Say It in French ** (1938, Ray Milland, Olympe Bradna, Irene Hervey, Janet Beecher, Mary Carlisle, Holmes Herbert, Erik Rhodes) – Classic Movie Review 10,915

Director Andrew L Stone’s 1938 Paramount Pictures black and white farcical film Say It in French stars Ray Milland as a wealthy American pro golfer called Richard Carrington Jr, who goes to France to play a tournament and secretly weds poor Madame Julie (Olympe Bradna), in this screwball comedy that nails itself into the ground with its lack of sufficient wit.

When they come back to America, he finds his father (Holmes Herbert) is in financial difficulties and his family has pledged him to a rich gal, wealthy heiress socialite Auriol Marsden (Irene Hervey) to solve their financial crisis, so Julie (Bradna) has to masquerade as maid to his mother (Janet Beecher). Meanwhile Auriol wants to run off with opportunistic European nobleman Irving (Erik Rhodes) and Julie tries to sort out Richard Carrington Jr’s spoiled sister Phyllis Carrington (Mary Carlisle), who wants to run off with a married man.

The moral of the movie is that even farce has to be credible. Frederick Jackson’s screenplay is taken from a play by Jacques Deval: perhaps it was funnier in French. On the plus side, the bright and breezy young Milland remains a game, capable and likeable star performer, Bradna is appealing too, and Holmes Herbert, Janet Beecher, Erik Rhodes and Mary Carlisle are all helpful in star support.

Also in the cast are Irene Hervey, Janet Beecher, Mary Carlisle, Holmes Herbert, Erik Rhodes, William Collier Sr, Walter Kingsford, Mona Barrie, George P Huntley, Gertrude Sutton, Forbes Murray, Billy Daniels, Billy Lee, Billy Benedict, Jean Fenwick, Joseph Swickard, and Grace Goodall.

The film was released on 28 November 1938 by Paramount Pictures.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 10,915

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