THE GUARDSMAN

US, 1931, 83 minutes, Black and white.
Alfred Lunt, Lynn Fontanne, Roland Young, Zasu Pitts, Maude Eburne, Herman Bing, Ann Dvorak.
Directed by Sidney Franklin.

The Guardsman is a dated piece of film-making from 1932. It is based on a play by Ferenc Molnar. However, it gives the rare opportunity of seeing celebrated stage greats Lynn Fontanne and Alfred Lunt on the screen. Married in real life, they were important on the American stage in the '20s and '30s.

The film is highly stylised and artificial. It was later redone as a musical, The Chocolate Soldier. Lunt and Fontanne are not particularly striking presences. Roland Young is much more effective as the sly critic. Zasu Pitts has some moment with her dilly-dallying maid.

1. The classic play, transferred to the screen? Opportunity to see celebrated stage stars?

2. The plays of Ferenc Molnar, their artificiality, staginess?

3. The players and their success, the actor and the actress as characters? Elizabeth the queen, the curtain call, the bickering, backstage life, the brittle marriage?

4. The actress and her style, her pomposity, relying on Mama and her maid? Her leading her husband on? The flattery of the guardsman? Her response? Declaring that she had known the impersonation all along? Relationship with the critic?

5. The actor and his style, petulance, bickering with his wife? Friendship with the critic? His decision to pretend to be the guardsman, going out of town, make-up? His performance as the Russian guardsman and its exaggerations? Her declaration that she recognised him, the reconciliation?

6. The critic and his observations?

7. The creditor and the touch of comedy - and his recognising the actor?

8. A stage confection, a vehicle to show the performers on screen?