The Smiling Lieutenant

The Smiling Lieutenant

89 mins | Comedy, Romance | Aug. 1, 1931

A simple wink, intended by Austrian palace guard Lt. Nikolaus von Preyn for girlfriend, Franzi, is accidentally intercepted -- and misread -- by the visiting Princess Anna. As a result, the soldier has no choice but to marry the royal lady and move with her to the neighboring kingdom of Flausenthurm. His girlfriend follows to continue the romance and, subversively, give Princess Anna tips on how to keep her husband satisfied.

The Smiling Lieutenant

89 mins | Comedy, Romance | Aug. 1, 1931

The Smiling Lieutenant
A simple wink, intended by Austrian palace guard Lt. Nikolaus von Preyn for girlfriend, Franzi, is accidentally intercepted -- and misread -- by the visiting Princess Anna. As a result, the soldier has no choice but to marry the royal lady and move with her to the neighboring kingdom of Flausenthurm. His girlfriend follows to continue the romance and, subversively, give Princess Anna tips on how to keep her husband satisfied.
IMDb rating 7.1
Producers Paramount
Original title The Smiling Lieutenant
Directors Ernst Lubitsch
Writers Clifford Grey, Hans Müller, Felix Dormann, Leopold Jacobson, Ernest Vajda, Samson Raphaelson

Cast

Maurice Chevalier

as Lt. Nikolaus 'Niki' von Preyn

Claudette Colbert

as Franzi

Miriam Hopkins

as Princess Anna

George Barbier

as King Adolf XV

Hugh O'Connell

as Niki's Orderly

Maude Allen

as Lady in Waiting (uncredited)

Granville Bates

as Bill Collector (uncredited)

Harry C. Bradley

as Count Von Holden (uncredited)

Carrie Daumery

as Lady in Waiting (uncredited)

Ludwig Heinsich

as Man (uncredited)

Cornelius MacSunday

as Emperor Franz Josef (uncredited)

Elizabeth Patterson

as Baroness Von Schwedel (uncredited)

Janet Reade

as Lily (uncredited)

Werner Saxtorph

as Joseph (uncredited)

Karl Stall

as Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)

Robert Strange

as Colonel Rockoff (uncredited)

Charles Wagenheim

as Arresting Officer (uncredited)