497:, with the tree bark combed out of her hair, is charming and spunky as the Polish beauty...Frank Morgan...is agreeably Frank Morganish; Henry Stevenson...is splendid as what the Soviets would assuredly call a decadent aristocrat. And the list goes on...(T)he story is the old one about the two secret agents who fall in love while engaged on intersecting missions, and depends for its effects on plot manipulations as studied and formal as a ballet, but in this case it is narrated deftly and plausibly with a wealth of purely cinematic embellishments. An inventory of its assets must include rich and tasteful production, directorial finesse, skillful editorial joinery of scene to scene, and casualness and grace of acting—all of which combine to make of “The Emperor’s Candlesticks” one of the pleasantest surprises of the summer.”
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480:: “The Baroness Orczy, one of light literature’s most deserving noblewomen, has seldom if ever enjoyed handsomer screen treatment...the producers have breathed debonair life into a shopworn tale of intrigue and espionage, opening the action brilliantly and suddenly as a popping champagne cork at a masked ball in Vienna and taking it on an itinerary of world capitals which includes...a perfectly enchanting St. Petersburg, on which the snow falls in great, soft, downy,
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believes is the one with his letter, but he picks the wrong one. He finds and reads his own death warrant. When
Mironova tries to exchange candlesticks, Wolensky declines. She then offers to deliver both sets of documents, while Wolensky remains safely outside Russia. He does not trust her, but knowing the price of her failure, offers to give her back her papers once he has safely delivered Peter's letter.
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A complication arises when
Mironova's maid, Mitzi Reisenbach (Bernadene Hayes), and Mitzi's lover Anton (Donald Kirke) steal her jewelry and the candlesticks. As they trace the candlesticks, first to Paris and then to London, Wolensky and Mironova admit to each other that they are on opposite sides,
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and string orchestras...a picture to take one’s mind off the world and the weather. William Powell is magnificently Polish and baronial...The other people are just as right. Robert Young, as the susceptible son of the czar (who was apparently being difficult in those days about Poland) is a triumph
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Finally, the candlesticks are put up for auction. The countess places the winning bid, but since only cash is acceptable as payment, she does not have enough to pay for them. The baron solves the problem by offering to pool their resources, each getting one candlestick. Wolensky chooses what he
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In St. Petersburg, Pavloff arrests
Miranova at her mansion. When Wolensky shows up there with her documents, she tosses them into the fireplace. Pavloff takes them both before the Tsar. The ruler of Russia graciously frees the loving couple, who decide to marry.
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Jeremy Arnold: “The studio lavished huge amounts of money and effort on the film, a true 'A' production with a formidable cast and sumptuous sets and costumes...Today, it's that glossy star power, given the full MGM treatment, which makes
277:), only to find himself the prisoner of Polish nationalists. Peter is made to write a letter to his father, the tsar of Russia, offering to exchange him for Maria's father, who has been sentenced to be executed.
257:. The story follows the adventures of spies from opposing sides who fall in love while following the eponymous candlesticks—and the papers hidden inside them—all over turn-of-the-20th-century Europe.
314:) favors killing Peter, but Maria persuades the others to wait until they hear from Wolensky. Peter eavesdrops and is pleased. The Tsar pardons and releases Maria's father in exchange for his son.
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locomotives, the amazing old-fashioned simplicity of pre-war
European politics, with nothing more complicated than secret documents, hidden compartments in silver candlesticks, black-net
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Credit for the qualities that won high praise from Bosley
Crowther at the time (see above) belongs to: Producer John W. Considine Jr.; Director Geo. Fitzmaurice, assisted by
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flakes – and what if they are corn flakes? A delightful Summer-weight picture, full of romantic encounters in
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Because their previous petitions for clemency were intercepted and never reached the Tsar, the Poles task secret agent Baron
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According to MGM records the film earned $ 733,000 in the U.S. and Canada and $ 600,000 in other markets, resulting in a profit of $ 259,000.
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This article is about the American film. For the Austrian film, see
476:(bylined B.R.C) praised the film in his July 9, 1937, review for
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but this does not prevent them from falling in love.
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21:The Emperor's Candlesticks (1936 film)
675:in a series of films that began with
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1541:Films directed by George Fitzmaurice
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493:of grand-ducal make-up and bearing;
1591:Films based on works by Emma Orczy
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1601:American historical romance films
16:1937 film by George Fitzmaurice
1596:1930s historical romance films
1526:American black-and-white films
791:The Emperor's Candlesticks
584:Academy Award for Best Actress
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1586:American romantic drama films
1536:Films based on British novels
1606:1930s English-language films
1531:Films scored by Franz Waxman
1002:Sylvia of the Secret Service
808:AFI Catalog of Feature Films
717:"The Emperor's Candlesticks"
1106:The Witness for the Defense
663:A reference to her role as
453:as Conspirator (uncredited)
447:as Conspirator (uncredited)
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529:(uncredited); Film Editor
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249:. It is based on the 1899
234:The Emperor's Candlesticks
76:The Emperor's Candlesticks
29:The Emperor's Candlesticks
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1551:1937 romantic drama films
1546:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films
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341:as Countess Olga Mironova
335:as Baron Stephan Wolensky
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1458:The Last of Mrs. Cheyney
694:timesmachine.nytimes.com
273:by the beautiful Maria (
1290:Rose of the Golden West
978:The Hunting of the Hawk
623:The Eddie Mannix Ledger
586:for her performance as
359:as Colonel Baron Suroff
269:) is lured away from a
1338:The Man and the Moment
1026:A Japanese Nightingale
954:The On-the-Square Girl
251:novel of the same name
173:July 2, 1937
40:Theatrical Film Poster
1498:Adventure in Diamonds
1034:The Hillcrest Mystery
741:"AFI|Catalog—Credits"
94:John W. Considine Jr.
1611:1930s American films
1482:Arsène Lupin Returns
1474:Live, Love and Learn
1266:The Son of the Sheik
922:The Romantic Journey
882:Who's Who in Society
563:Herman J. Manckiewiz
1581:Films set in Russia
1576:Films set in Poland
1571:Films set in London
1561:Films set in Vienna
1434:All Men Are Enemies
1242:A Thief in Paradise
1178:To Have and to Hold
1066:The Cry of the Weak
590:opposite Powell as
521:; Cinematographers
347:as Grand Duke Peter
158:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
1566:Films set in Paris
1556:American spy films
1490:Vacation from Love
1386:Strangers May Kiss
1378:One Heavenly Night
1250:His Supreme Moment
930:Arms and the Woman
846:George Fitzmaurice
844:Films directed by
785:TCM Movie Database
677:Tarzan the Ape Man
669:Johnny Weissmuller
597:The Great Ziegfeld
571:Erich von Stroheim
539:Daniel B. Cathcart
495:Maureen O’Sullivan
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1042:The Naulahka
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898:Via Wireless
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748:. Retrieved
744:
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724:. Retrieved
720:
697:. Retrieved
693:
684:
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648:. Retrieved
644:
622:
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576:
574:
551:Franz Waxman
516:
511:
504:
477:
472:
469:
456:
451:Larry Steers
439:Frank Conroy
421:Paul Porcasi
375:Donald Kirke
357:Frank Morgan
345:Robert Young
339:Luise Rainer
316:
309:
305:
301:
294:
290:Luise Rainer
279:
267:Robert Young
264:
243:Luise Rainer
233:
232:
231:
190:Running time
166:Release date
143:Franz Waxman
124:(uncredited)
108:Luise Rainer
74:
1354:The Bad One
1210:Bella Donna
1114:Counterfeit
1058:Common Clay
866:Stop Thief!
721:www.tcm.com
567:John Meehan
549:; Music by
427:E. E. Clive
423:as Santuzzi
226:$ 1,333,000
181: (U.S.)
90:Produced by
46:Directed by
1521:1937 films
1515:Categories
1346:Tiger Rose
1314:Lilac Time
1306:The Barker
1162:Experience
1010:The Recoil
750:2021-07-29
726:2021-07-29
699:2021-07-29
650:2021-07-29
604:References
553:. Writers
501:Production
482:Tchekovian
415:Bert Roach
411:as Pavloff
223:Box office
194:89 minutes
177:1937-07-02
150:Production
80:1899 novel
1402:Mata Hari
1202:The Cheat
667:opposite
588:Anna Held
466:Reception
433:Emma Dunn
417:as Porter
405:as Albert
397:Ian Wolfe
218:$ 620,000
129:Edited by
1418:Rockabye
1226:Cytherea
1018:Innocent
946:The Test
914:New York
796:AllMovie
679:in 1932.
600:(1936).
578:Escapade
490:dominoes
383:as Korum
377:as Anton
371:as Mitzi
353:as Maria
207:Language
139:Music by
100:Starring
71:Based on
1362:Raffles
1234:Tarnish
1170:Kick In
1146:Forever
962:Kick In
805:at the
783:at the
580:(1935).
399:as Leon
210:English
199:Country
175: (
152:company
1501:(1940)
1493:(1938)
1485:(1938)
1477:(1937)
1469:(1937)
1461:(1937)
1453:(1936)
1445:(1936)
1437:(1934)
1429:(1934)
1421:(1932)
1413:(1932)
1405:(1931)
1397:(1931)
1389:(1931)
1381:(1931)
1373:(1930)
1365:(1930)
1357:(1930)
1349:(1929)
1341:(1929)
1333:(1929)
1325:(1929)
1317:(1928)
1309:(1928)
1301:(1927)
1293:(1927)
1285:(1927)
1277:(1927)
1269:(1926)
1261:(1925)
1253:(1925)
1245:(1925)
1237:(1924)
1229:(1924)
1221:(1923)
1213:(1923)
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1165:(1921)
1157:(1921)
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1141:(1920)
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949:(1916)
941:(1916)
933:(1916)
925:(1916)
917:(1916)
909:(1915)
901:(1915)
893:(1915)
890:At Bay
885:(1915)
877:(1915)
869:(1915)
861:(1914)
673:Tarzan
547:Adrian
457:
215:Budget
507:TCM's
1450:Suzy
1426:Nana
774:IMDb
665:Jane
569:and
561:and
541:and
525:and
322:Cast
261:Plot
241:and
63:and
794:at
772:at
671:as
594:in
253:by
82:by
1517::
743:.
719:.
708:^
692:.
643:.
632:^
612:^
557:,
837:e
830:t
823:v
753:.
729:.
702:.
653:.
627:.
179:)
23:.
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