Say It in French


1h 10m 1938

Film Details

Genre
Comedy
Release Date
Nov 25, 1938
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Paramount Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Paramount Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the play Soubrette by Jacques Deval (Vienna, 1 Mar 1938).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 10m
Film Length
8 reels

Synopsis

International golf champion Richard "Ricky" Carrington, Jr. returns home to New York with his new Parisian wife, Julie. Before he is able to introduce Julie to his parents, he finds out they expect him to marry his wealthy childhood friend, Auriol Marsden, to help them out of a bad situation with their creditors. Understanding Ricky's need to help his parents, Julie agrees to keep their marriage a secret, on the condition that his engagement last only three weeks. When the Carrington's butler, Hopkins, mistakes Julie for the new maid, she happily accepts the position so she can be under the same roof with her husband. Surprisingly, Auriol also wants a short-term engagement with Ricky so she can keep her real engagement to a lawyer a secret from her father. The plan seems to work well until Auriol falls in love with Ricky and wants to marry him for real. He explains his parents' devastating financial situation to her, and the fact that he is already happily married. The bond of their friendship remains strong, and Auriol introduces Ricky to her grandfather Howland, so that they can convince him to take out a shipbuilding contract with Ricky's father's firm. Howland is indifferent to Ricky's cause until he finds out that Ricky is a golf pro. While Ricky and Auriol keep Howland busy learning golf techniques in his office, they advise the secretary to draft a new contract with the Carringtons' company, which Howland signs. Ricky and Auriol return home triumphantly, only to discover that Julie, recently advised that she is pregnant, has boarded the Queen Mary and is headed back to France because she thinks that Ricky and Auriol ran off together. Ricky rushes to the ship in time to board it, only to discover that Julie is on shore, having found herself unable to leave her husband. She promises to wait for him until his return from the voyage.

Film Details

Genre
Comedy
Release Date
Nov 25, 1938
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Paramount Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Paramount Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the play Soubrette by Jacques Deval (Vienna, 1 Mar 1938).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 10m
Film Length
8 reels

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

Information in the file for the film in the MPAA/PCA Collection at the AMPAS Library reveals that in July 1938 the initial script was rejected by the PCA because of the "sex situations" contained therein. The script eventually was approved by the PCA after revisions. Hollywood Reporter production charts and PCA files indicate that Evelyn Keyes was first cast as Phyllis Carrington. According to the pressbook, Jacques Deval wrote the play Soubrette as a wedding present for his wife. One scene was filmed in the Rainbow Room restaurant at Rockefeller Plaza in New York, and other scenes were filmed in Central Park. Hollywood Reporter mistakenly credits Boris Karloff with musical direction.