Trouble in Paradise

Conman Gaston Monescu (Herbert Marshall) claims to be a baron to gain access to high society and robs the rich Monsieur Filiba (Edward Everett Horton) by pretending to be a doctor supposed to examine his tonsils, a word which becomes a running gag across the film. The alleged countess (Miriam Hopkins), who is actually a pickpocket named Lily, sees through Gaston, who promptly falls in love with her. As a couple, they plan to empty the safe of affluent young widow Mariette Colet (Kay Francis) in Paris. By finding Madame’s valuable handbag, Gaston gains her trust and, after becoming her private secretary, gets closer to her than Lily would like. “As far as pure style is concerned, I don’t think I’ve made anything better than TROUBLE IN PARADISE and nothing that is as good.” (Ernst Lubitsch)