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The Guardsman (1931) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   111 votes
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Director:
Writers:
Ferenc Molnár (play)
Ernest Vajda (screenplay)
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Guardsman on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
7 November 1931 (USA) more
Genre:
Plot:
An acclaimed actor and his equally acclaimed actress wife, who have been married for less than a year... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. more
User Reviews:
A very entertaining well made comedy more (6 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Alfred Lunt ... The Actor
Lynn Fontanne ... The Actress
Roland Young ... Bernhardt the Critic
Zasu Pitts ... Liesl, the Maid
Maude Eburne ... Mama
Herman Bing ... A Creditor
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Additional Details

Runtime:
82 min
Country:
Language:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)
Certification:
USA:Approved (PCA #1972-R, 17 January 1936 for re-release) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
On the final day of filming, MGM head of production Irving Thalberg, informed the Lunts that they would be required to re-shoot what Thalberg thought was an unsatisfactory scene. The Lunts protested because they thought they had done their best but were finally coerced into re-shooting the scene. When Thalberg saw the newly shot footage he accused Alfred Lunt of purposely crossing his eye as to sabotage the re-shoot. Lunt replied that he couldn't do that on purpose and the reason why the eye was wandering was because of fatigue. Before Thalberg could ask for another re-shoot, Lunt went to the studio barber to get a haircut, making it impossible to re-shoot anymore. more
Quotes:
[the Creditor has seen through the Actor's disguise]
A Creditor: Your own mother might not know you. Your own wife might not know you. And you might put on all the uniforms and all the whiskers and all the wigs in the world. But, as long as you owe me money, I would know you.
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Movie Connections:
Remake of Der Gardeoffizier (1925) more

FAQ

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2 out of 2 people found the following review useful.
A very entertaining well made comedy, 22 September 2005
7/10
Author: Matthew Dickson from Denton, TX

Real life husband and wife duo Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne play famous married theater performers (named in the credits only as The Actor and The Actress). The Actor is so convinced that his wife would be unfaithful to him if given the chance, he dresses up like a Russian officer to try and seduce her. The Guardsman remains the only sound film that either Lunt or Fontanne ever did, which is a damn shame. Both actors achieve a natural quality on screen rarely equaled in thirties films. Lunt especially gives a knockout comedic performance, not only as the whining, conceited, jealous husband, but also as the brash and passionate Guardsman. The rest of the cast play their parts perfectly as well, doing justice to the delightfully witty script. It looses some momentum in the second half, as the film slowly works its way to the conclusion you know is coming. They definitely could have played with the scenario a bit more. Nonetheless, it makes for a very enjoyable comedy.

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