The Love Parade (1930)

Sorry, this movie sucks

Best movie of this year hands down!

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

As covered in previous comments The Love Parade is important historically, with it being Jeanette MacDonald's debut, Maurice Chevalier's second film, director Ernst Lubitsch's first sound picture and Chevalier and MacDonald's first pairing together. But The Love Parade still does manage as well to be, apart from some primitive sound quality, a great film and compares favourable within Lubitsch's mostly consistent(in a good way) filmography.The costumes and sets in The Love Parade are wonderfully opulent and the photography is very stylishly done. Lubitsch's distinctive style is evident all through the film, bringing a huge amount of class, subtlety and elegance. What he also did brilliantly was making camera and sound effects more flexible counterpointing the music numbers, and also even for his first sound picture having a technical mastery already with apparently having two sets built for one number shot simultaneously with the orchestra off screen between the two sets, going back and forth in the editing, something that had never been done before. The songs are very pleasant and memorable at least, with the beautiful and catchy duet My Love Parade, the charmingly intimate Dream Lover and the hugely entertaining Let's Be Common faring the best. The choreography's elegant and poised and in other places witty and inventive, the highlight number in this regard being Let's Be Common.The script was one of my favourite things about The Love Parade, it was very sophisticated and deliciously witty, particularly funny was the writing regarding the Count's political uselessness. There's even some sexual innuendo that was very ahead of its time back in 1929. The story is full of immense charm and sophisticated style with a seductive edge, not ever making the mistake of being dull or improbable(and if it did really it would not be as glaring as the story in Monte Carlo). The characters are very likable and the performances from all four leads do not disappoint at all. Noteworthy especially were MacDonald whose screen debut was a revelation being both sexy and regal and singing like an angel and Lupino Lane whose incredible physical comedy is enough to make one seethe with envy. Sassy Lillian Roth sparkles as Lane's partner and Chevalier is the epitome of Gallic warmth and charm. The chemistry between him and MacDonald beguiles and for two relatively different singing styles they blend remarkably well when singing together.Overall, a great film. While I may prefer The Merry Widow, Heaven Can Wait, The Shop Around the Corner and especially Trouble in Paradise over The Love Parade it is unsurprising that The Love Parade was a huge hit at the time and still wins over people now. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette McDonald hooked up for the first of their four pairings in this early sound Ernst Lubitsch musical. It's a silly affair as most musicals of the day were but this being pre-code director Lubitsch takes every opportunity to invoke sexual innuendo and keep Ms. McDonald in diaphanous negligees.Much to the disappointment of her ministers Queen Louise of Sylvania is resigned to the fact she will never find a suitable husband. Enter Count Renard who may not be suitable for affairs of state but irresistible in affairs of love. They marry and the free range rogue is quickly fenced in an ordered to act properly with his new title and responsibilities by Louise who pulls rank on him. Renaud soon begins to chafe at the trappings of royalty and what he sees as amounting to role reversal and decides to walk. Such a scandal could rock Sylvania to its foundation. A desperate Louise attempts to balance both issues without offending chauvinist Renaud's already wounded manhood.Inane as place and premise may be Lubitsh keeps things racy throughout while taking satiric pokes at societal hypocrisy and royal obsequiousness. He magnifies and compares the royal duo's predicament of maintaining decorum and propriety while the help, energetically and acrobatically performed by Lupino Lane and Lillian Roth, in unabashed declaration announce it's great to be a commoner.The set design and the cinematography by Victor Milner gives the film a 14 carat opulence and Mo and Mac look dashing and ravishing most of the time in uniform and gown which allows this fairy tale of a musical to play itself out whimsically and seductively courtesy of Lubitsch's deft touch.

"Anything for the Queen" will be my new motto around the household, specifically for my bf. It is good to see that you can learn something from 82+ years ago for the first time.I've always been a fan of 30's musicals so it was a treat to see this movie for the first time of my life as a historical piece, but also to see the development of musical movies from the start. I am blessed to live within 30 miles of the Stanford Theater in Palo Alto, CA that offers amazing film histories, museum and revivals every week of the year.I can now see why Chevalier was such a hit -- he had natural wit, humor and timing, something I never witnessed in later films (such as Gigi) where his talents were mostly condensed down to singing.Jeanette McDonald's operatic singing was extraordinary, but does feel "dated" in the film in contrast to the impeccable performances, timing, dance and humor-filled vaudevillian routines of Lupino Lane and Lillian Roth. IMO they stole the show (sort of like a 'Jack & Karen' team did from "Will & Grace").I would see the movie again just to check out the servant scenes and a well-deserved nod to the animal trainer for the dog performances. The entire cinema was laughing at the opening goodbye to Paris scene.

the sort of film that filmmakers to day are unable to make. it is too simple for them. it has a story with a beginning, middle and end. far too simple for the current crop of genius. the stars were real stars i swear they sometimes glittered. the directors famous touch was in fine form and even after many years i can remember walking home in a romantic glow. could anyone do the same after watching one of to days EPICS. i agree there must have been sound faults and other technical problems though i do not remember them. later on i heard a radio version also enjoyed. like far too many films of the past the love parade is unavailable to us on video or DVD. it may have been damaged and no longer usable though i do hope not. if there is any way to urge the current copyright owners to re-issue the film i would certainly like to be involved. are there other enthusiasts out there who agree?