Helen Broderick (L) tells Danielle Darrieux to find a husband. Image: Alamy
Here’s a line you don’t often hear in a classic movie. A man greets a friend with, “How’s everything in Winnipeg?”
You heard that right: Winnipeg. And why not? There was a time when Winnipeg was touted as the “Chicago of the North” with its rail transportation systems and rapidly-growing population. Big money was to be made, until it wasn’t.
By 1938, Winnipeg no longer held the shiny, bright future it embraced before WWI, but it was good a place as any for a Canadian millionaire, the brutal winters notwithstanding.
Now, the millionaire to whom we’re referring is a supporting character in the screwball comedy, The Rage of Paris (1938). The story is set in stylish Manhattan, specifically the Savoy Grand, where our millionaire is vacationing. We quickly learn our fellow is worth $10 million and owns “half of Canada.”
(Ten million dollars in 1938 is worth approximately $223 million US these days, which is roughly $300 million CDN. That doesn’t buy as much of the Great White North as it used to, apparently, inflation being what it is. But we digress.)
Anyhoo, The Rage of Paris stars French actress Danielle Darrieux as a young emigré in New York struggling to succeed as a model. Of course, the 1938 NYC modelling market is flooded with Hopefuls, so Darrieux and her wise-cracking pal (the fab Helen Broderick) create their own Fail-Safe Opportunity.
However! There is a Fly in the Ointment, the handsome Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., who becomes inadvertently tangled up in this business, and threatens to topple the whole thing.
Fairbanks Jr. feels Darrieux has Zero credibility. Photo by Snap/Shutterstock (390934jv)
The enterprising Darrieux and Broderick recruit a Maître d’ (Mischa Auer) to help stage a hostile takeover of our millionaire. Their ambitions:
Darrieux snares a husband, plus lots of moola.
Auer raises the capital he needs to open his own restaurant.
Broderick benefits from any eventual Outcome.
Darrieux is presented to hotel management as a glam Parisian celebrity (“the Rage of Paris”) who’ll reside at the Savoy Grand during her time in New York. Darrieux, wearing rented furs, is strategically housed across the hall from the aforementioned millionaire.
You know where this is headed, because it employs the Tried-and-True Hollywood formula for 1930s’ screwball comedies: A poor person meets a rich person and madcappery ensues, along with marriage.
This formula is used in many Hollywood comedies, even to this day, because there are a surprising number of ways to reach the Targeted Goals.
There are three things The Rage of Paris does well. First, it has spacious, ultra luxe sets that scream Money.
Second, it has really interesting people. Even though the principal characters are Types, the actors portray them with a freshness that make them seem New.
Third, the script has fast, witty dialogue. In one scene, Fairbanks Jr. confronts his butler, Wrigley – an employee habitually on the verge of being fired – about a conversation he may or may not have overheard.
Fairbanks Jr: “Did you hear that, Wrigley?” Wrigley: “Did you want me to, sir?” Fairbanks Jr: “I do.” Wrigley: “I did.”
In another scene, our young Canadian millionaire introduces himself to the middle-aged Broderick.
Millionaire: “Call me Bill.” Broderick: “If I were 15 years younger, I could do better than that.”
Sometimes not even a fur coat can raise a gal’s spirits. Image: Film Comment
In our opinion, comedies work best when you know right away Who wants What, but characters become thwarted in achieving their objectives. Casting is crucial, too, and every actor in this movie is superb.
(Speaking of casting, The Rage of Paris won an acting award at the 1938 Venice Film Festival. This is remarkable, considering it was Darrieux’s first Hollywood production.)
The film was directed by Henry Koster, who left Germany in 1933, when you-know-who was elected. According to TCM, Koster made several films in Europe before landing in Hollywood. One of his most beloved works is Harvey (1950), starring James Stewart.
If you’re in the mood for an improbable romp with a Winnipeg millionaire (and who isn’t?), you should watch The Rage of Paris. It’s difficult to find a good-quality version online, nonetheless the story and characters are delightful.
The Rage of Paris starring Danielle Darrieux, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Mischa Auer. Directed by Henry Koster. Written by Bruce Manning & Felix Jackson. Universal Pictures, 1938, B&W, 78 mins.
This sounds like a lot of fun. I wasn’t aware that Darrieux had worked in Hollywood, so that should be interesting to see as well after seeing her in quite a number of French films. Thanks for recommending this!
It looks like it’s available on Hoopla through my public library, so hopefully that copy is fairly good quality (though I won’t know until I actually “borrow” it). I’ll have to do that in the near future.
I agree with what Realweegie said above that this film should have been a trilogy 🙂 I do not know If it is just me, but The Rage of Paris reminds me of the type of comedies Ernst Lubitsch made throughout his career 🙂 What about you Ruth? 🙂
I will definitely keep an eye out for this one. I developed a new appreciation for Danielle Darrieux after seeing her earlier this year in Mauvaise Graine. And I’m always up for a Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., movie! Thank you for adding another movie to my watchlist . . .
Silver Screenings 
I love that film title… So deserving of a sequel or a trilogy etc… The Rage of Paris Too, The Rage of Paris Three etc…
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Haha! True! I hadn’t thought of it.
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The butler sounds a hoot too.
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He’s so funny. Too bad he doesn’t have more screen time.
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This sounds like a lot of fun. I wasn’t aware that Darrieux had worked in Hollywood, so that should be interesting to see as well after seeing her in quite a number of French films. Thanks for recommending this!
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She’s terrific at physical comedy, which I wasn’t expecting, somehow. I hope you get a chance to see a half-decent version. 🙂
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It looks like it’s available on Hoopla through my public library, so hopefully that copy is fairly good quality (though I won’t know until I actually “borrow” it). I’ll have to do that in the near future.
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Winnipeg? What’s not to love? That’s where ALL the millionaires live, isn’t it?🤣
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Ha! I do love Winnipeg – especially the food – but it’s an odd city choice for a Hollywood film, hey?
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Definitely—I hope they did all the filming in the summertime!
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Winterpeg is hardly ever a movie setting or even mentioned, so this is neat. Nice cast, I need to see this.
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It’s a delightful and funny movie. And nice to see Winnipeg get a massive shout-out!
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I agree with what Realweegie said above that this film should have been a trilogy 🙂 I do not know If it is just me, but The Rage of Paris reminds me of the type of comedies Ernst Lubitsch made throughout his career 🙂 What about you Ruth? 🙂
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Yes, agreed! It does seem like an Ernst Lubitsch film, now that you mention it.
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I will definitely keep an eye out for this one. I developed a new appreciation for Danielle Darrieux after seeing her earlier this year in Mauvaise Graine. And I’m always up for a Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., movie! Thank you for adding another movie to my watchlist . . .
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Douglas Fairbanks Jr is a perfect choice in this role. And Danielle Darrieux is really funny. She carries this movie effortlessly.
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Hope you can come, https://weegiemidget.wordpress.com/2024/10/10/john-saxon-blogathon/
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Sorry, Gill, I’ll have to pass on this one. 😦
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No worries Ruth, I am already planning next years with a few fabulous bloggers so watch this space.
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Great post, old movies, we still love them, thank you very much
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Thanks for dropping by! Yes, there are plenty of old movies that are still worth watching, hey?
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Hi lovely, hoping all good with you. Not seen you around for ages x
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Thanks, you! It’s been so busy + a huge case of Writer’s Block. But I’m wrestling with it. I hope all is well with you?
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Sorry to hear about your block, if I can help drop me an email… Sending hugs your way x
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Gill, you are wonderful. Thank you.
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You are pretty awesome too, and just know you can get in touch any time. Xxx
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