Trouble in Paradise

On the surface, Trouble in Paradise follows a pair of small time crooks who turn a perfume heiress's world upside down. Gaston Monescu and Lily operate as a glamorous duo, pulling off slick scams while keeping their affair under the radar. They end up working for Mariette Colet, a stylish executive who runs a perfume company, and hatch a plan to steal from her by using Gaston as her trusted secretary under the alias Monsieur Laval. He feeds Mariette with attention and access, all while secretly courting Lily's jealousy and curiosity. But the more Gaston pretends to be loyal, the more tangled his feelings become, testing loyalty, love, and ambition. The film balances wit with danger while keeping romance ambiguous.

Released in 1932, Trouble in Paradise was directed by Ernst Lubitsch and built from an original screenplay credited to Samson Raphaelson with contributions from Grover Jones and Leo Robin. The film showcases Lubitsch's flirtatious style and a witty, sophisticated tone.

Box office data for this 1932 release isn't readily available, but the film is remembered as Lubitsch's stylish comedy mixing romance and crime with sharp dialogue. It helped cement the director's reputation for suave, audience-pleasing sophistication. For audiences today worldwide.

Trouble in Paradise is a prime example of the Lubitsch touch, pairing elegant flirtation with light criminal mischief. Its witty exchanges and playful power dynamics helped shape precode sophistication, influencing screwball and romantic comedies and boosting Kay Francis and Miriam Hopkins as stylish, sharp leads. Its humor still feels fresh.

Critics praised its breezy pace and sly social satire; the film explores desire, loyalty, and manipulation within class and gender dynamics, all wrapped in a breezy, urbane wit that defines Lubitsch's approach. The result is a film that feels modern in its flirtation with danger and invites reflection on power.