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I'll tell you why so serious

Absolutely brilliant

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

While I've previously seen the original To Be or Not to Be, part of me feels this might have been the first time I've seen a real Ernst Lubitsch film. That's because this one was made before the Production Code of 1934 that forbid certain material from being depicted for several decades was put into effect. So we get to see what the Maurice Chevalier character did to humiliate himself in the beginning scenes before being teamed romantically with the Queen of a fictional country. She's played by Jeanette MacDonald in her film debut. And while we don't hear anything graphic, it's quite clear what kind of material Ms. MacDonald is reading when she looks at the past exploits of Chevalier in her manuscript. This was another early talkie, in fact Lubitsch's first, that didn't have the stilted quality of many of those other ones made at this period and reading that this was shot silent first before the voices and sound were post-dubbed was fascinating to read on this site. While it took awhile, I did warm to the kind of give-and-take of the two leads though I felt the picture really came to life when the help, played by Lupino Lane and Lillian Roth, were doing their own slapstick numbers in remarkable contrast to the more dignified singing of Chevalier and MacDonald though Chevalier himself also provided some lively moments both during his numbers and some of his solo scenes as well as those with Ms. MacDonald. Oh, and reading this was the first integrated movie musical was also a fascinating find for me since for the past several weeks, I've been reviewing this genre of movies in chronological order in order to prepare for the current release of the latest-Les Miserables. So on that note, The Love Parade was interesting to watch both historically and entertainment-wise.

For the last three decades now I've considered Ernst Lubitsch's Trouble In Paradise from 1932 to be one of the best films ever made, but it's taken me all this time to get round to his Love Parade made a few years earlier. Mainly because in the last three decades it's never been shown on UK TV; their schedules are so packed with indispensable brilliant TV they couldn't find an empty 2 hour slot. Is it worth looking up? Well yes, it's a fascinating early talkie/musical, very redolent of the future Trouble In Paradise and One Hour With You (and Love Me Tonight), with lavish sets, sumptuous décor and elegant costumes and a bearable plot and music.The Queen of Sylvania (Jeanette MacDonald) with her many ministers urging is keen to get married, Count Alfred (Maurice Chevalier) blows in fresh from life and death romantic scandals in Paris and they fall for one another. Except that he eventually objects to being her Poodle Consort... There are quite a few pretty forgettable songs the best by miles being the title song which is reprised twice, although slapstick music hall artist Lupino Lane also gets to sing a witty ditty with Lillian Roth as butler and maid respectively. Mustachioed minister Eugene Palette's voice never sounded so razor-like! It's continually charming and witty in Lubitsch's best style, acting and singing fresh and stilted at the same time, interesting and even riveting in places – the print and sound are in fine condition considering it was made in 1929. By the way, does this mean that a few years later the Queen appointed dirty-necked Trentino (Louis Calhern) as Sylvanian Ambassador to Freedonia for Duck Soup?!It's not Trouble In Paradise - nothing is, and at nearly 2 hours long it has a lot of padding to it, but as it opens up such a completely different and lovely world to us now it's well worth watching.

Ernst Lubitsch was at his wits end in trying to find a leading lady for his first talking picture which was going to star Maurice Chevalier, the discovery of the year. He needed someone who was young, could sing and dance, look regal enough to be a Queen but ravishing enough to wear a skimpy nightgown. He had almost decided on Bebe Daniels but then saw a screen test of a former chorus girl who had been bought to Hollywood as a discovery of Richard Dix - Jeanette MacDonald. Her work consisted of a couple of second rate Broadway shows but with Lubitsch to guide her, she was perfection!!!With champagne bottles, the Eiffel Tower and dancing showgirls as a montage, the scene is set in Paris as dashing playboy Count Alfred Renard (Maurice Chevalier) has a narrow escape from the husband of his latest mistress - "She's terribly jealous" Chevalier says, in a typical audience aside. He and his loyal valet (Lupino Lane) bid adieu to Paris "Paris, Still Stay the Same", as the song is carried on by his score of female admirers - even the dogs have a chorus!!!Meanwhile in Sylvania, beautiful Queen Louise (Jeanette MacDonald) is awakened from her sleep - "Why am I always awakened from my dreams?" - sweet lady-in-waiting (Virginia Bruce) asks "What did my lady dream?" That is Jeanette's cue to sing the beautiful "Dream Lover". The song takes her from her opulent bed to her bath!!! The most pressing concern for the country is the Queen's matrimonial state - she, for one, is sick of it!!! The Castle Band is forever playing the Wedding March!! The problem is the groom would only be a Prince Consort and not a King - and no red blooded male wants to take it on!!Alfred goes back to his home in Sylvania and when Louise meets him she is not impressed - until she reads the accounts of all his scandalous affairs - together they sing "Anything to Please the Queen". At dinner that night Alfred sings of his "Love Parade" of women, but that she has the charms of them all, rolled into one - "the eyes of Dauphine, smile of Josephine"!! The next scene is the marriage and Louise is absolutely gorgeous in one of the longest trains ever, but the ceremony is causing Alfred second thoughts - he wants his manhood back!!! Marriage proves tough for Alfred - Louise has her engagements during the day, she arranges tennis and bridge for Alfred, plus an afternoon nap "to keep up his strength"!! His valet is finding life more harmonious with Lulu (lively Lillian Roth) - they do a comic song and dance to "Let's Be Common" - one of the highlights of this wonderful movie. Alfred is so frustrated - he even sings a song about it - "Nobody's Using Now". In his spare time he has drawn up a budget to help the troubled country stay solvent but because he is only a Prince Consort his plans are not considered. When he is told that Sylvania is going ahead with a loan but it all depends on his behaviour during a night at the ballet - he takes a stand!! He walks into the performance late and amid cheers and claps manages to upstage Louise. Now the roles are reversed and Louise has a humiliating night as Alfred at last gets his manhood back!!This is a dazzling film from the first scene of Lupino Lane deftly swishing a tablecloth out from under a set table as he sings "Champagne". The songs could almost tell the story on their own, each song was essential to the plot - unlike the Operetta tradition of the time which had characters bursting into song for no reason. There was also fluid camera movement ie when Victor Milmer sweeps his camera over the elaborate wedding and ballet sequences. Lupino Lane and Lillian Roth make a riotous "common" couple and compliment the more regal pair. Among the "Lubitsch touches" - an American tour group are driven through the beautiful Sylvania and are clearly not interested - however when they hear that the income is over $100,000,000 a year - they are all agog!! Silent comedian Ben Turpin also makes a cameo appearance as a crosseyed messenger - supposedly unlucky for Alfred!!!Highly, Highly Recommended.

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?