Karry Best movie of this year hands down!

Actuakers One of my all time favorites.

Stoutor It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

weezeralfalfa When I read the summary of this film, I immediately thought: This is almost like "My Man Godfrey", all over again. with William Powell again employed as an exemplary butler for part of the film(the first half of the present film, and the last half of the former film.) In both films, Powell has a social conscience, and it's clear he has the potential to rise above his present station, and make a young woman of the household fall in love with him, despite his starchy manner. Although "My Man Godfrey" is much better remembered, I find the two not so different. The main problem I see with this film is the thick French accent of the leading lady: Annabella, which is often virtually unintelligible, this being her first Hollywood film spoken in English. Also, her personality is rather different from that of Carol Lombard, in "My Man Godfrey". By the following year, in "Bridal Suite", her English had considerably improved.Walter Lang, the director, would go on to direct many of Fox's numerous musical romances over the next 2 decades. ...The indomitable Hellen Westley, as Annabella's society mother, often brings measure of humor to her exuberant personality. ...Henry Stephenson plays his usual role as a grandfatherly, tolerant, gentleman, in the part of Count Sandor, Annabella's father and presently prime minister of Hungary(Why Hungary was chosen as the location of this story escapes me).... Joseph Schildkraut played Annabella's Baron husband, until the ending, when Annabella dumps him for Powell..., Lynn Bari who made a career out of playing 'the other woman' or an evil woman, is a maid. She keeps hinting that she would like to have a relationship with Powell, but he only has eyes for Annabella. There's quite a bit of humor here, mostly situational. Powell has been doing some political thinking and organizing behind Stephenson's back, becoming leader of the opposition Social Progressive party. Strangely, Stephenson isn't alarmed about this unprecedented situation. In fact, he rationalizes it as possibly beneficial to his role as Prime Minister. Even when, in parliament, Powell chews up the record of the Conservative party and Stephenson's role in particular, Stephenson doesn't seem too upset. However, Powell claims he's going to maintain his position as the family's butler along with his political role. Soon, it becomes clear that this is an impossible combination to carry out(as any sensible person would immediately see). Hence, Stephenson gently fires him, ending a long tradition of service started by Powell's ancestors. This act induces Annabella to speed up her romantic dallying with Powell, inducing her husband to divorce her, as she wishes.See this charming and funny film at YouTube.

CKohls It is rare that I come upon a classic film I like this much. Comedy, drama, a charming story, all well produced and satisfying. I am not a fan of screwball comedies or slapstick, and a lot of times that's what people think of when they think of classic comedy, which is a shame. Much of the comedy in this film could be used today. William Powell is brilliant as ever. Annabella is stunning. Henry Stephenson is charming. He reminds me of a friendly C. Aubrey Smith. And they were in fact cast together in Little Lord Fountleroy (which, if you haven't seen, is an excellent forgotten classic). I can't recommend this film highly enough. Someone has uploaded it to youtube recently, which is where I watched it.

bkoganbing To introduce French film star Annabella to American audiences, 20th Century Fox got a European type product as a fitting vehicle for her. And to play the butler who goes to Parliament, Darryl Zanuck obtained the services of William Powell from MGM.Like that other favorite butler role that Powell essayed in My Man Godfrey, Powell is a butler with a social conscience, a fact he keeps hidden from his employers Henry Stephenson, Helen Westley and their daughter Annabella. How he kept secret the fact that his left wing party has nominated him for a seat in the Hungarian Parliament is beyond me. Nevertheless on election eve the family learns that Stephenson will be returned as Prime Minister and Powell will be occupying a seat on the back bench.The Baroness And The Butler is the kind of film that would have been made in any number of European countries, a delightful bit of Frou-Frou that definitely did not have any relation to Hungary in 1938 with Admiral Miklos Horthy running things as a fascist learning military dictator. Those parliamentary elections have about as much relevance as those that were still going on in Nazi Germany where Reichstag elections were dutifully held with only one party being allowed to participate.Still Powell and Annabella are nothing less than charming and capable players and they pull this film through and you can actually enjoy it if you'll completely suspend disbelief. Of course Powell and Annabella are in love, but she's unhappily married to a philandering Joseph Schildkraut. And Schildkraut like Captain O'Shea in Ireland is going to make the scandal make his career. As usual Schildkraut is letter perfect playing the part of an unscrupulous schemer, characteristics he patented at the height of his career.If you're a fan of the stars you'll enjoy The Baroness And The Butler.

David (Handlinghandel) William Powell was always suave and charming. He starred in numerous fine and well-known movies. I have a fondness for "I Love You Again" and surely everyone is fond of the Thing Man series.Here he is challenged by a very peculiar mix in his costars. Annabella's French accent is a little hard to penetrate and strangely not very appealing (to me.) She's pretty, though those board shoulders and muscular arms should not have been showcased in sleeveless gowns. And why is this woman with a French accent Hungarian? And if she is Hungarian, why are her parents an American (Helen Westley) and a Brit? (Her father is played with great charm by Henry Stephenson.) The plot is intriguing -- potentially. Powell is the family butler. Yet he runs for office in opposition to his (slightly improbably approving) master. I didn't notice the opening credits and thought it must be based on a Molnar play. It's not.The movie is easy to watch. It's far from the worst of its romantic comedy ilk in the 1930s. But it's far from good, as well.