Private Lives (1931)

Director:

Sidney Franklin

Writers:

Noel Coward (play)
Hanns Kräly (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

12 December 1931 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

Elyot and Sibyl are being married in a big church ceremony. Amanda and Victor are being married by a French Justice of the Peace...

Plot Keywords:

Paris France | Flowers | St. Moritz Switzerland | Wedding | Honeymoon

Cast

Norma Shearer	...	Amanda Prynne
Robert Montgomery	...	Elyot Chase
Reginald Denny	...	Victor Prynne
Una Merkel	...	Sibyl Chase
Jean Hersholt	...	Oscar
George Davis	...	Bell Hop
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Herman Bing	...	Train Conductor (uncredited)
Ferike Boros	...	Cook at Chalet (uncredited)
Alphonse Martell	...	Hotel Concierge (uncredited)
Wilfrid North	...	Sibyl's Wedding Escort (uncredited)

Directed by
Sidney Franklin

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Noel Coward		play
Hanns Kräly		writer (as Hans Kraly)
Richard Schayer		writer

Produced by
Irving Thalberg	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
William Axt		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Ray Binger		(photographed by)

Film Editing by
Conrad A. Nervig

Art Direction by
Cedric Gibbons

Costume Design by
Adrian		(gowns)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Harold S. Bucquet	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Douglas Shearer	....	recording director
Fred Morgan	....	sound (uncredited)

Other crew
Claudine West	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1931) (USA) (theatrical)

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Franklin Canyon, Santa Monica Mountains, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Robert Montgomery was accidentally knocked unconscious during the fight scene with Norma Shearer.

Quotes:

Amanda: Extraordinary how potent cheap music is.

Movie Connections:

Version of Amants terribles, Les (1936)

Soundtrack:

Someday I'll Love You

Norma at her (comedic) best

I happen to adore this movie; it's my favorite classic comedy. Surely Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence did a better job than Norma Shearer and Robert Montgomery, but Norma is my favorite actress, and Robert is my favorite of her many co-stars. The dialog is marvelous, and the plot is fun. I like the idea of the two exes who spend their honeymoons in adjacent suites. The fight between Norma and Robert could very well be one of the best ever filmed. This is such a fun movie, but is sadly a little forgotten. I hear that the MGM video release isn't being made anymore, so if you don't want to watch this gem on a grainy, used video, hurry to your local store and watch the clerk look at you funny when you sigh with relief over having gotten the last copy.