Bluebeard's Eighth Wife (1938)

29% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
69% of users liked it
(458 ratings)

The great Ernst Lubitsch directed this farce (written by Charles M. Brackett and Billy Wilder) about a free-wheeling millionaire, Michael Brandon (Gary Cooper), who enjoys getting married but has a hard time staying married: he's had seven wives and is looking for number eight. He thinks he may have… More The great Ernst Lubitsch directed this farce (written by Charles M. Brackett and Billy Wilder) about a free-wheeling millionaire, Michael Brandon (Gary Cooper), who enjoys getting married but has a hard time staying married: he's had seven wives and is looking for number eight. He thinks he may have found her in the person of Nicole de Loiselle (Claudette Colbert), whom he meets in a shop on the French Riviera. Unfortunately for Michael, Nicole doesn't like him very much and keeps rebuffing his advances, even though most women would be only too happy to marry him for his money. For just that reason, Nicole's father (Edward Everett Horton), a financially embarrassed French nobleman, strongly suggests that matrimony with Michael would be a good idea, especially since Michael doesn't want to take no for an answer. Nicole eventually relents and weds Michael, but when she tries to get him to change a few of his habits during the honeymoon, he makes plans to divorce her. But Nicole has finally decided that she loves Michael after all, and, as he tries to flee from her, she gives chase, determined to win his heart once and for all. The same story was previously filmed as a silent picture in 1923. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 20 min.
Directed By: Ernst Lubitsch
Genres: Comedy, Romance

In Theaters: Mar 25, 1938 Wide
On DVD: Mar 28, 1995

Critic Reviews

Frank S. Nugent, New York Times
Although it's not a bad comedy by our current depressed standards, it has the dickens of a time trying to pass off Gary Cooper as a multi-marrying millionaire.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Ernst Lubitsch seems to be resting on his cliches in this atypically inelegant 1938 comedy.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
The text (also done as silent), co-scripted by Billy Wilder, seems ideal for the Lubitsch touch, and yet the tone is incongruous and overall the film is disappointing.
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Lubitsch's classicism gets continually cracked by the unruliness of the screwball genre and by the caustic thrust of the Billy Wilder-Charles Brackett screenplay
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Wilders and Brackett's screenplay has some laughs, and Lubitsch knows how to get the most out of the least, but this movie was a mistake to make in the first place.
, Time Out
A sporadically funny, somewhat contrived comedy.
, Film4
Fluffy, but fun and worth watching for the great Horton as Colbert's financially embarrassed father.

Read all 7 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

The players are charming but the whimsy falls rather flat in this wannabe souffle. Claudette's wardrobe is amazing especially in the beginning when she is supposed to be penniless and is dressed to the teeth in satins and silks.Certainly entertaining but not quite what you expect… More
The players are charming but the whimsy falls rather flat in this wannabe souffle. Claudette's wardrobe is amazing especially in the beginning when she is supposed to be penniless and is dressed to the teeth in satins and silks.Certainly entertaining but not quite what you expect from Lubitsch.
AJ V

This movie has an star cast, but it's not all it could be. It starts out average, gets funnier, and then gets average again. It is a slightly different story than usual, though, so it is worth watching.

Cast

            Claudette Colbert as Nicole de Loiselle

            Gary Cooper as Michael Brandon

            Edward Everett Horton as Marquis de Loiselle

            David Niven as Albert De Regnier

            Elizabeth Patterson as Aunt Hedwige

            Franklin Pangborn as Asst. Hotel Manager

            Herman Bing as Monsieur Pepinard

            Rolfe Sedan as Floorwalker

            Lawrence Grant as Prof. Urganzeff

            Lionel Pape as Monsieur Potin

            Tyler Brooke as Clerk

            Tom Ricketts as Uncle Andre

            Barlowe Borland as Uncle Fernandel

            Charles Halton as Monsieur de la Coste

            Leon Ames as Ex-Chauffeur

            Hooper Atchley as Excited passenger

            Paul Bryar as Radio announcer

            Gino Corrado as Waiter Who Carries

            Armand Cortes as Asst. Hotel Manager

            Joseph Crehan as American tourist

            Sheila Darcy as Maid

            Ellen Drew as Secretary

            Pauline Garon as Customer

            Grace Goodall as Nurse

            Warren Hymer as Kid Mulligan

            Olaf Hytten as Valet

            Gwen Kenyon as Bit part

            Alphonse Martell as Hotel Employee

            Joyce Mathews as Bit part

            Harold Minjir as Photographer

            Carol Parker as Bit part

            Ruth Rogers as Bit part

            Dorothy White as Bit part

            Sacha Guitry as Extra

            Albert D'Arno as Newsboy

            Paula DeCardo as Bit part

            Norah Gale as Bit part

            John Picorri as Conductor

            Gloria Williams as Bit part

            Dorothy Dayton as Bit part

            Ray DeRavenne as Package Clerk

            Harriette Haddon as Bit part
See full cast