Design for Living - 1933 ***

I can't quite make out Ernst Lubitsch. He's someone that is merited highly by film critics everywhere. However, this (the second offering from him that I have seen) just didn't cut the mustard. I seem to be more disappointed than I was after the first film. Noel Coward is brilliant, witty and intelligent with his plays. I bet this was hilarious on the stage, but on screen it sadly didn't translate that well. Gary Cooper has that permanent look on his face like he has just had botox and cannot construct any meaningful facial features, and Miriam Hopkins squints constantly like there is no tomorrow. 2 penniless pals, an artist and a playwright, meet a free spirited lady named Gilda on a train to Paris, and they decide that they will all share a cramped room (very Bohemian) and that Gilda will criticise their work and push them to succeed. They enter into a gentleman's agreement whereby neither of the men has sex with her. The trouble is, Gilda is no gentleman, and if she wants sex, she will darn well have it. Daring for it's time, and has a few funny scenes, but lacking something fundamental.