I Met Him in Paris (1937)

If you love romantic comedies then this passes as easy watching.Douglas and Colbert gel but the script lacked sparkle . When I analyse Colberts career it has to be said that she really isn't in many that you would describe as classics,that have stood the test of time.Her performances are generally excellent but often in mediocre films

My heading above much more accurately describes this movie. Maybe they didn't want to give away the plot, for some strange reason. I think this is just one of those instances when the producers stuck with an early title and didn't think to change it. Anyway, this movie is an entertaining, if far-fetched, story about a love triangle. Or, more like a love quadrangle at the start and finish.Claudette Colbert is the focus of the triangle, and her two main suitors vying for her affections are wonderfully played by Melvyn Douglas and Robert Young. The humor comes mostly in the sparring between the two competitors. "I Met Him in Paris" isn't one of the wittier comedy romances that Colbert made; but it has its occasional clever or really goofy line that will cause a laugh. Kay (Colbert) is a New York fashion designer who has been saving and planning a three-week trip to Paris for five years. Early in the movie after her arrival in Paris, she goes into the American Restaurant in the high-class hotel where she's staying. She asks the maître d' if he speaks English, and he calls for a particular waiter. The waiter's line floors Kay: "Madam. You have the ask to wish for me you pleasure." After Kay's recovery and a couple questions about his English, he says he learned English from a Japanese house boy from America. Later, after she has met George (Douglas) and Gene (Young), she dances with George who is admittedly a terrible dancer. As they walk back to their table, George says, "Did I do that?" Kay says, "Oh, no. I was limping when I came in."The best humor, and most of it in this film, comes from a number of escapades. The trio leaves Paris for Switzerland, with George to act as chaperon of Gene and Kay. There is a nice long scene of Kay and George ice skating. Another long humorous adventure has Kay and Gene skiing downhill. A third has all three them bobsledding. Naturally, with all this winter activity, the film has some beautiful scenery. The outdoor stuff was shot at Sun Valley, Idaho, with scenes that could pass for the Swiss Alps. I mentioned that the plot was pretty far-fetched; but one must remember that the majority of people were very proper with relationships in that time. So, it's conceivable, but not very likely, that a single attractive woman (she is obviously playing a mature young woman – not a teenager or young girl), would go off for a week of fun in the snow with two men. Of course, the language barrier aspect was needed in this film to get the one funny situation with the waiter who knew a bunch of English words but not how to use them to make sense. The film was made in 1937, and most upscale restaurants in Paris would have had English- speaking waiters and maître d's then. Their English cousins across the Channel would have been going to Paris for decades to vacation, shop, do business or for entertainment. And, since WWI especially, many Americans would be traveling to "gay Paree" for the same reasons. But then, maybe that was another subtle funny of the film – since it was the American Restaurant.

This is a well-acted and enjoyable film in most ways, but one element in this plot really left me flat. It's a shame, as the film, with a few plot changes, could have been much, much better.The movie begins with Claudette Colbert on board a ship which is about to be headed to Paris. Her boyfriend is with her--trying to convince her to marry him and give up this trip. However, she is determined to see something of the world, as her life is rather dull.Once in Paris, however, things don't seem that interesting as Claudette doesn't know anyone or the language (in real life, I am pretty sure that the French-born actress was fluent). When she meets up with two fellow Americans, Robert Young and Melvyn Douglas, they spend the rest of the trip together. Young and Douglas are friends traveling together, but Young has a secret--as he's ardently wooing Miss Colbert, he already has a wife. This really makes him out to be a creep and inexplicably, Douglas (who doesn't approve) says nothing to warn Colbert!! Now considering that Douglas is supposed to be a nice guy, his allowing his friend to chase Colbert is pretty despicable and makes no sense at all--especially since Douglas, too, wants Colbert for himself. So why didn't he just tell her that his buddy was already married and end all the suspense?! I hate it when a film hinges on a plot element that makes no sense and Douglas' complicity makes no sense at all--plus it makes the viewer dislike both male leads.It's a shame, really, as apart from this huge problem, the dialog is witty and the actors try their best. In fact, one of the most delightful aspects of I MET HIM IN France was watching Colbert and Douglas ice skate. They were both remarkably good and doubles were not used in the scenes--it really is the actors doing figure eights and skating backwards.So is it worth seeing? Well, if you are a total nut for classic Hollywood films, sure. But don't rush out to see it. Otherwise, if you aren't already a huge fan, this film will do nothing to convert you and each of the leads has done much better films that you should see first.

Two clunkers in a row - first Bluebeard, then I met him in Paris. The clothes are great, the settings lovely, and the script - a mind-boggling inane conglomeration of improbable and contrived situations that must have contributed to the demise of the screwball comedy. A series of wealthy people with too much time on their hands, acting juvenile (or madcap, as they used to call it). Everyone here has been better elsewhere. Douglas and Young are both in love with Colbert, and three high-tail it off to Switzerland, as the question surfaces: who will Claudette end up with? Of course, Melvyn Douglas is billed above Robert Young, so we know what the outcome must be. As much as I love old films, and Colbert, and Douglas, and Young, I stuck this one out, but it never really gelled for me.