(Ernst Lubitsch, US 1924, 85 min., DCP)
Three men, three women, many combinations. In present-day Vienna, Mizzi (Marie Prevost) and Josef (Adolphe Menjou) have a contentious marriage, and when Mizzi storms out one day, Josef decides to have her followed by a detective to find material for a divorce. When Mizzi visits her friend Charlotte (Florence Vidor), who has just moved to Vienna, she falls in love with Charlotte’s new husband, Franz (Monte Blue). As she pursues Franz, Mizzi throws Charlotte’s suspicions to Josephine (Esther Ralston). Meanwhile, Josef’s medical partner, Gustav (Creighton Hale) is in love with Charlotte, much to her chagrin. As the wheels turn and misunderstandings pile up, these young lovers will need to decide what is ultimately important to them. Based on the play Only a Dream by Lothar Schmidt, this is perhaps the earliest example of Lubitsch’s urbane romances, remade by the director in 1932 as One Hour with You.
Restored by The Museum of Modern Art, with the financial support of Matthew and Natalie Bernstein.
Live piano accompaniment by Dr. Philip Carli.
