Sassy and feminine is how I would describe Claudette Colbert. Fred MacMurray and Claudette were teamed in 7 films - almost all of them frothy comedies. Although they were an unlikely duo something about them clicked with the public who found them a perfect match. This was their first pairing - she was a veteran of nearly 30 films and a big star, he was a gangly newcomer, who had had the juvenile lead in a minor film "Grand Old Girl" starring May Robson, but they displayed great chemistry together. "The Gilded Lily" poked fun at the craze for celebrities (has anything changed!!)
Claudette plays Marilyn David, a stenographer (Colbert had once been one in her pre-acting days). She and Peter Dawes (Fred MacMurray), a celebrity reporter have a regular Thursday night date where they shoot the breeze in the local park, debating the merits of peanuts verses popcorn. She wants to marry (just not to him), settle down and cook and clean for her man. He feels that if anyone had a chance at fame or celebrity they would grab it.
Marilyn meets Charles Gray (Ray Milland) in a subway scuffle. It is love at first sight and they spend a fun day at Luna Park. She is very concerned that he doesn't have a job and makes him promise to find one but unbeknownst to her he is really a Lord !!! and also engaged to an English girl. Charles' father (C. Aubrey Smith) tells him he must go back to England and break his engagement if he wants to make it alright with Marilyn, who Charles tells that he is leaving town for a few weeks in search of work. Peter is given an assignment to get some pictures of Lord Gray and when Marilyn sees his picture in the paper she feels betrayed - she didn't know he was a Lord!!!!
Peter concocts a story about her broken romance - how she was jilted but still believes in love. Of course Marilyn has no knowledge of the story but she still becomes a celebrity, known as the "No Girl"!!! She is hired to do an act in a run down nightclub. It is the funniest sequence - she is a sensation!!! She goes on, forgets the words to her song, does an impromptu dance, falls over - "I'm a freak!!!" and the crowd goes wild!!!
It is a great satire on what it is like to be a celebrity. Even though Pete started it, he realises that he has created a monster. She has so many obligations they never get a chance to see each other. Gray comes back on the scene but only to bask in her notoriety. This is a super film that is highly recommended.
Claudette plays Marilyn David, a stenographer (Colbert had once been one in her pre-acting days). She and Peter Dawes (Fred MacMurray), a celebrity reporter have a regular Thursday night date where they shoot the breeze in the local park, debating the merits of peanuts verses popcorn. She wants to marry (just not to him), settle down and cook and clean for her man. He feels that if anyone had a chance at fame or celebrity they would grab it.
Marilyn meets Charles Gray (Ray Milland) in a subway scuffle. It is love at first sight and they spend a fun day at Luna Park. She is very concerned that he doesn't have a job and makes him promise to find one but unbeknownst to her he is really a Lord !!! and also engaged to an English girl. Charles' father (C. Aubrey Smith) tells him he must go back to England and break his engagement if he wants to make it alright with Marilyn, who Charles tells that he is leaving town for a few weeks in search of work. Peter is given an assignment to get some pictures of Lord Gray and when Marilyn sees his picture in the paper she feels betrayed - she didn't know he was a Lord!!!!
Peter concocts a story about her broken romance - how she was jilted but still believes in love. Of course Marilyn has no knowledge of the story but she still becomes a celebrity, known as the "No Girl"!!! She is hired to do an act in a run down nightclub. It is the funniest sequence - she is a sensation!!! She goes on, forgets the words to her song, does an impromptu dance, falls over - "I'm a freak!!!" and the crowd goes wild!!!
It is a great satire on what it is like to be a celebrity. Even though Pete started it, he realises that he has created a monster. She has so many obligations they never get a chance to see each other. Gray comes back on the scene but only to bask in her notoriety. This is a super film that is highly recommended.