The Smiling Lieutenant (1931): cast, story & where to watch
1931 · Film · ★ 7
Released in 1931, The Smiling Lieutenant is a comedy and romance film directed by Ernst Lubitsch, running about 89 minutes. “Maurice Chevalier laughing and loving again in Ernst Lubitsch's sparkling cocktail of romantic merriment” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A simple wink, intended by Austrian palace guard Lt. Nikolaus von Preyn for girlfriend, Franzi, is accidentally intercepted -- and misread -- by the visiting Princess Anna. As a result, the soldier has no choice but to marry the royal lady and move with her to the neighboring kingdom of Flausenthurm. His girlfriend follows to continue the romance and, subversively, give Princess Anna tips on how to keep her husband satisfied.
Who’s in it. The Smiling Lieutenant stars Maurice Chevalier as Lt. Nikolaus 'Niki' von Preyn, Claudette Colbert as Franzi, Miriam Hopkins as Princess Anna and Charles Ruggles as Max, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.0/10, The Smiling Lieutenant has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on FlixFling and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Smiling Lieutenant page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Smiling Lieutenant tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Smiling Lieutenant (1931)?
- In US, The Smiling Lieutenant is available to stream on FlixFling, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Smiling Lieutenant worth watching?
- The Smiling Lieutenant holds an audience score of 7.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy and romance. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Smiling Lieutenant?
- The Smiling Lieutenant stars Maurice Chevalier, Claudette Colbert, Miriam Hopkins, Charles Ruggles and George Barbier.
- When was The Smiling Lieutenant released?
- The Smiling Lieutenant was released in 1931, with a runtime of about 89 minutes.