''Ball at Savoy'' (U.S. title: ''With Pleasure, Madame''; also known as ''Ball at the Savoy'' and ''Dancing Waiter'') is a 1936 British

operetta film Operetta films (German: Operettenfilm) are a genre of musical films associated with, but not exclusive to, German language cinema. The genre began in the late 1920s, but its roots stretch back into the tradition of nineteenth century Viennese ope ...

directed by

Victor Hanbury W. Victor Hanbury (1897 – 14 December 1954) was a British film director and producer. Entering the film industry in 1919 after service in the First World War, he became a director and producer in the early 1930s. His last film as a director w ...

and starring

Conrad Nagel John Conrad Nagel (March 16, 1897 – February 24, 1970) was an American film, stage, television and radio actor. He was considered a famous matinée idol and leading man of the 1920s and 1930s. He was given an Honorary Academy Award in 1940, a ...

Marta Labarr Marta Labarr (born Martha Eugénie Claquin; 4 June 1912 – 30 June 1999) was a French-American singer and actress who appeared in 11 British and French films, usually as a leading lady. Her final film was the 1946 thriller ''Tehran'', playing o ...

and Fred Conyngham. It was written by Alfred Grünwald, ,

Fritz Löhner-Beda Fritz Löhner-Beda (24 June 1883 – 4 December 1942), born Bedřich Löwy, was an Austrian librettist, lyricist and writer. Once nearly forgotten, many of his songs and tunes remain popular today. He was murdered in Auschwitz III Monowitz conce ...

, Reginald Long and

Ákos Tolnay Ákos Tolnay (1903–1981) was a Hungarian screenwriter active mainly in Italian cinema, having previously worked in Britain. He also appeared in Roberto Rossellini's 1945 Neorealism (art), neorealist film ''Rome, Open City''.Wagstaff p.440 Selec ...

, based on the 1932 operetta '' Ball im Savoy'' by

Paul Abraham Paul Abraham (; 2 November 1892 – 6 May 1960) was a Jewish-Hungarian composer of operettas, who scored major successes in the German-speaking world. His specialty – and own innovation – was the insertion of jazz interludes into operett ...

, which had been turned into an Austrian film in 1935. It was made at

Elstree Studios Elstree Studios is a generic term which can refer to several current and demolished British film studios and television studios based in or around the town of Borehamwood and village of Elstree in Hertfordshire, England. Production studios ha ...

Plot

A British diplomat falls in love with a famous singer when he meets her in

Cannes Cannes (, ; , ; ) is a city located on the French Riviera. It is a communes of France, commune located in the Alpes-Maritimes departments of France, department, and host city of the annual Cannes Film Festival, Midem, and Cannes Lions Internatio ...

Cast

as John Egan/Baron Dupont *

as Anita Stella *

Lu Ann Meredith Lu Ann Meredith (July 7, 1913November 12, 1998) was an American film actress. Picked as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars in 1934, her career did not flourish unlike a number of other awardees such as Jean Arthur and Ginger Rogers. In 1935, she had a r ...

as Mary * Fred Conyngham as George *

Aubrey Mather Aubrey Mather (17 December 1885 – 16 January 1958) was an English character actor. Career Mather was born in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, and began his career on the stage in 1905. He debuted in London in ''Brewster's Millions'' in ...

as Herbert *

Fred Duprez Fred Duprez (September 6, 1884 – October 27, 1938) was an American actor, comedian and singer who performed in vaudeville, phonograph record and film. He made phonograph recordings in the US and the UK in the 1900s, 1910s, and 1920s. Most of t ...

as not Herbert * Bela Mila as Terese *

Dino Galvani Dino Galvani (born Candido Galvanoni; 27 October 189014 September 1960) was an Italian-British actor, who made his career in Britain on stage and radio and in films. He is remembered for his role in the popular BBC radio comedy series ''ITMA'' fr ...

as manager * Monti DeLyle as stranger * Esther Kiss as Suzanne * Tony De Lungo as maitre d'hotel *

Bruno Barnabe Bruno Bianco Alberto G. G. Barnabe (3 April 1905 – 20 June 1998) was an English film and stage actor. He performed in the West End, on Broadway, and in Egypt, Australia and New Zealand. Biography Barnabe was born in St Giles, London ...

as train conductor

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin The ''Monthly Film Bulletin'' was a periodical of the British Film Institute published monthly from February 1934 until April 1991, when it merged with '' Sight & Sound''. It reviewed all films on release in the United Kingdom, including those wi ...

'' wrote: "The progress of the film is slow, tortuous, and almost entirely lacking in even superficial logic. The acting all round is quite undistinguished, except for Conrad Nagel, who, in the role of a diplomat who pretends to be a Baron who pretends to be a waiter who is suspected of being a thief, and who falls in love with a glamorous international singer, actually manages to inject some real sparkle into his ridiculous part. His potentialities in the realm of sophisticated comedy deserve to be put to better use. Of the women, Lu Anne Meredith seems to have the most personality. Some may be interested by the dancing, but the rest of the film is simply dull. The odds and ends of 'naughty' by-play are pointless." ''

Kine Weekly ''Kinematograph Weekly'', popularly known as ''Kine Weekly'', was a trade paper catering to the British film industry between 1889 and 1971. Etymology The word Kinematograph was derived from the Greek ' Kinumai ', (to move, to be in motion, to ...

'' wrote: "Marta Labarr, the French star, invests the role of Anita with glamour, and, although she is not too well served by the recording apparatus, interprets the tuneful songs with the unobtrusive technique of the polished vocalist. Conrad Nagel cuts an attractive figure and acts with a sense of humour as John, and Lu Anne Meredith and Fred Conyngham put over the dance numbers cleverly and with infectious enthusiasm." ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' wrote: "Conrad Nagel, though charming, at times doesn't seem quite at ease in the role of the young diplomat, Geneva-bound, who steps off at Cannes in pursuit of an unknown face and voice. His charmer returns his affection, even though at one time it looks as though he might be a much sought-after jewel thief. Marta Labarr, in this role, is effective, although 'the beauty of her voice seems to lose in recording. Lu Anne Meredith and Fred Conyngham are admirable singing, dancing and light comedy support. Whole just barely gets by." In ''British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959'' David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", calling it: "Airy musical trifle."

References

External links

* 1936 films British musical comedy films British romantic comedy films British black-and-white films 1936 musical comedy films 1936 romantic comedy films Films directed by Victor Hanbury Films shot at British International Pictures Studios Operetta films Films based on operettas Films set in Cannes Films scored by Paul Abraham Remakes of Austrian films Films scored by Jack Beaver 1930s romantic musical films British romantic musical films 1930s English-language films 1930s British films English-language romantic comedy films English-language romantic musical films English-language musical comedy films {{romantic-musical-film-stub