Introduction
1936 film by William K. Howard The Princess Comes Across is a 1936 American mystery comedy film directed by William K. Howard and starring Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray, the second of the four times they were paired .1936 film by William K. Howard The Princess Comes Across is a 1936 American mystery comedy film directed by William K. Howard and starring Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray, the second of the four times they were paired .
Lombard, playing an actress from Brooklyn pretending to be a Swedish princess, does a "film length takeoff" on MGM's Swedish star Greta .Lombard, playing an actress from Brooklyn pretending to be a Swedish princess, does a "film length takeoff" on MGM's Swedish star Greta .
The film was based on the 1935 novel A Halálkabin by Louis Lucien Rogger, the pseudonym of Laszlo Aigner and Louis .The film was based on the 1935 novel A Halálkabin by Louis Lucien Rogger, the pseudonym of Laszlo Aigner and Louis .
Plot
Wanda Nash (Carole Lombard), an actress from Brooklyn, decides to masquerade as "Princess Olga" from Sweden in order to land a film contract with a big Hollywood .Wanda Nash (Carole Lombard), an actress from Brooklyn, decides to masquerade as "Princess Olga" from Sweden in order to land a film contract with a big Hollywood .
On board the liner Mammoth bound for New York, she runs into King Mantell (Fred MacMurray), a concertina playing band leader with a criminal record in his .On board the liner Mammoth bound for New York, she runs into King Mantell (Fred MacMurray), a concertina playing band leader with a criminal record in his .
Both are blackmailed by Robert M. Darcy (Porter Hall), and after Darcy is killed, they become two of the prime suspects for the murder, and must find the real killer before the five police detectives traveling on the ship can pin it on .Both are blackmailed by Robert M. Darcy (Porter Hall), and after Darcy is killed, they become two of the prime suspects for the murder, and must find the real killer before the five police detectives traveling on the ship can pin it on .
Reception
Both the film and the stars received good .Both the film and the stars received good .
Variety called her Garbo impersonation a "swell characterization and makes a highly diverting [comedy] contrast when the 'princess' lapses into her real self and unloads a line of ."Variety called her Garbo impersonation a "swell characterization and makes a highly diverting [comedy] contrast when the 'princess' lapses into her real self and unloads a line of ."
Howard Barnes of the New York Herald Tribune praised Lombard's " assured and restrained portrayal – [which] is resourceful in exploiting its comic possibilities" The New York Posts Thornton Delehanty called her Princess the " first role in which we have admired her since the early days of her picture ."Howard Barnes of the New York Herald Tribune praised Lombard's " assured and restrained portrayal – [which] is resourceful in exploiting its comic possibilities" The New York Posts Thornton Delehanty called her Princess the " first role in which we have admired her since the early days of her picture ."
Lombard herself liked the film because it "allowed her to do what she had first practiced in childhood days back in Indiana – mimic a figure from the silver ."Lombard herself liked the film because it "allowed her to do what she had first practiced in childhood days back in Indiana – mimic a figure from the silver ."
However, Frank S. Nugent in his New York Times review called the film a "mild to boresome ."However, Frank S. Nugent in his New York Times review called the film a "mild to boresome ."
Adaptations
The Lux Radio Theater presented a one hour radio adaptation of the film in December 1938, with Fred MacMurray repeating his role and Madeleine Carroll playing Wanda Nash/Princess .The Lux Radio Theater presented a one hour radio adaptation of the film in December 1938, with Fred MacMurray repeating his role and Madeleine Carroll playing Wanda Nash/Princess .