The Smiling Lieutenant
“Maurice Chevalier laughing and loving again in Ernst Lubitsch's sparkling cocktail of romantic merriment”
Synopsis
An amorous lieutenant is forced to marry a socially awkward princess, though he tries to keep his violin-playing girlfriend on the side.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Smiling Lieutenant: Magic in the muffin
Type: Clip • Published 2010-05-24
Top Cast
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Maurice Chevalier
Lt. Nikolaus 'Niki' von Preyn
Claudette Colbert
Franzi
Miriam Hopkins
Princess Anna
Charles Ruggles
Max
George Barbier
King Adolf XV
Hugh O'Connell
Niki's Orderly
Maude Allen
Lady in Waiting (uncredited)
Granville Bates
Bill Collector (uncredited)
Harry C. Bradley
Count Von Holden (uncredited)
Carrie Daumery
Lady in Waiting (uncredited)
Ludwig Heinsich
Man (uncredited)
Cornelius MacSunday
Emperor Franz Josef (uncredited)
Elizabeth Patterson
Baroness Von Schwedel (uncredited)
Janet Reade
Lily (uncredited)
Werner Saxtorph
Joseph (uncredited)
Karl Stall
Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)
Robert Strange
Colonel Rockoff (uncredited)
Charles Wagenheim
Arresting Officer (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
New York City, New York
Festival / Special Debut
August 1, 1931
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Ernst Lubitsch
- Screenplay & Story
- Samson Raphaelson, Ernest Vajda
- Original Score
- Oscar Straus
- Original Title
- The Smiling Lieutenant
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- French, English
- Runtime
- 1h 29m
- Production Studios
- Paramount Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Ernst Lubitsch
Samson Raphaelson, Ernest Vajda, Leopold Jacobson, Felix Dormann, Hans Müller, Ernst Lubitsch, Clifford Grey
Oscar Straus
George J. Folsey
Merrill G. White
Ernst Lubitsch
Department Leadership Roster
Ernst Lubitsch
Director
Merrill G. White
Editor
Samson Raphaelson
Screenplay
Ernest Vajda
Screenplay
Ernst Lubitsch
Producer
George J. Folsey
Director of Photography
Ernst Lubitsch
Writer
Oscar Straus
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Smiling Lieutenant.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Smiling Lieutenant.
Movies - Live Action
(Movies) Classic Hollywood
Films from Hollywood's Golden Age (roughly 1927-1969).
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Musicals
Every film Wikidata tags as a musical film.
Pre-Code Hollywood
Pre-Code Hollywood films, 1929 to 1934.
The Criterion Collection
Every film released by The Criterion Collection on DVD, Blu-ray or 4K, including box sets and Eclipse. Enumerated from Wikidata and Wikipedia.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Smiling Lieutenant
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Smiling Lieutenant about?
An amorous lieutenant is forced to marry a socially awkward princess, though he tries to keep his violin-playing girlfriend on the side.
Who directed The Smiling Lieutenant?
The Smiling Lieutenant was directed by Ernst Lubitsch.
Who stars in The Smiling Lieutenant?
The principal cast of The Smiling Lieutenant includes Maurice Chevalier, Claudette Colbert, Miriam Hopkins, Charles Ruggles, George Barbier.
When was The Smiling Lieutenant released and how long is it?
The Smiling Lieutenant was released in 1931 with a total runtime of 1h 29m.
Who composed the musical score for The Smiling Lieutenant?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Smiling Lieutenant was composed by Oscar Straus.
Is The Smiling Lieutenant based on a book or true story?
The Smiling Lieutenant is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Hans Müller".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Smiling Lieutenant?
The Smiling Lieutenant holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).