Folies Bergere de Paris (1935) – reviewed by George

The film opens with Maurice Chevalier onstage at the Folies Bergere singing one of his trademark songs, “Valentine” (pronounced Val-awn-tina) by Christine and Willemetz. He is playing Charlier, a renowned stage singer/dancer/comic. When the applause for his solo is over, he and Ann Sothern, as his partner Mimi (and don’t forget the chorus girls) launch into “I Love the Rhythm of the Rain” (actual title: Rhythm of the Rain, by Jack Maskill and Jack Stern). This is a huge number with actual rain, and while Sothern has an umbrella, Chevalier happily splashes through the puddles, as Gene Kelly would years later.
Then he returns in a skit-and-song in which he impersonates Baron Fernand Cassini, who is in the audience with his wife. Chevalier also plays the Baron, and Merle Oberon plays his wife Genevieve.
Later Charlier is hired to impersonate the Baron at a very important party which the Baron cannot attend, due to a secret trip to England to try to raise funds for his suddenly-floundering company, and after that the Baron will impersonate Charlier. Chevalier is excellent at keeping the four roles straight and distinguishable to the audience – a remarkable feat. It’s true that make-up helps, as well as the direction of Roy Del Ruth, but he does a super job. I also enjoyed the humorous contribution of Eric Blore as the Baron’s valet.
There are six big songs in the movie, including the two already mentioned, and “You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth When You Said I Love You” (actual title: You Took the Words Out of My Mouth, by Burton Lane and Harold Adamson).
The almost overwhelming final number is “You’re Happy When You’re Singing a Happy Song” (actual title: Singing a Happy Song, also by Meskill and Stern – what did they have against long titles in the 30’s?). One great thing about film is the ability to warp perception. Chevalier’s hat blows off in the stage wind, and then there’s a cut to the hat lying on the stage. But it starts rising and we realize that it’s being lifted by a girl underneath it, and the hat is huge. Then the camera retreats, offering a wider view, and we see the full chorus. Each girl has a huge hat to manipulate and dance with and under. And in a very visual happy ending, everyone on stage throws his or her hat (the one on the head, not the giant one) into the audience. Hurrah!