I hate radishes.
Ever since I mistook them for cranberry sauce and ruined my Thanksgiving dinner, I’ve held a particular grudge against the radish community. But does that mean no one should ever enjoy them? No. I’m sure there are many radish enthusiasts out there with a plethora of fantastic recipes. But I still don’t like them.
I feel the same way about movies. I have an extensive DVD library, have been educated on the aesthetics of cinema, and know the eight act structure inside and out so I have strong feelings about certain movies. But that doesn’t mean my opinion holds any more weight than the average theater patron. It just means that I might have stumbled upon a few hidden gems along the way. And TROUBLE IN PARADISE is one of them.
Gaston Monescu and Lily Vautier are two world-famous thieves who love each other for their wicked (and clever) ways. But when Gaston manages to insinuate himself into the home and heart of a beautiful perfume heiress, their relationship becomes more complicated than one of their elaborate confidence schemes.
While most films of the period were still dealing with the novelties of sound, Ernst Lubitsch was busy crafting this masterpiece. Layered with intelligent multi-dimensional characters, an hysterically complex plot, and terrific plant and payoffs, it weaves a rich eccelctic tapestry that surpasses the majority of films crafted seventy years later. It’s full of subtle (and not so subtle) sexual innuendos, exquisite performances, and a brillant sense of style and timing. Possibly because Lubitsch’s name doesn’t carry the weight of “Hitchcock” or “Capra”, the film has gone relatively unheard of beyond film schools or art house theaters. But “Trouble in Paradise” is one of those films that people of all ages can all love for different reasons.
Check it out. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Hit me back. Until next time…