done a few silent films, this one starring vehicle, and a a guest appearance in "Stage Door Canteen" in 1943. What a pity. They were greats stars and terrific actors. And "The Guardsman" is a must for any film buff.
Many people seem to regard this film as important simply because it is a living testament to Alfred Lunt and Lynne Fontaine's acting. After all, it is the only preserved sound performance in which they have starring roles. In reality, however, the film is not only historically important because of the legends in it; it is one of the most fresh and funny films to emerge from the pre-Code period. The story is irresistible: a vain acting couple constantly insult and tease one another. In order to test his wife's fidelity after a bout, the Actor (Lunt) disguises himself as a foreign guardsman, goes out of his way to meet his wife in disguise, and furthermore goes on to try and seduce her. After he succeeds, he reveals himself, furious at her perfidious attitude. The Actress (Fontaine) begins laughing, claiming that she knew all along. At first dubious, the Actor is eventually convinced that his wife was playing along with him, and the two romantically embrace. The Actress looks at the camera and gives the most priceless look, letting the audience know that she may not have really known all along... Lunt and Fontanne make this film come to life. There dominating presence creates a satirical and realistic portrait of what an egomaniacal acting couple's life might really be like.
In addition, there are some priceless supporting roles: Maude Ebourne as a sarcastic maid, Zasu Pitts as a strange (to say the least) servant, Roland Young, and always-reliable Herman Bing as "a creditor." Sidney Franklin, perhaps the most unjustly forgotten of all screen directors (his classics include Private Lives, Smilin' Through, The Good Earth, The Barretts of Wimpole Street, and The Dark Angel), adroitly guides the ensemble, allowing the acting to take center-stage but never neglecting the details so important to cinema. In all, this short, fast-paced romp with two bona fide legends of American stage history is an essential lesson in screen comedy and romance. Although the Lunts, when asked to do later film work, replied "We can be bought but we can't be bored!" there is absolutely no sign of unenthusiasm on screen here. Each earned an Oscar nomination for their performance in The Guardsman, and they left their indelible stamp, albeit only for a short eighty some-odd minutes, on American motion picture history.
In addition, there are some priceless supporting roles: Maude Ebourne as a sarcastic maid, Zasu Pitts as a strange (to say the least) servant, Roland Young, and always-reliable Herman Bing as "a creditor." Sidney Franklin, perhaps the most unjustly forgotten of all screen directors (his classics include Private Lives, Smilin' Through, The Good Earth, The Barretts of Wimpole Street, and The Dark Angel), adroitly guides the ensemble, allowing the acting to take center-stage but never neglecting the details so important to cinema. In all, this short, fast-paced romp with two bona fide legends of American stage history is an essential lesson in screen comedy and romance. Although the Lunts, when asked to do later film work, replied "We can be bought but we can't be bored!" there is absolutely no sign of unenthusiasm on screen here. Each earned an Oscar nomination for their performance in The Guardsman, and they left their indelible stamp, albeit only for a short eighty some-odd minutes, on American motion picture history.
A little creaky, but worth it to see the real-life husband/wife duo of Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne who were legends on the stage, and who live up to at least some of that here. Lunt does well early on when he emotes little facial expressions and mannerisms in a very natural and modern way, and Fontanne towards the end is brilliant, especially talking about his kiss as she caresses his face, and in delivering a veiled ribald reference about something else of his. The story involves a pair of actors who are also husband and wife, but it's pretty basic. He's worried that because she's had a number of men as lovers before she married him, she'll move on to another after all of the bickering they've been doing. To test her, he dresses up as a Russian officer and sees how she reacts to his advances. Where Lunt falls down a bit is in his characterization of the Russian, which is clunky and odd; it doesn't work, and also makes the chemistry that develops with her seem false. I loved the delightful bit of ambiguity in that very last shot and this wouldn't be a bad film to see, but guard your expectations. (sorry, no pun intended)
Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne are married to each other and have a successful stage career. However, whilst the public sees them perform successfully on stage, they are constantly goading each other in their private life, so much so that the trust placed in their marriage vows is being tested and threatened. No more so than when a mysterious Russian turns up and starts sending flowers to Fontanne. Who could he possibly be?
This film is funny. It has a different storyline and you are never quite sure whether or not Lynn Fontanne knows what she is doing. Even her knowing glance to camera at the film's end leaves you in two minds.
Would you recognize your partner if they donned a disguise? Every time I've ever put a fake moustache on, I've always been rumbled.
This film is funny. It has a different storyline and you are never quite sure whether or not Lynn Fontanne knows what she is doing. Even her knowing glance to camera at the film's end leaves you in two minds.
Would you recognize your partner if they donned a disguise? Every time I've ever put a fake moustache on, I've always been rumbled.
¿Sabías que…?
- TriviaAlfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, husband and wife, were a celebrated stage acting team. This film was based upon the roles they had played on Broadway in 1924 and it was their ONLY starring film role together. They had both appeared in silent films. They would remain married until his death in 1977.
- Citas
[encouraging the Actor to test his wife's fidelity]
Bernhardt the Critic: Follow her now, or you'll never know. You'll *never* know.
[Actor leaves]
Bernhardt the Critic: Nor will I.
- ConexionesFeatured in Irving Thalberg: Prince of Hollywood (2005)
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Detalles
Taquilla
- Presupuesto
- USD 374,000 (estimado)
- Tiempo de ejecución1 hora 22 minutos
- Color
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By what name was The Guardsman (1931) officially released in India in English?
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