The Smiling Lieutenant
Performance & Direction: The Smiling Lieutenant Review
Last updated: February 20, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is The Smiling Lieutenant (1931) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 6.8/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Comedy.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Comedy is often anchored by its ensemble, and The Smiling Lieutenant features a noteworthy lineup led by Maurice Chevalier . Supported by the likes of Claudette Colbert and Miriam Hopkins , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: The Smiling Lieutenant
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 1931, The Smiling Lieutenant is a Comedy, Romance film directed by Ernst Lubitsch. The narrative brings laughter through sharp writing and comedic timing, providing amusement while touching on deeper societal themes. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Maurice Chevalier.
Ending Explained: The Smiling Lieutenant
Ending Breakdown: Directed by Ernst Lubitsch, The Smiling Lieutenant concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to comedy resolution.
The conclusion addresses the core thematic questions involving Maurice Chevalier, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the comedy themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of The Smiling Lieutenant reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch The Smiling Lieutenant?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Comedy films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of Maurice Chevalier or the director
- Want some laughs and light entertainment
Top Cast: The Smiling Lieutenant
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Where to Watch The Smiling Lieutenant Online?
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FlixFlingThe Smiling Lieutenant Parents Guide & Age Rating
1931 AdvisoryWondering about The Smiling Lieutenant age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of The Smiling Lieutenant is 89 minutes (1h 29m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.8/10, and global performance metrics, The Smiling Lieutenant is classified as a HIT. It remains an essential part of the 1931 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Smiling Lieutenant worth watching?
The Smiling Lieutenant is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Comedy movies. It has a verified rating of 6.8/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find The Smiling Lieutenant parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for The Smiling Lieutenant identifies it as NR. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of The Smiling Lieutenant?
The total duration of The Smiling Lieutenant is 89 minutes, which is approximately 1h 29m long.
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Critic Reviews for The Smiling Lieutenant
How many films are you ever going to watch that have songs rhyming "liver" with "quiver" - or that quote Emperor Napoleon's last words before entering exile on Elbe - "so long!"? "Niki" (Maurice Chevalier) is a happy-go-lucky military officer in love with "Franzi" (Claudette Colbert) and all is set fair with their lives until a state visit to the Emperor by the princess "Anna" (Miriam Hopkins) lands him in hot water. He smiled at her as the carriage carrying her and her father, the King (George Barbier) passed by. His Majesty is outraged at such a diabolical liberty and so “Niki" is duly summoned. Luckily, he can think on his feet and he can also spell, so is spared death and becomes the apple of the princess's eye! Next thing, wedding bells are being readied and he is swept back to their home land of Flausenthurm a married man. "Franzi" follows and they try to keep something illicit going, but "Anna" is no fool and soon we have a sort of reverse love triangle as the two woman and their hapless hero try to work things out in quite an unusual fashion. Oscar Straus and Clifford Grey provide the musical numbers and though they are pretty unremarkable by themselves, they give the charismatic Chevalier a chance to grin quite a lot, wink now and again and for Colbert and Hopkins to shine. The humour is gently paced, and the whole thing looks like it was shot on the sound stage of the "Prisoner of Zenda". Sure, the story is a bit old hat but it has plenty of charisma to keep it going and is worth a watch.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
