The Lyons in Paris

If the scripts of their radio shows were anything like the dialog in this film, it's not hard to see why Ben Lyon and Bebe Daniels were so popular in England before and the after World War II. "The Lyons in Paris," aka "Abroad," is a truly wacky, hilarious, frantic and far out screwball comedy. And their daughter, Barabara, and adopted son, Richard, are part of this great comedy, as are a couple of the staple characters from their radio show. Horace Percival plays Mr. (Horace) Wimple, and Gwen Lewis plays Mrs. (Winona) Wimple.

What comes to mind in watching this movie was the "I Love Lucy" TV series that ran in the early to mid-1950s in America. But the Lyons even went more overboard than that. Lucy was mostly a one-person, one-woman comedy - it all revolved around her. Not so with the Lyon's. Both Ben and Bebe were deep into the comedy throughout, and when they weren't, it was their neighbors and friends, and later, the kids. Pretty soon, the Lyons seemed somewhat like the Marx Brothers, and at times like the Three Stooges or Laurel and Hardy.

And, as if their own group isn't wacky and funny enough all by itself, when they finally get to Paris more far out comedy is in store. Barbara meets a man on the ferry across the channel - well, Charles is a disheveled man who comes onto her as an artist. So, she's smitten by him and looks forward to seeing him in Paris. That leads to one night of rollicking laughter as the family and friends are treated to the Parisian hippies response to the decadent bourgeois.

Well, this is one very funny film. I have always loved British comedy and the English sense of humor. And I wonder if the radio and then TV shows of the Lyons didn't have some effect on that later original British comedy created and introduced by the Monty Python group. Surely, the style of the latter was quite distinct and original,. But, might not the brazenness, loud, and outlandish comedy of the Lyons' and their type in America be the push on the envelope that goaded some latent but bubbling explosion of comic talent to come out? I'm not saying it was or did - but isn't it possible that there was some sort of influence?

This is a wonderful comedy for many laughs. The American Lyon's, from England, on vacation in Paris. With their friends, the Wimples, for good measure. What a hoot. Here are some favorite lines from this film.

Barbara Lyon, "You've been married 26 years and you're so satisfied, aren't you?" Horace Wimple, "Yes. I've had enough."

Richard Lyon, "Do you follow me?" Horace Wimple, "I was with you until you started talking, and then it became very confusing."

Bebe Daniels, "Take off your glasses and fight." Ben Lyon, "I'm not wearing glasses." Bebe, "That's another of your underhanded tricks. Put up your dukes."

Horace Wimple, "Wilomena, my love." Mrs. Wimple, "Oh, ho! So you wanna start an argument.!"

Mrs. Wimple, "You might as well admit it. You're just tired of me." Horace Wimple, "Oh, no, my little scarlet pimpernel. You have everything a man desires. Broad shoulders... muscles... and a mustache."

Bebe Daniels, "Young man, young man! You needn't speak French. We all understand English perfectly."

Charles invites everyone to dinner at the Left Bank Club. "There we can see the existentialists and listen to beautiful sad songs about the futility of life." Ben Lyon, "Well, that'll be fun."

Ben, "I'll call a taxi." Charles, "Taxi? Pah! Are you so decadent you can't walk?"

Ben, "Well, why don't we all go out and shoot ourselves, and have a good laugh?"

Charles, "I like your face. It makes me suffer." Mrs. Wimple, "Horace, did you hear what he said?" Horace Wimple, "Yes, my love. How dare you say my wife's face makes you suffer." Charles, "But it does." Horace, "Well, suffer in silence like I do."

Capt. Le Grand, reading a note that Richard and Barbara had written to Fifi le Fleur, his wife, "It is written in French, but it says the most peculiar things . My sweetheart. My dear little cabbage head. I long to see you again. Your teeth are beautiful. And I would like half a dozen delivered to the tradesmen's entrance." Fifi, "But what does it mean? Capt. Le Grand, "You know what it means - it is a lover's code."

Ben, "Stay holding me back." Horace Wimple, "I'm not holding you back." Ben, "Well, you should be. What kind of a second are you?"

This film was spawned by a radio series and gave birth to a TV series. This I remember vaguely.

This film shows how comedy has changed substantially since the 1950s. The first part relies heavily on physical comedy,which was a legacy from the music halls. The film becomes more of a situation comedy,with Bebe as the dizzy wife and Ben the forgetful husband,plus their two children.

The basic problems with this film is that the production values are very cheap and the script is not very funny. It relies on stereotypes. If a line is not that funny then just shout it out and overact madly. Quite difficult to sit through.

Monty Python,Marx Brothers or Laurel and Hardy it is not.

In a sequel to LIFE WITH THE LYONS (1954) Bebe Daniels and Ben Lyon star in their final film, one based on their British radio and TV series.

For their 24th wedding anniversary, Ben and Bebe pack up their household and go to Paris where they get involved in a series of misadventures involving a blonde French revue star.

Again Bebe Daniels and Ben Lyon are breezy and fun as heads of the family. Barbara and Richard are also quite good. Martine Alexis plays the French star.

The two films helped launch the Lyons on a successful TV career.

Between them, Ben and Bebe appeared in more than 300 films!