Mademoiselle a disparu

Joan Fontaine stars in this short, undemanding little film about a society girl confused for a maidservant. I saw this years ago, when AMC was showing movies with no commercials in the early 1990s. A long time ago! And, I used to see it over and over, as it is a very lightweight, cheery, clever in parts crowd pleaser. Her Lothario is Allan "Rocky" Lane before his western film claim to fame. He comes from a rich and respected family, but is spending his time "playing with guppies," as his father says. He is interested in going on a fishing expedition to the South Seas, but can't find a backer. When his dad caught him sneaking out and wanting to "borrow" his father's boat, his dad bets him that if he works 30 days in the family business, Arlen Dairy, as a door-to-door milkman and doesn't make a single mistake, he would finally acquiesce to financing this dream of his. Costarring Billy Gilbert, Cecil Kellaway, Jack Carson (in a bit part), and Hollywood columnist Hedda Hopper as Joan's mother, this is a good programmer to while away the hour with. And, with clever quips like, (when Hedda complains about paying these outrageous bills) Joan replies "We could try living within our income. "Living within our income! I never heard of such a thing," Hedda says. So sit back with Rocky Lane and Joan Fontaine for a ride on a milk truck that gets sillier by the minute.

Fish-loving college graduate Allan Lane (as Bill Norman) agrees to become a lowly milkman for 30 days, so his millionaire father will believe him worthy of a proposed six-month tropical expedition, aboard the family yacht. So, Mr. Lane begins enthusiastically delivering "Arlen Milk". On his route, he meets pretty débutante Joan Fontaine (as Sheila Harrison), whom he mistakes for her family's maid. Ms. Fontaine's family has fallen on hard times; and, they want her to marry wealthy stuffed-shirt William Brisbane (as Wally Martin). But, Fontaine would rather hook up with Lane the "milkman"; and, he has fallen in love with Fontaine the "maid".

Lane, the future voice of "Mr. Ed", and Fontaine make a charming pair of 1930s "screwball comedy" "milkmen". There are a few cute moments, and the film's supporting cast is strong. Cecil Kellaway (as Geoffrey) and Hilda Vaughn (as Mary) are, of course, excellent, as the actual pair's servants. Mr. Brisbane has a great part; and, he gets to sing. The story is mostly fair, with a few good moments. Fontaine's milk truck attack on the runaway couple's pursuers shouldn't be missed. The ending "double take" of kisses ends the film on a sweet note.

***** Maid's Night Out (1938) Ben Holmes ~ Allan Lane, Joan Fontaine, William Brisbane

MAID'S NIGHT OUT is an absurd little screwball comedy which demonstrates, in painful fashion, why JOAN FONTAINE was relegated to programmers during her early career at RKO. As in most of her other "comic" turns, she's not served well by a script that would be a hurdle for an accomplished comedienne like Constance Bennett, an actress Fontaine admired greatly.

How anyone would mistake Fontaine for a domestic is a pill hard to swallow--and the ensuing plot twists are equally hard to deal with, even in a screwball comedy. The scene with the milk bottles being tossed off the truck is just too much.

JOAN FONTAINE and ALLAN LANE do the best they can with a tiresome script that has her behaving like a spoiled brat for most of the running time, which is mercifully brief. HEDDA HOPPER is her foolish mother and there's a standout performance by BILLY GILBERT as a fish peddler (at a time when a pound of fish was 18 cents!).

Not an essential Joan Fontaine film, even though TCM features it whenever celebrating her birthday. She looks lovely and she and Allan Lane make a charming couple but it's a strained performance--especially on that milk truck with her floundering around in discomfort as the police chase begins.

RKO did not set out to make a masterpiece with "Maid's Night Out," but if one accepts that the ride here will be silly and harmless lower-budget movie entertainment one can find some laughs and plenty of satisfying and even fascinating amusement.

There are three components that make this film distinctively interesting: 1) Joan Fontaine seriously letting loose in a screwball-type of comedy; 2) Alan Lane showing a lighthearted, cheerful, and comic side, which contrasts with the pleasantly stoic and heroic character he exhibited in all those westerns he would become known for later in his career; and 3) a parade of beautiful automobiles and other vehicles traveling along rural roads and big city streets in 1930's southern California.

Some reviews are somewhat downcast about this minor film, but I think if a vintage movie buff has been inquisitive enough to have somehow followed a path here to this film's IMDb discussion one should stick around and see it.

Maid's Night Out is a delightful little romantic comedy....... No grand performances, or breakthrough's here, but it's a fun little movie...... Especially, for Joan Fontaine fans..... Joan's very pretty, and cute in this film...... I recommend this, for Joan fans, and those who are looking for a lighthearted film..... I'm glad, there's TCM channel, that shows these lost treasures......