In less than one year, Melvyn Douglas starred in two smash hit political satire comedies about communism. Both were set in Paris. Both poked fun at the Soviet Union, with a little jabbing at capitalism as well. In "Ninotchka" of 1939, Douglas played opposite "comrade" Greta Garbo. He was an expatriate capitalistic American who befriended members of the Russian nobility who had fled the Russian revolution. In "He Stayed for Breakfast," Douglas is an expatriate American playing opposite the aristocratic Loretta Young. Here, he is a card-carrying communist who despises capitalism and the rich, and he's working to organize the downtrodden working class.
"Ninotchka" was an MGM film that received four Academy Award nominations. Most cinephiles, critics and film historians consider 1939 the most competitive year in Hollywood history, if not the year of the greatest films. But for that, "Ninotchka" might have received more nominations and maybe even won one or more Oscars. The next year wasn't quite as competitive, and Columbia's "He Stayed for Breakfast" isn't quite as good as the previous film. But it's still a superb comedy and one of the very best satires.
The opening scene sets the stage for this hilarious romp. Douglas's Paul Boilet is in a clock shop arguing with clock makers to organize them. They already have a union, but he tells them the only union the commies recognize is a communist one. Just then all the clocks in the shop start cuckooing. The comedy switches back and forth between riotous antics and very clever and funny dialog.
Boliet left America after some ups and downs in trying to organize communist cells. He rues his failure with the dance hall girls. Now in Paris, he has had more success with various groups of workers. He works as a waiter himself, and is known by his comrades throughout the city.
When wealthy banker Maurice Duval comes to the café, Boilet is incensed by Duval's pinky that sticks out as he drinks his coffee. After he takes a pot shot at Duval's cup, Boilet is pursued by the police. He is cornered atop an apartment building that just happens to be where Duval's separated wife, Marianne, lives. Duval is trying to convince her to come back to him, while she is also being courted by Andre Dorlay, a major Parisian newspaper publisher. But all of that is about to change as the police close in on Boliet and he enters Marianne's life.
Loretta Young plays Marianne, Eugene Pallette is Maurice and Alan Marshal is Andre Dorlay. Among the best of the rest of the cast are Una O'Connor as Doreta, Curt Bois as Comrade Tronavich, Leonid Kinskey as Comrade Nicky, and Frank Sully as the butcher. All contribute to the humor in this wonderful comedy.
Communist "pinkos" get the brunt of the satire, but the film has some lighter spoofing also of capitalism, the French police, the press and others. Douglas and Young play wonderfully off each other. Boliet is always hungry and eating as if he was starving. In one scene, a large bowl is full of chicken bones he has picked clean, and he's still eating. One wonders how many chickens the cast ate for this film. Another time the butcher delivers a steak large enough to feed six men, but Marianne thinks it may not be enough for Paul.
This is a superb zany comedy. Just because the Soviet Union ended in 1991, this film isn't outdated. It should continue to entertain future generations indefinitely. Communist Russia will be in the history books long into the future. This film shows a slice of history of free world views and Hollywood's satire of the oppressive U. S. S. R. of the 20th century. And, those who follow the cinema of the past can see some fantastic actors who brought laughter to audiences during hard and trying times.
Here are some favorite lines from this hilarious film. See the Quotes section under this IMDb Web page of the movie for much more humorous dialog.
Paul Boliet, "Capitalists and little fingers - they're becoming inseparable."
Paul Boliet, "You're a capitalist -- you could afford a nervous breakdown. I had to shoot."
Paul Boliet, "Anarchism is people without government." Marianne Duval, "And communism is government without people."
Marianne Duval, "Must the distribution of wealth start with my ice box?" Paul Boliet, "Was the chicken created only for the rich?"
Marianne Duval, "How many people have you shot?" Paul Boliet, "What am I - a bookkeeper?"
Marianne Duval, "Don't you keep your word?" Paul Boliet, "That's up to Moscow."
Doreta, "I'm no communist. I worked hard for my savings and I'm splitting with nobody - revolution or no revolution."
Doreta, "Mmm, for a comrade, you give plenty of orders. Come the revolution there'll be no bosses but you. You'll have to assassinate yourself."
Doreta, "Do you always eavesdrop?" Paul Boliet, "How can you know anything if you don't?"
Butcher, holding up a huge cut of beef, "He's got enough here for six people." Marianne Duval, "Only if the other five don't eat."
Marianne Duval, "You were worried about me?" Paul Boliet, "Certainly! What would happen to me if something happened to you?"
Marianne Duval, "Tell me one thing - how many people have you killed?" Paul Boliet, "Including women, nineteen." Marianne, "No children?" Paul, "We don't count children." Marianne, "You're a liar and a fake. You never shot anyone."
Marianne Duval, "How did you ever find time between revolutions to learn to dance so well?" Paul Boliet, "I was an organizer once in a taxi dance hall in America." Marianne, "Oh, really?" Paul, "It was my worst failure. Taxi dancers are born capitalists. They all want to marry millionaires."
Paul Boliet, "She was older than I was." Marianne Duval, "Oh, oh, the mother complex, I know." Paul, "I was five and she was six." Marianne, "Oh, the old hag."
