In a variation of Noel Coward's "Design For Living" (minus the sex), this so-called romantic comedy focuses on an American girl (Claudette Colbert) who has saved money for years to take a trip to Paris where she is approached by playboy Robert Young and agrees to travel with him and his friend Melvyn Douglas to Switzerland, albeit "platonically". Even though she has shared a kiss with Young, it is apparent her only motive is to have fun, not find love. Douglas is his rather dour friend who acts as "chaperone", which causes her to explode at him in frustration over his too serious attitude towards their trip. He reveals a softer side to her, and from there, she begins to spend half her time with one, and half with the other. Each one tries to outdo the other in an effort to spend time with her and win her affections.
Only part of the first quarter and part of the conclusion actually take place in Paris; More than 50% of the film takes place in Switzerland. The film's energy comes and goes, and when it does (particularly a scene on a speeding toboggan and later a skiing sequence), it is fully alive. But the majority of the time, it lays there, flat as Douglas's personality throughout most of the film. Even with some great art decco sets and breathtaking snowy scenery, it is not as amusing as it should have been. For the most part, comedies set in snowy settings (such as "Snowed Under", "The Goose and the Gander" and "Petticoat Fever") are rather mediocre; Snow seems to do better with action or adventure ("Island in the Sky", "Mrs. Mike"). Wesley Ruggles, while a fine director, was not as adept as Ernst Lubitsh, Preston Sturges or Mitchell Leissen when it came to romantic comedy. Ironically, Douglas would end up skiing in another romantic comedy several years later with someone named Garbo. Fritz Feld is amusing as a Franklin Pangborn like hotel clerk. But with the film long on talk and short on humor, it sadly misses the mark.
Only part of the first quarter and part of the conclusion actually take place in Paris; More than 50% of the film takes place in Switzerland. The film's energy comes and goes, and when it does (particularly a scene on a speeding toboggan and later a skiing sequence), it is fully alive. But the majority of the time, it lays there, flat as Douglas's personality throughout most of the film. Even with some great art decco sets and breathtaking snowy scenery, it is not as amusing as it should have been. For the most part, comedies set in snowy settings (such as "Snowed Under", "The Goose and the Gander" and "Petticoat Fever") are rather mediocre; Snow seems to do better with action or adventure ("Island in the Sky", "Mrs. Mike"). Wesley Ruggles, while a fine director, was not as adept as Ernst Lubitsh, Preston Sturges or Mitchell Leissen when it came to romantic comedy. Ironically, Douglas would end up skiing in another romantic comedy several years later with someone named Garbo. Fritz Feld is amusing as a Franklin Pangborn like hotel clerk. But with the film long on talk and short on humor, it sadly misses the mark.