The Big Pond *** (1930, Maurice Chevalier, Claudette Colbert) – Classic Movie Review 12,622

Director Hobart Henley’s charming 1930 Paramount Pictures black and white romantic comedy film The Big Pond stars Maurice Chevalier and Claudette Colbert. Preston Sturges writes the snappy dialogue in his first Hollywood assignment.

Chevalier was Oscar-nominated for his role as Pierre Mirande, the wealthy scion of a French family escorting tourists round Venice. While on vacation there, Barbara Billings (Colbert) falls for him, so her prominent American magnate father (George Barbier) puts him to work among Americans in his chewing-gum factory to get over it.

Perhaps surprisingly for an American film, the satire is on the side of Gallic charm and European savoir faire at the expense of the Americans, their money and big business. There is truly sparkling work from Chevalier and Colbert, who clinched the part because she was bilingual – it was also made in a French version called La Grande Mare, in which Chevalier, Colbert, Andrée Corday and Nat Pendelton play the same roles. Preston Sturges was fluent in French, but additional dialogue was provided by Jacques Bataille-Henri.

The two versions were shot simultaneously at the Paramount Astoria Studios in Astoria, Queens, New York City.

It is based on a 1928 play by George Middleton and A E Thomas, but you can detect the hand of Sturges at work on the script.

Chevalier sings ‘You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me’ by Irving Kahal, Pierre Norman, and Sammy Fain.  Other songs are ‘Livin’ in the Sunlight, Lovin’ in the Moonlight; by Al Sherman and Al Lewis, ‘This Is My Lucky Day’ by Lew Brown, B. G. DeSylva and Ray Henderson, and Mia Cara’ by Irving Kahal, Pierre Norman, and Sammy Fain.

Chevalier was nominated for a 1930 Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for both his performance in The Big Pond and in The Love Parade (1929).

The Big Pond is directed by Hobart Henley, runs 78 minutes, is made and released by Paramount Pictures, is written by Preston Sturges (dialogue), Robert Presnell Sr (scenario) and Garrett Fort (scenario), based on a play by George Middleton and A E Thomas, is shot by George J Folsey, is produced by Monta Bell, and is scored by John Green.

The cast are Maurice Chevalier as Pierre Mirande, Claudette Colbert as Barbara Billings, George Barbier as Mr Billings, Marion Ballou as Mrs Billings, Andrée Corday as Toinette, Frank Lyon as Ronnie, Nat Pendleton as Pat O’Day, and Elaine Koch as Jennie.

Release date: May 3, 1930.

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,622

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