Maschere di lusso

This is one time I will grant that the movie success of the 1939 comedy, "Ninotchka," might have influenced a Hollywood decision for another film - this one by MGM. The earlier film involved displaced European royalty, and this one has some of the same. And, of course, Melvyn Douglas was the male lead in that first comedy. But then, the differences leap out. Where the 1939 film was a satire with a timely plot and a fantastic screenplay, "We Were Dancing" is untimely and with a bland screenplay.

This is set in the third year of World War II and the first that the U.S. was involved. The idea that two former aristocrats as perpetual traveling house guests might be funny escaped the movie-going public of the time. And these decades later it escapes one for the simple reason that the script is flat. Where is the clever dialog, with the witticisms and the funny lines that Douglas was so excellent at? Where is the subtle, cute and zinger-loaded dialog that Norma Shearer could utter so well?

This film has none of that and very little of anything about it. It struck me as more of a drama and love story. I had to stretch to give this film six stars, and that's solely for the first-rate cast that it has. Beside the two leads, this film is loaded with top supporting actors of the day - Florence Bates, Lee Bowman, Marjorie Main, Alan Mowbray, Reginald Owen and Gail Patrick. Indeed, Marjorie Main's Judge Sidney Hawkes is the only funny role in the film, and the only one that will get some laughs.

With that cast, I doubt that MGM covered its budget. It's $1.7 million box office was near the bottom for the year - at 137th. At least one other reviewer to date called this film "boring." It may well be that to most audiences in modern times. It came close for this film aficionado. The only thing that kept it from slipping that low was the cast of various top supporting characters who kept popping in and out at times.

This film, "We Were Dancing" from 1942 is a combination of two Noel Coward plays, and neither one was his best work.

The film stars Norma Shearer and Melvin Douglas, with a good supporting cast including Gail Patrick, Lee Bowman, Alan Mowbray, Connie Gilchrist, Norma Varden, Reginald Owen, and Marjorie Main.

Norma Shearer, with a blondish wig, plays Princess Victoria 'Vicki' Wilomirska who, when she gets excited, spouts outrageous Polish. At her engagement party (she is to marry the Lee Bowman character), she dances with Baron Nicholas Prax (Douglas) and they fall in love immediately. She breaks her engagement and marries the Baron.

The profession of these two is that of houseguests. They wander from place to place staying in the homes of socially ambitious people, usually Americans, who like the pedigree.

It's the usual break up to make up scenario.

Norma's big problem was that she couldn't get out of the '30s, and without her husband around, she couldn't choose films either. She obviously was concerned about her age and unfortunately, she had a right to - at 40, she was about 10 years past the age where most leading ladies in those days actually were leading ladies and not character actors. It's a shame, because she would have done so well in other films more appropriate for her.

This film has the same problem as "Her Cardboard Lover" - it came out at the wrong time, when this type of film had come and gone, and people were looking to more serious films or films that put the war into the story: "Mrs. Miniver," "The More the Merrier," "A Yank in the RAF," etc.

Norma Shearer was a hard-working, dedicated actress, but her ego got in the way of her final film choices. If only she had stopped with the wonderful "Escape" -- but she didn't.

Count Nicki Prax (Melvyn Douglas) and Princess Victoria "Vicki" Wilkomirska (Norma Shearer) marry after falling in love at first sight during a party held to celebrate Vicki's engagement to another man, Hubert Tyler (Lee Bowman). They pretend to be poor (and not married) to get themselves the life they were used to leading, as rich aristocrats. However, their scheme is discovered when they're found sleeping in the same room (not in the same bed, it was the production code era).

When they actually fall poor, they take up lodgings with a whole bunch of rich friends, but will their marriage be as temporary as their wealth? There's another woman named Linda Wayne (Gail Patrick) who Nicki promised himself to before he met Vicki, and Hubert may want to get back together with Vicki. Nicki and Vicki (heh) soon divorce, but since this comedy is screwball in tone, you know it will end the same way that The Awful Truth and The Philadelphia Story ended.

I found that the film was well-paced at the beginning, lost steam in the middle and finished on a mediocre note, with a happy conclusion that seemed forced but in truth wasn't. The acting is pretty good.

Norma Shearer is her usual self (maybe a bit less mannered) as Princess Wilkomiska- she's clearly been made to look more 1940s, an ill attempt to transfer her image over to the new decade (this was her second-last film before retiring). She has a lightened, more 1940s hairstyle which makes her look both younger and older at the same time (shades of Billie Burke), and is placed in a lovely variety of pantsuits, suit-skirt combos and suit-looking dresses, many with tassels. Her character is supposed to be Polish, but Norma's about as Polish as maple syrup. She makes it work, launching into long threads of Polish (I think it's Polish, I don't speak the language so I wouldn't know) when she gets upset. Melvyn Douglas is also his usual self, charming, debonair, with that terrible mustache. He has very good chemistry with Norma, but I must admit, he had chemistry with all of his leading ladies. Even Greta Garbo.

The two leads also have reliable support from several notable character actors; the aforementioned Gail Patrick, Lee Bowman, Marjorie Main and Reginald Owen. They basically just do their usual as well. (Gail Patrick's eyebrows still freak me out. 😑) The film is nice to look at, with the usual M-G-M treatment of luscious production values and big sweeping Art Deco rooms. However, as I mentioned above, the plot isn't executed well, as the pacing is a bit off. It could have been shorter in some parts and longer in others. As well, exactly WHY Vicki and Nicki divorce is a bit unclear- you can't tell me that all Gail Patrick had to do was walk into the room.

It's not as bad as I expected it to be- much better than Her Cardboard Lover- but it doesn't rank among the best films of any actors involved. If you managed to slog your way through HCL, I'd watch this one- or if you just want to see Norma as a blonde. 🙂

Solid 6.5/10 from me, and no, I am not the only reviewer hung up on Norma's hair colour. 😁

The combination of Norma Shearer, Melvyn Douglas, and their troop of solid MGM cast mates plus newbie Ava Gardner, make this sophisticated romantic comedy by Noel Coward a delight. The plot is supposed to be silly and fun, with witty banter and the butter smooth interaction of all the cast, doing total justice to Coward's brilliance.

Norma is always at her best but she is particularly relaxed and excellent and Melvyn is perfect as her playboy husband. No wonder so many actresses were envious of Norma's talent, she was truly and deservedly the Queen of Metro for many years. Oh, and by the way, MGM is unequalled for Art Direction by the brilliant Cedric Gibbons and his staff. The sets are noticeably fantastic and fully in the beautiful, authentic MGM style.

This movie marks the end of a never-to-be-regained period of sophistication, elegance, and paradoxically innocence, before the shattering war experience changed American tastes. This is a late and overlooked masterpiece in a genre that postwar filmmakers and audiences could never again do or enjoy so well.

I may listen or read the critics comments, but I never take their reviews as gospel. I'd rather watch a movie and pass my own judgement. This movie is another example where a critic in the old days with a powerful pen completely downplayed a great classic. I watched this movie on the AMC channel and just loved it. And, I was very disappointed when I couldn't find this movie on DVD to add to my collection. Being a history buff, this movie provides a window back into 1942. Loved the cast, wardrobes, set designs, old cars, and the plot was cute. I'd definitely recommend this movie to friends who also enjoy the classics! Does anyone know where I could purchase this in VCR format since it's not available on DVD?