Tonight's Movie: I Met Him in Paris (1937) - A Universal Blu-ray Review

The very enjoyable romantic comedy I MET HIM IN PARIS (1937) has just been released on Blu-ray by Universal.

This is one of a quartet of new Blu-ray releases starring Claudette Colbert. The other titles are MAID OF SALEM (1937), ZAZA (1938), and SKYLARK (1941). I'll be reviewing SKYLARK at a future date.

I last saw I MET HIM IN PARIS back in 2009 when it was released on DVD in the six-film Claudette Colbert Collection. MAID OF SALEM was also part of that set. I very much enjoyed revisiting it.

Claudette plays Kay Denham, a department store employee who's saved up for a dream vacation, spending three weeks in Paris. She leaves behind her boring beau (Lee Bowman) and boards a ship, bound for adventure.

When Kay initially arrives in Paris she's lonely, but she soon attracts not one but two admirers: Enthusiastic Gene (Robert Young), who tells Kay he loves her when they've scarcely met, and the more sober and serious George (Melvyn Douglas).

George and the audience know what Kay doesn't: Gene's intentions aren't honorable, because he's already married to Helen (Mona Barrie).

Before Helen shows up in the picture, Kay, Gene, and George head for Switzerland. Much of the film was shot on location in Idaho, and the most charming scenes in the film find Douglas and Colbert ice skating in an extensive sequence. They're very good!

While Young's character quickly changes from lovestruck young swain to sleaze, Douglas's George quietly pines over Kay -- and makes sure Gene doesn't take advantage of her. This was a reunion for Douglas and Colbert, who had previously appeared in SHE MARRIED HER BOSS (1935), and they're an appealing duo.

The story itself is a bit unusual, with the theme of two American men and a woman in Paris (for at least part of the story!) somewhat calling to mind Lubitsch's pre-Code DESIGN FOR LIVING (1933).

Though made firmly in the era of Production Code enforcement, I MET HIM IN PARIS also manages to be fairly risque, with Gene having designs on Kay which don't involve marriage and George making sure he's unsuccessful.

Colbert is charming as always, and she has an incredible wardrobe designed by Travis Banton. As I commented in my 2009 review, it reminds me of Alice Faye having "saved up" for a spectacular wardrobe in WEEK-END IN HAVANA (1941) a few years later.

For a few more thoughts on this film, please click over to my 2009 review.

I MET HIM HIM IN PARIS runs 86 minutes. The screenplay by Claude Binyon was based on a story by Helen Meinardi.

The film was directed by Wesley Ruggles and filmed in black and white by Leo Tover.

Universal's Blu-ray print isn't perfect, with the film slightly showing its age here and there, but on the whole it looks very good, especially the ice skating sequences. Sound quality is strong.

There are no extras on the disc, but it does include English-language captions.

Thanks to Allied Vaughn and Universal for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. It may be purchased from Movie Zyng, Amazon, and other online retailers.

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