We Were Dancing (1942)

An impoverished Polish princess (Norma Shearer) falls in love with a ne'er-do-well penniless baron (Melvyn Douglas) who makes his living as a professional guest in the homes of awe struck Americans who are impressed with titled nobility. Loosely based on a play by Noel Coward (part of his TONIGHT AT 8:30 plays) and directed by Robert Z. Leonard (ZIEGFELD GIRL). This high drawing room comedy needs some champagne sparkle in order to succeed  but it's more like stale beer. Shearer was nearing the end of her reign as the queen of MGM and it's movies like this that hastened her retirement. Melvyn Douglas who's usually adept at comedy stumbles but given the flat material and uninspired direction, he's forgiven. To their credit, they do try but they try too hard as if they realize the material is weak and overcompensate. There's a courtroom scene that's supposed to be hilarious but it's painfully unfunny. The supporting cast is good: Marjorie Main, Gail Patrick, Lee Bowman, Florence Bates, Connie Gilchrist and Alan Mowbray.