One Rainy Afternoon

Middle thirties studio fodder that would be completely forgotten if it didn't have Ida Lupino in one of the star parts. She's very young although starting to move away from the English Jean Harlow mold the studio tried forcing her into when she first arrived. Her voice is still high and light not having yet acquired the smoky whiskey tinge that was to come within a few years. Some fun is provided by two members of the supporting cast, the always reliable Roland Young and the buffoonish Hugh Herbert plus Ida and the forgotten Francis Lederer make an attractive couple but this is a minor romantic comedy nothing more.

This was wonderfully enjoyable! Men probably disagree since it is most definitely Woman's Movie!! The leading man is almost too handsome and then he smiles!! Wow! Plus, Ida Lupino is so young & gorgeous! I doubt the film maker was hoping for an Oscar but an offering of romance and comedy!! Why not!! It's perfect in that category!!

This is a fun romantic comedy which relies upon Ida Lupina's face expressions to do much communication. This is an under rated enjoyable movie w lots of laughs. Ida is terrific.

Picture quality is pretty rough at the beginning, but this thing is already 85 years old, so i guess we should just appreciate still having it around. Produced by Mary Pickford, it stars Francis Lederer as Philippe, who is planning on meeting his (married) girlfriend in a Paris Theater. He mistakenly kisses the wrong girl, Monique, played by Ida Lupino. this starts a huge uproar in Paris, as the President of the Purity League was also in the theater. and no comedy would be complete without Donald Meek. and Erik Rhodes and Hugh Herbert. Roland Young (Topper!) this one is just loaded up with the best comedians. and we sit through the whole court case as they demand to know why Philippe kissed a girl. kind of like Much Ado about Nothing! a kissing caper. fun. moves right along. ice skating. Directed by Rowland Lee, who had directed some biggies, Count of Monte Cristo and Three Musketeers. Pickford played such a HUGE role in all aspects of films over her career, although it seems to have stopped when she divorced Fairbanks in 1936. THIS film was one of the last ones she produced. looks like she mostly retired from the biz when she married Buddy Rogers. Definitely catch One Rainy Afternoon if you can find it... Roland Young does a really FUN version of "Rainy Afternoon"!

When you see a cast that contains such folks as Roland Young, Hugh Herbert, Mischa Auer, Donald Meek, Erik Rhodes, Eily Malyon, and Richard Carle in the cast it's almost an obligation to watch the film. All these are in the cast filling out roles you would expect of them supporting leads Francis Lederer and Ida Lupino.

This could only happen in France where they are a bit more permissive. And it could only work for a charming guy like Francis Lederer. Don't try this here unless you're Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise. One afternoon Lederer who is opening in a revue shortly decides to spend an afternoon at the cinema with a woman he's dating and do the things couples do at the movies. Only Lederer gets the wrong row and when he reaches over and plants a big wet on Ida Lupino she's started and screams. when she's startled.

When the lights go on and everybody in the theater jumps into their business Lupino is willing to just let it all drop. But Eily Malyon best remembered as the parish housekeeper in Going My Way is there and happens to be the head of the Purity League. She insists on bringing a complaint against Lederer and the gendarmes haul him off to the pokey.

The court scene is pretty funny too as Judge Donald Meek looking for a few jollies has Lederer, Lupino, and Malyon who wants Lederer boiled in oil give their accounts of this incident.. Theater manager Roland Young fires Lederer from his revue, but his popularity among the French public skyrockets.

As was said by another reviewer this is a film that Maurice Chevalier should have done. But as Chevalier went back to France and was unavailable, Lederer is a good substitute.

Does all this lead to romance? Watch this charming comedy and find out.