Say It in French (1938)

67 or 70 mins | Romantic comedy | 25 November 1938

Director:

Andrew L. Stone

Producer:

Andrew L. Stone

Cinematographer:

Victor Milner

Editor:

LeRoy Stone

Production Designers:

Hans Dreier, Robert Odell

Production Company:

Paramount Pictures, Inc.
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HISTORY

Information in the file for the film in the MPAA/PCA Collection at the AMPAS Library reveals that in Jul 1938 the initial script was rejected by the PCA because of the "sex situations" contained therein. The script eventually was approved by the PCA after revisions. HR production charts and PCA files indicate that Evelyn Keyes was first cast as Phyllis Carrington. According to the pressbook, Jacques Deval wrote the play Soubrette as a wedding present for his wife. One scene was filmed in the Rainbow Room restaurant at Rockefeller Plaza in New York, and other scenes were filmed in Central Park. HR mistakenly credits Boris Karloff with musical direction. ...

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Information in the file for the film in the MPAA/PCA Collection at the AMPAS Library reveals that in Jul 1938 the initial script was rejected by the PCA because of the "sex situations" contained therein. The script eventually was approved by the PCA after revisions. HR production charts and PCA files indicate that Evelyn Keyes was first cast as Phyllis Carrington. According to the pressbook, Jacques Deval wrote the play Soubrette as a wedding present for his wife. One scene was filmed in the Rainbow Room restaurant at Rockefeller Plaza in New York, and other scenes were filmed in Central Park. HR mistakenly credits Boris Karloff with musical direction.

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GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS
SOURCE CITATIONS
SOURCE
DATE
PAGE
Daily Variety
17 Nov 1938
p. 3
Film Daily
25 Nov 1938
p. 6
Hollywood Reporter
20 Aug 1938
pp. 8-9
Hollywood Reporter
8 Oct 1938
pp. 8-9
Hollywood Reporter
17 Nov 1938
p. 3
Motion Picture Daily
21 Nov 1938
p. 8
Motion Picture Herald
15 Oct 1938
p. 27
Motion Picture Herald
26 Nov 1938
p. 27
New York Times
1 Dec 1938
p. 29
Variety
30 Nov 1938
p. 12
CAST
PRODUCTION CREDITS
NAME
PARENT COMPANY
PRODUCTION COMPANY
DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
DIRECTORS
Asst dir
PRODUCERS
Exec prod
WRITER
PHOTOGRAPHY
Photog
ART DIRECTORS
Art dir
Art dir
FILM EDITOR
SET DECORATOR
Int dec
MUSIC
Mus dir
VISUAL EFFECTS
process photog
MAKEUP
Makeup
SOURCES
LITERARY
Based on the play Soubrette by Jacques Deval (Vienna, 1 Mar 1938).
LITERARY SOURCE AUTHOR
SONGS
"April in My Heart," words and music by Hoagy Carmichael and Helen Meinardi.
SONGWRITER/COMPOSER
DETAILS
Release Date:
25 November 1938
Production Date:
mid Aug--mid Oct 1938
Copyright Info
Claimant
Date
Copyright Number
Paramount Pictures, Inc.
25 November 1938
LP8451
Physical Properties:
Sound
Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording
Black and White
Duration(in mins):
67 or 70
Length(in reels):
8
Country:
United States
PCA No:
4747
Passed by NBR:
Yes
SYNOPSIS

International golf champion Richard "Ricky" Carrington, Jr. returns home to New York with his new Parisian wife, Julie. Before he is able to introduce Julie to his parents, he finds out they expect him to marry his wealthy childhood friend, Auriol Marsden, to help them out of a bad situation with their creditors. Understanding Ricky's need to help his parents, Julie agrees to keep their marriage a secret, on the condition that his engagement last only three weeks. When the Carrington's butler, Hopkins, mistakes Julie for the new maid, she happily accepts the position so she can be under the same roof with her husband. Surprisingly, Auriol also wants a short-term engagement with Ricky so she can keep her real engagement to a lawyer a secret from her father. The plan seems to work well until Auriol falls in love with Ricky and wants to marry him for real. He explains his parents' devastating financial situation to her, and the fact that he is already happily married. The bond of their friendship remains strong, and Auriol introduces Ricky to her grandfather Howland, so that they can convince him to take out a shipbuilding contract with Ricky's father's firm. Howland is indifferent to Ricky's cause until he finds out that Ricky is a golf pro. While Ricky and Auriol keep Howland busy learning golf techniques in his office, they advise the secretary to draft a new contract with the Carringtons' company, which Howland signs. Ricky and Auriol return home triumphantly, only to discover that Julie, recently advised that she is pregnant, has boarded the Queen Mary and is headed ...

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International golf champion Richard "Ricky" Carrington, Jr. returns home to New York with his new Parisian wife, Julie. Before he is able to introduce Julie to his parents, he finds out they expect him to marry his wealthy childhood friend, Auriol Marsden, to help them out of a bad situation with their creditors. Understanding Ricky's need to help his parents, Julie agrees to keep their marriage a secret, on the condition that his engagement last only three weeks. When the Carrington's butler, Hopkins, mistakes Julie for the new maid, she happily accepts the position so she can be under the same roof with her husband. Surprisingly, Auriol also wants a short-term engagement with Ricky so she can keep her real engagement to a lawyer a secret from her father. The plan seems to work well until Auriol falls in love with Ricky and wants to marry him for real. He explains his parents' devastating financial situation to her, and the fact that he is already happily married. The bond of their friendship remains strong, and Auriol introduces Ricky to her grandfather Howland, so that they can convince him to take out a shipbuilding contract with Ricky's father's firm. Howland is indifferent to Ricky's cause until he finds out that Ricky is a golf pro. While Ricky and Auriol keep Howland busy learning golf techniques in his office, they advise the secretary to draft a new contract with the Carringtons' company, which Howland signs. Ricky and Auriol return home triumphantly, only to discover that Julie, recently advised that she is pregnant, has boarded the Queen Mary and is headed back to France because she thinks that Ricky and Auriol ran off together. Ricky rushes to the ship in time to board it, only to discover that Julie is on shore, having found herself unable to leave her husband. She promises to wait for him until his return from the voyage.

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Legend
Viewed by AFI
Partially Viewed
Offscreen Credit
Name Occurs Before Title
AFI Life Achievement Award

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