Sorry, this movie sucks

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

THE PRINCESS COMES ACROSS (Paramount, 1936), directed by William K. Howard, based on story by Philip MacDonald and adapted from novel by Louis Lucien Rogger, reunites Carole Lombard with Fred MacMurray in a worthy second offering following their initial screen pairing of HANDS ACROSS THE TABLE (1935). With shipboard stories quite a common course in movie theaters at that time, the narrative takes place mostly on board an ocean liner involving various characters, particularly its star attraction played by Carole Lombard. Talking like and attempting in various ways to imitate the famous Swedish born actress, Greta Garbo, Lombard doesn't do a Queen Christina but the guise of a fictional royal Swedish princess coming to America.The plot begins in on deck in England as Captain Nicholls (George Barbier) of the transatlantic ocean liner, the S.S. Mammoth, awaits the arrival of her royal Princess Olga (Carole Lombard) of Sweden, accompanied by her lady-in-waiting, Gertrude Allwyn (Alison Skipworth), and soon greeted by newspaper reporters regarding her venture to Hollywood where she's set to star in a movie, "She Done Him Plenty." Before the ship sets sail across the Atlantic to New York City, the princess is escorted to her royal suite where she finds it occupied by bandleader, King Mantell (Fred MacMurray), and his assistant, Benton (William Frawley). At first, King refuses to give up the suite he had earlier reserved, but after one look at the princess convinces him to settle for a cabin instead. As concertina player Mantell becomes better acquainted with the princess, Captain Nicholls, in a meeting with the international police consisting of Inspector Cragg (Lumsden Hare) of Scotland Yard; Inspector Paul Lorel (Douglass Dumbrille) of France; Morevitch (Mischa Auer) of the Russian Police; Kawati (Tetsu Komai) of the Japanese Secret Service; and Steindorf (Sig Rumann) from Germany, he comes to learn that Paul Merkel, a killer and escaped convict from Devil's Island Prison, is believed to have stowed away and now hiding anywhere on board his ship. As a mysterious but slightly bearded stranger (Bradley Page) in trench coat comes sneaking about the unattended cabins and hiding around secluded places by night, Robert N. Darcy (Porter Hall), a noted blackmailer and confidence man, knowing the secretive past of both Mantell and the princess (Wanda Nash of Brooklyn), he threatens to expose them unless he gets paid off. Later Darcy is found dead inside the princess's royal suite.As THE PRINCESS COME ACROSS starts off as a masquerade sort of comedy, the second half changes knots in mid ocean to murder mystery. Towards the near end of the story, MacMurray takes time singing the lyrics to the film's frequent underscoring to "My Concertina" as composed by Mack Gordon and Harry Revel, as he performs during the ship's entertainment dinner party that earlier consisted briefly of a young tap dancing sailor on stage.A brisk 76 minute production, THE PRINCESS COMES ACROSS is entertaining enough through the Lombard and MacMurray exchanges, but becomes more interesting wondering the identity of the killer on the loose on board ship and the method King Mantel does to expose the guilty party. William Frawley ads some moments of humor as one who lifts personal articles so to learn more about the person's identity, especially the princess, as well as gathering enough attention from passengers and a blinking cabin boy (Bennie Bartlett) while walking about with his beret. Alison Skipworth, nearly unrecognizable in her blonde wig, in fine support of the princess's companion. Film buffs will recognize some familiar faces in brief bits, including George Chandler (The Newsman); Dick Elliott and Milburn Stone.Not as remembered as Lombard's other film roles as TWENTIETH CENTURY (1934) or MY MAN GODFREY (1936), the nearly forgotten THE PRINCESS COMES ACROSS used to be one of Lombard's most televised movies, especially in the early 1970s, with four broadcasts in 1972 alone on New York City's WPIX, Channel 11, before being phased out from that station by 1973, where some years later was found to be broadcasting on other network and public television channels in the Metropolitan area. In later years, THE PRINCESS COME ACROSS became available to video cassette and later DVD, as well as cable television showings on American Movie Classics (1993-1994) and Turner Classic Movies (TCM premiere: August 17, 2006). A capable cast and tight-knit story should continue to keep THE PRINCESS COMES ACROSS afloat. (***)

This second pairing of Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray packs a lot into 76 minutes. It's the least funny of their three comedies, but that's because the humor has to share time with crime and a murder mystery. "The Princess Comes Across" is a mixed genre of comedy, a con caper, murder mystery, and romance, with a good dose of music as well. It's a bit too much to pack into 76 minutes and expect a film to be outstanding or exceptional. Still, it's entertaining and fun to watch. Lombard assumes a Greta Garbo role with a Swedish-English accent, playing a fake Princess Olga. And, MacMurray, as King Mantell, uses some of his musical talent singing with a concertina and his band. Much of the humor comes from their sidekicks. Alison Skipworth plays Lady Gertrude, companion of the princess, and William Frawley is Mantell's cohort, Benton. But, there's crime aboard their ship in this film. And the stars share screen time with a band of international detectives. Those sleuths and other lesser roles are played very well by some of the leading supporting actors of the era. Sig Ruman, Porter Hall and Mischa Auer are especially good in their roles. This film just doesn't have as much snappy dialog, witty script and clever zingers that other films have. But the plot is good and the mystery adds a twist to the usual script of comedy-romance and music for such films of the 1930s. Both stars are exceptionally adept at truly great comedy, and they show some of the range of their acting talents here.Here are some favorite lines from the film. For more dialog, see the Quotes section under this IMDb Web page of the movie. Chief Purser (Edward Keane), "There are five important police officials aboard, sir." Captain, "Police?" Chief Purser, "They're sailing for an international convention of detectives in New York. Would you like to have them at your table, sir?" Captain, "I don't even want them on my ship. They're troublemakers. Jinxes. I'd rather be followed by a seagull flying upside down. I've seen it happen again and again. Trouble's their business. They love it so much, it follows them around."Lady Gertrude, "Now I know he's no good. My dear, I am an old woman. I have traveled at home and abroad. And never, never have I known any good to come out of a concertina."Princess Olga, "You enjoyed the cocktails, didn't you?" Lady Gertrude, "Oh, the first five or six. After that I was bored."Benton, "King. I just saw Darcy go into the royal suite." King Mantell, "Yeah? Are you sure it was Darcy?" Benton, "Sure. Rats like that don't come in pairs."Benton, "Take Terry McGovern. There was a fellow with a left hook. All he had to do was hit you in the chin and break every bone in your ankle."King Mantell, "If you're ever in any kind of trouble, you can count on me." Princess Olga, "Oh, why do you think I should be in any trouble?" King Mantell, "Oh, I dunno. This is a strange ship, and there are some very odd people aboard." Princess Olga, "Ja, and the oddest of them all is you."Lady Gertrude, "Thank heaven this day is over. Such a crowd, my dear. I don't mind people stepping on my feet, but I do object to their loitering there."Lady Gertrude "Oh, my stars and garters."Benton, "I'm saving this page for your obituary notice. I can see it now. 'King Mantell Gets Himself Bumped Off for a Dame.'"Princess Olga, "Well, if you really know who the murderer is, why don't you tell them now?" King Mantell, "I would if I knew. The point is I don't." Princess Olga, "Then why did you say you did?" King Mantell, "Because to catch a rat you have to have cheese." Princess Olga, "I don't get it." King Mantell, "I'm the cheese. When the rat comes to nibble, bang goes the trap." Princess Olga, "With the cheese in it." King Mantell, "Not if it's a smart piece of cheese."Benton, "I'll stick around, all right, but I ain't no Charlie Chan. When I'm picking that guy's sewing kit out of your back, don't say I didn't tell you, that's all."Benton, "I don't know why you want to trade your concertina for a harp."

The delightful Carole Lombard was at her comic height in 1936, whether playing the dizzy heiress of "My Man Godfrey", the frazzled socialite of "Love Before Breakfast", or the phony Swedish princess in this, a delightful screwball comedy set on an ocean liner that literally is murder. She spoofs the legendary Garbo here, giving a delightful Swedish accent that is comical yet not ridiculing. The fun starts on her trip when she finds concertina player Fred MacMurray inside her state room, and from there comes blackmail, a few murders, romance and the comedy of several people pretending to be who they are not. Lombard and MacMurray are surrounded by a top-notch supporting cast including the imperious Allison Skipworth as Lombard's dowager like companion (reminding me of the late Marie Dressler), William Frawley as MacMurray's crotchety pal (hysterical in a scene wearing a beret which looks like a bad toupee), Mischa Auer, Lumsden Hare, Sig Ruman and Douglas Dumbrille as a group of European detectives conveniently aboard to get involved in the murder investigation, Bradley Page as a mystery man stalking the detectives, and Porter Hall as the blackmailer.This fun-filled voyage has a delightfully witty screenplay and everybody involved seems to be having a joyous time. After being rather obnoxious in their previous pairing ("Hands Across the Table"), MacMurray gets to downplay a bit here, and Lombard proves again as to why she was one of the most beloved actresses of the 1930's-she was simply divine, a rare actress under the age of 30 whom everybody could identify with. Her down to earth demeanor is visible through her high-falluting impersonation of the Swedish countess from Brooklyn and it becomes obvious as to why her tragic death in 1942 was mourned by the world.Two of the screen's great 1930's movie villains (Dumbrille and Page) seem to be playing against type here, but the cleverness of the screenplay is such that not everything is as it seems. It's great to see MacMurray and Frawley together 25 years before they were paired together on "My Three Sons", ironic considering that Frawley's "MTS" replacement William Demarest had appeared with him in "Hands Across the Table". Don't be drinking when Lombard, in Swedish dialect, reveals to the American press the name of her favorite movie star.

THE PRINCESS COMES ALONG is a comedy/mystery that unfortunately splits itself in the middle rather than being a mix of both genres throughout the film. It stars Carole Lombard as a girl from Brooklyn who while in England somehow manages to persuade film producers that she is a Princess Olga of Sweden, is signed to a contract and on her way to America to make movies. The movie opens with the excited passengers and press eager to see the Princess board the ship (just how this ruse is successfully pulled off strains credibility, Sweden, after all is a major nation, and surely any allegations that a Princess was going to enter pictures would have quickly been denied and disproved).Fred MacMurray is a popular bandleader who is also on board and takes a shine to the Princess, attempting to romance her. She is indifferent but when a blackmailer is found dead in her room she becomes warmer to MacMurray's offer of friendship as he and buddy William Frawley remove the body. That still means a murder is loose on board and there's more mayhem in the works before the killer is revealed.This movie starts out an engaging 1930's romantic comedy with Lombard deliciously parodying Garbo as the faux Royal Highness. Alas, the movie literally turns deadly after the murder and it's pretty much a straightforward murder mystery with a surprise that isn't much of a surprise if you've seen movies of this nature. Nevertheless, the cast does very well with the material, particularly the young Fred MacMurray, quite dashing in his late twenties, and the delicious character actress Alison Skipworth, here cast as the Princess' haughty traveling companion but in truth another unemployed actress and of course the always great Lombard. Months after their triumph in MY MAN GODFREY, Lombard is reunited with Mischa Auer with the latter in a small role as the Russian detective, one of several international detectives who just so happen to be all traveling on board. THE PRINCESS COMES ALONG is not one of the better Lombard films but it's a pleasant 90 minutes and worth at least one viewing.