Mervyn LeRoy directed this pre-Code comedy, starring Gloria Swanson, Melvyn Douglas (in his screen debut) and Boris Karloff.
The film is inspired by the Hungarian play of the same name, written by Lili Hatvany and performed on Broadway in 1930-1931; the title derives from the Offenthal 1927 perfume.
Nella Vargo is a Hungarian prima donna whose latest performances include singing Tosca in Venice. Although she is praised, her music teacher Rudig feels that she cannot be the greatest singer in history until she performs in New York City.
When she is criticized for not putting her soul into the song, she gets mad, until she suddenly notices a mysterious man walking on the street. She becomes smitten with him, until Rudig claims that he is a gigolo whose latest client is Marchesa Bianca San Giovanni, a former notorious diva.
Upset with her love life, she hires the mysterious man, Jim, hoping to experience love and thereby impress Fletcher. Jim, who is actually Fletcher, learns that Nella believes that he is gigolo. Instead of revealing the truth, he pretends to be a gigolo.
Jim demands that she choose between him and the contract. When she chooses him, he reveals to be the famous talent scout, and so Nella can realize her dreams.
Melvyn Douglas (in his screen debut), Ferdinand Gottschalk, Robert Greig, Greta Meyer and Warburton Gamble recreated their stage roles.
Mervyn LeRoy had appeared uncredited as a newsboy in Swanson’s 1923 silent drama Prodigal Daughter.
Joseph Schenck cast Gloria Swanson to help her recover from a career slump. The film was the only of Swanson’s early sound in which she did not sing, despite playing opera singer.
The Hays office objected, and demanded cuts, esp. the love scene between Nella and Jim, which they found “offensive.”
The film was released in 1931, but after the enforcement of the Production Code in 1934, rereleases were rejected.
Cast
Gloria Swanson as Nella Vago
Melvyn Douglas as Jim Fletcher
Alison Skipworth as Marchesa Bianca San Giovanni
Ferdinand Gottschalk as Rudig
Robert Greig as Conrad
Warburton Gamble as Count Albert von Gronac
Greta Meyer as Emma
Boris Karloff as a comical waiter
