The Baroness and the Butler (1938)

Hungarian Prime Minister "Count Albert" (Henry Stephenson) is having a family breakfast on the morning after the election when he hears news on the radio that his butler "Johann" (William Powell) has been elected to Parliament - and for the opposition party too! He's quite a savvy and decent old chap and offers his congratulations. In turn, "Johann" promises to continue to take care of his master whilst performing his new parliamentary duties. It turn out that he's quite an effective politician and that although they are not quite of the same social class, he and the "Baroness" (Annabella) - who is married to "Baron Georg" (Joseph Schildkraut) - start one of those love/hate relationships that can only end one way. With the odd, slightly confusing, appearance from Nigel Bruce and a Stephenson who looks like he's enjoying the mischief of it all, I found this to be an entertaining swipe at the principles of declining aristocratic rule and of the aspiring hope of the people in a new order with all of the same problems. Powell is on good form here but Annabella isn't very natural nor entirely at home with the English language. Still - as "Johann" says - "there are always difficulties"! I quite enjoyed this.