Laughter

[The film was never released in Finland]. US 1930. D: Harry d’Abbadie d’Arrast. Story: Harry d’Abbadie d’Arrast, Douglas Z. Doty; SC: Harry d’Abbadie d’Arrast, Douglas Z. Doty, Herman J. Mankiewicz, Donald Ogden Stewart; DP: George J. Folsey; ED: Helene Turner; M: Vernon Duke, Frank Tours; S: Ernest Zatorsky; CAST: Nancy Carroll (Peggy Gibson), Fredric March (Paul Lockridge), Frank Morgan (C. Morton Gibson), Glenn Anders (Ralph Le Sainte), Diane Ellis (Marjorie Gibson), Leonard Carey (Benham, il maggiordomo), Ollie Burgoyne (Pearl), Eric Blore, Charles Halton; P: Monta Bell per Paramount Pictures; 35mm. [announced duration 85’]. Actual duration 77 min. From: BFINA per concessione di Paramount. - Earphone commentary in Italian, Viewed at Cinema Lumière 2, Bologna, 4 July 2009. - A good print. - A strong and fascinating film. An important transitional film from the 1920s sophisticated comedy of manners to the 1930s screwball. This black comedy of manners starts with a suicide plan, examines the empty life of the idle rich, features charming girls who marry for money and find fulfillment in relationships with poor artists. It starts darkly, turns comical, and towards the end develops as a grim drama. - Fine dialogue, fine performances.