This pre-Code musical comedy follows two amiable American soldiers, Tommy and Gilbert, who find themselves in Paris during World War I. Their flirtations with the daughters of a stern colonel lead to a series of comic escapades, mistaken identities, and romantic entanglements. Blending songs, lighthearted banter, and slapstick humor, the film is a playful take on wartime romance and mischief.
Genre: Musical Comedy
Director: Paul Sloane
Director bio: Paul Sloane (1893–1963) was an American director and screenwriter active during the silent and early sound eras. He worked across various genres, often helming comedies and light dramas. While not as widely remembered as some of his contemporaries, Sloane was adept at balancing musical sequences with narrative flow during the early years of sound cinema.
Star cast:
- Bert Wheeler as Tommy
- Robert Woolsey as Gilbert
- Dorothy Lee as Annette
- Leni Stengel as Eileen
- George MacFarlane as Colonel Marshall
- Hugh Trevor as Lt. Jim Marshall
Public reaction: The film was warmly received by audiences familiar with the comedy team of Wheeler and Woolsey, who were at the height of their popularity in the early 1930s. Critics praised the pair’s rapid-fire wit and musical charm, though the plot was often seen as a light framework for their comedic routines. Its combination of romantic playfulness and cheeky humor fit well within the pre-Code era’s freer approach to subject matter.
Fun facts:
The film showcases early sound recording techniques, with dialogue and songs integrated in a more natural flow than many musicals of the time.
Wheeler and Woolsey were one of RKO’s most bankable comedy teams in the early sound era, often paired with Dorothy Lee in multiple films.
The story is set during World War I but focuses far more on comedic antics than on war itself.
As a pre-Code production, the film features suggestive humor and flirtatious situations that would be toned down or censored just a few years later.
Leni Stengel, who plays Eileen, was known for her singing talents and appeared in several early sound musicals.
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