Rating: 
Summary: Paradise, Indeed
Review: Splendid to see such a wonderful DVD transfer of TROUBLE IN PARADISE, Lubitsch's first talkie masterpiece. The wavishing Kay Fwancis and Herbert Marshall make the most skillful of romantic leads, and even Miriam Hopkins (a strong contender for most irritating actress in pictures until Madonna hit the screen) is a delight. Wonderful supporting work from the stalwart Charles Ruggles and Edward Everett Horton, and a nice turn from that Gallic favorite, C. Aubrey Smith. Great extras (bright, informative commentary from the leading Lubitsch scholar, and the German silent included is a real treat). The only downside to a viewing of TROUBLE IN PARADISE is you'll be extremely unhappy when you open today's movie ads and realize popular entertainment has fallen from these heights to the likes of JACKASS, THE REAL CANCUN, and Jim Carrey running amok. Thanks, Criterion, for helping to preserve such a glorious film heritage! Can we hope for TO BE OR NOT TO BE in the future?
Rating:
Summary: Glittering Stick Figures Shine In An Elegant Farce
Review: The summit of preCode Hollywood, and Ernst Lubitsch at his zenith. First things first: thank you to Public Media for finally releasing this. I waited 25 years to see this one again, and the wait was not in vain. Those 25 years put a bit of snow on my roof, but they also allowed me to savor the vintage ambrosia of this film with a more appreciative palate than I had at 16; and what a nose-tickling hit of the grape it is. Script, performances, directorial vision are all exquisitely crafted. The leads are inspired (Kay Francis is at her liveliest and most alluring here); the supporting players, expertly calibrated farceurs. The utilization of music as ironic counterpoint to the visuals rivals Clair without resembling him: the title song, sung over the opening credits, will make your heart race, and break, at the same time. And the look of the film (Art Deco, lovingly handrubbed to a burnished glow) lingers fondly in your memory long after viewing. Again and again, Lubitsch pulls understated rabbits out of hats: scenes like the deepening of Herbert Marshall and Kay Francis' relationship from business to pleasure 'seen' in a clock face are emblematic of what makes this such a special film. Its story is slight, silly and stagey, but Lubitsch's knowing observation of small, telling details - and his easy, sure hand with the broader elements - makes this sparkling foam froth with real magic. TROUBLE is not a timeless film, anchored as it is to a very specific time (Long Ago) and place (Far Away), which only deepens its charm and its seductive tugging on the audience's sleeve. I've watched it three times in a night, and three times more the following night - not behavior I usually exhibit. But the siren call of its lively, civilized wit is such that I'm hitting 'rewind' the moment it ends - I don't want to break the spell and return to reality just yet. As fertile as the preCode era was, as many underheralded gems as that period continues to yield up to seekers, TROUBLE may be the most glorious of them all.
Rating:
Summary: A Comic Masterpiece
Review: There is very little I can add to the other reviewer's' praise of this film. Suffice it to say that in it's lighter than air way, Trouble in Paradise manages to achieve something close to perfection. Each image, each line, each line reading seems perfectly timed and delivered creating one of the most exquisite films ever made. A slippery, surprising and astonishingly beautiful piece of film making. It's reputation is not undeserved. Any quibbles I have with this disk has nothing to do with the film itself but with the presentation. The film is very old (1932) and some aging and artifacts are to be expected. However, the justly famous opening sequence is so dark and the details so muted as to be barely discernible. Every time the camera floats outside and into the dark during the first part of the film--detail is lost. The good news is that all of the indoor scenes are bright and sharp and possess good contrast. Criterion has obviously done some extensive cleaning and work on the film because other than the night scenes (too bad about Miriam Hopkin's entrance in a gondola) the film looks great Also the sound while maintaining a slight hiss throughout is free of any pops or crackles and is very clear. I have seen cleaner sharper prints of this film than the one that Criterion apparently got from Universal (Universal was responsible for the slightly soft and faded print of The Scarlet Empress that Crtierion released as well). Other than this complaint the print is generally fine with only minor scratches present primarily at some of the dissolves and edits. The disc includes several great extras that are worth perusing for even casual fans of Lubitsch. Scott Eyman a Lubitsch biographer provides a nice commentary featuring lots of behind the scenes information, biographical info, the place of Trouble in Paradise in comparison with Lutbitsch's other films and its influence on other film comedies of the period as well as some interpretation of some of the film and its famous sequences. In addition to this, Criterion has managed to include a forty minute silent film by Lubitsch--"The Merry Jail" that shows a different style but includes some of the elements that would make Trouble in Paradise such a gem. There is also an introduction by film historian/director Peter Bogdanovich that provides his insight into the significance of the film. A very nice feature that runs about ten minutes. There is also a radio program featuring Lubitsch with a group of Hollywood luminaries, fascinating but one longs for visuals of this event, and the standard Criterion essay included with the chapter menu insert. Finally there are some written tributes to Lubitsch from some of his contemporaries, as well as current film makers and critics. This is a text only feature but sometimes features the comments in the writer's own handwriting. Overall, I'd have to recommend this disk wholeheartedly. Criterion deserves huge praise just for making this masterpiece available for the home viewer and they also manage to include wonderful extras that support the film beautifully. The presentation is a little flawed but it is more than adequate to appreciate the treasure on display.
Rating:
Summary: the most perfect comedy ever made
Review: This exquisitely funny film tells the story of two jewel thieves (Miriam Hopkins and herbert Marshall, who insinuate themselves into the household of wealthy young widow Kay Francis. They intend to rob her, but Herbert falls for Francis's charms, which complicates matters. The widow's two ardent suitors, Charles Ruggles and Edward Everett Horton, at daggers drawn with each other, find their noses put out of joint by the sauve Marshall, and C. Aubrey Smith, Francis's business manager, is suspicious. Everybody in this wonderful, hilarious film is marvellous, from miriam Hopkins ("I wouldn't fall for another man if he was the biggest crook on earth")to Robert Greig as the bemused butler, baffled by the bizarre bheaviour of his employer. I don'rt know how many times I've watched this film, but it entrances me at every viewing. I'm thrilled that it is out on DVD at last.
Rating:
Summary: Lubitsch at his best.
Review: This is not likely the first film that comes to mind when people mention Ernst Lubitsch. Little Shop Around the Corner and To Be or Not TO Be are both frequent fliers on TNT, and feature exquisite performances by some of the era's best loved stars, ie. Stewart, Lombard and Benny. A director would have to be proud of having either one of them designated as his crowning achievement.
While Trouble in Paradise is graced by two wonderful supporting actors, the squabbling Edward Everett Horton and Charlie Ruggles, the leads for this film are not exactly household names. (I always associate Kay Francis with with sublime chaos of the Marx Brothers first stab at the talkies.) That the three leads manage such effervescence is a strong indication of the talent of the director. They manage to suavely seduce the audience just as they entice one another on screen.
This is a superb adult comedy, and not a bad date movie at that. Just how historically great or influential it is may be best left to the critics, but just standing on its own, it's undeniably one hell of an elegant piece of entertainment,
Rating: 
Summary: A film that boosted Hollywood to the top
Review: This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.
Ernst Lubitsch's "Trouble in Paradise" remains one of his best known films. Lubitsch has been credited by many as bringing Hollywood into the international spotlight and paving the way for major blockbusters like "Gone with the Wind."
It was made before the Hays Production Code went into effect and therefore could not be re-released for a long time.
The film to me seems like a possible inspiration for "Bonnie and Clyde" due to a similar plot. in the film, two thieves meet each other and fall in love. They join forces attempt to knock off a perfume company. Later the man finds himself attracted to the woman who runs the comapny and rethinks here his loyalties are.
The film has some risque scenes which could be considered indecent by the standards of the time of it was released. Though today it would probably be somewhere between G and PG.
The DVD has some great special features including one of Lubitsch's short films from the year 1917 Das fidele Gefängnis (The Merry Jail)
There are also tribites to Lubitsch by many big nams in Hollywood including Leonard Maltin, Roger Ebert, Billy Wilder and many others. There is audio commentary by Scott Eyman who wrote a biography on Lubitsch. There is an intorduction tothe film presented by Peter Bogdanovich and a 1940 Screen Guild Theater radio program based on the film.
This one, while not a must-see is still one that man will like
Rating:
Summary: One of the absolute best
Review: This wonderful confection from Ernst Lubitsch is a marvelous pre-Code example of what can be done to imply sex. It simply drips with it, and nothing but the slightest hint of cleavage is shown. The script (from Samson Raphaelson and Grover Jones) is literate and flows with banter. Herbert Marshall is Gaston Monescu, "the man who walked into the bank of Constantinople, and walked out *with* the bank of Constantinople." We first meet him in Venice, where he has completed a robbery of Francois Filiba (the inimitable Edward Everett Horton), just before having a romantic dinner with love Lily Vautier (Miriam Hopkins). They are both career crooks (and she has a secret unknown to him) and their light-hearted pocket picking of each other is an what I imagine would be the ideal romantic byplay. Their relationship begins to suffer when Gaston begins to put the moves on Mariette Colet (Kay Francis), widow of a cosmetics king, for the 850,000 francs insurance money that is going to be coming in soon. Gaston sets himself up as her personal secretary by laying on the charm. Francis simply glows when around Marshall, and Hopkins (inserting herself as Marshall's secretary) is a perfect delight, fuming at their relationship. Trouble in Paradise is "ideal" in many ways. It barely treads near reality, but it doesn't matter. This is cinema at its very best. It is funny, sexy, and seems fresh even today, outdistancing the modern idea of "romantic comedy." Fortunately, it is finally available on DVD from Criterion (my original copy was recorded from American Movie Classics). One of the best motion pictures of all time can finally find a modern audience.
Rating:
Summary: THE "LUBITSCH TOUCH"
Review: What more can I say about this film that the other reviewers have not already said.Not only does this film display in my OPINION the best example of the "Lubitsch Touch"it display a certain pinache that Hollywood may never recover.If you are into the likes of Kate & Leopold or Jim Carrey stay away from this one.This film is for serious cinema lovers and students.This is one small example of why CRITERION are the classiest and best in the film and DVD world.This is a CLASSIC.
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