The Night Is Young (1935)

 

The Night Is Young - 1935

Coming up next we have 1935's "The Night Is Young", the story of an Austrian archduke and a ballerina, who come together for a romance of convenience.  What they get is the love of a lifetime.

The film's cast includes Ramon Novarro, Evelyn Laye, Charles Butterworth, Una Merkel, Edward Everett Horton, Donald Cook, Henry Stephenson, Rosalind Russell, and Mitzi The Horse.

At the ballet in Vienna, Emperor Franz Josef informs his nephew Archduke Paul Gustave ("Gustl") that his marriage to Princess Mathilde of Reidheim is to be shortly announced.  The Archduke protests, informing his uncle that he is in love with someone else.  The Emperor decides to postpone the marriage for six months in order to give his nephew time with his beloved.  But the Emperor wants to know who it is.

Unfortunately, Gustl's mistress, Countess Zarika Rafay, is in the audience and making eyes at him.  The Emperor inquires who she is.  Finding out she is a member of the Hungarian Rafay family, whom he despises, the Emperor gets a bit upset.  So, Gustl is forced to say that one of the ballerinas is his love interest.

Gustl points to the ballerina at the far end of the stage, who is not paying attention to the ballet.  She is too busy making eyes at her own boyfriend, who is in the wings.

This ballerina, Lisl, gets released from the ballet company because of her poor performance.  Her friend Fanni sticks up for her.

Just at the moment of her greatest despair, Lisl is visited by Baron Szereny, Gustl's valet.  He invites her to dine with the Archduke.

At his residence, Gustl informs Lisl of the situation.  She is to remain in a suite in his residence as his mistress.  However, he will be paying all of his attentions to the Countess Zarika.  In return, he will do anything he can for her and her friends.  All they have to do is ask.  Lisl is more than happy to go along with this plan.

Gustl spends an evening out with Countess Zarika.  By the end of the evening, he is in a very bad humor.

Upon his return home, he finds that Lisl is entertaining her friends Fanni and Willy.  He finds them absolutely charming, and breathe of fresh air after his evening with the Countess.  Willy greets Gustl with "I almost feel that I know you.  My mother’s sister-in-law has a friend, a certain Mrs. Portchester, who used to wash all the laces of your Aunt Marie’s underwear."  Everyone has a laugh.

Gustl and Lisl start spending a lot of time together.  They are amazed at how easy it is to be together, just enjoying the other's company.  One morning, they make up an amusing little song with the day's newspaper headlines as inspiration for the lyrics.  Entitled "There's A Riot In Havana", it's a pretty catchy tune.

Of course, spending so much time together, they fall in love.  They are forced to spend the night on a Ferris Wheel when they are left stranded at the top.  When they are let down the next morning, they adopt a little dachshund.

Gustl and Lisl's feelings run deep.  In fact, Gustl has decided to take a drastic step, but must first talk with the Emperor.

He announces his intentions to renounce his title and the arranged marriage prepared for him in favor of marriage and life with Lisl.  Emperor Franz Josef manages to make his nephew rethink that choice, citing his duty and the way such a life would make him look in his own eyes and that of Lisl.  At the end of the conversation, Gustl has made his choice.

They spend one last evening together.  Lisl knows the choice he's made.  Not wanting to be sad, she makes their last dinner together a memorable one.

At the end of the evening, she tells Gustl to go and catch his train for Reidheim without looking back.  As he goes, she sings a few lines of "When I Grow Too Old To Dream", a song they sang in the early days of their relationship.

Cast rundown:

   Ramon Novarro..................................Archduke Paul Gustave

   Evelyn Laye.......................................Lisl Gluck

   Charles Butterworth...........................Willy Fitch

   Una Merkel........................................Fanni Kerner

   Edward Everett Horton........................Baron Szereny

   Donald Cook......................................Toni Berngruber

   Henry Stephenson..............................Emperor Franz Josef

   Rosalind Russell.................................Countess Zarika Rafay

   Mitzi The Horse..................................Mitzi

And that's all for The Night Is Young.  This film was intended to serve as a vehicle to launch Ramon Novarro and Evelyn Laye as a second Jeanette MacDonald/Nelson Eddy duo.  However, the film didn't do well at the box office, and neither Novarro nor Laye made many more films.  I think it's a really delightful film.  Lots of fun scenes and good music.

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