10. Broken Lullaby (1932)
Suffering from a guilty conscience, French violinist Paul Renard (Phillips Holmes) confesses to a priest (Frank Sheridan) that he killed a German soldier named Walter Holderin during World War I. He receives absolution, but isn't satisfied, and decides to locate the Holderin family in Germany. When he does, he deceives them into thinking that he and Walter were childhood schoolmates. Things get complicated, however, when he falls in love with pretty Elsa Holderin (Nancy Carroll).
The notorious Mrs. Erlynne (Irene Rich), known for romantic scandals, returns to England and visits Lord Windermere (Bert Lytell) to confide that she is the mother of his wife, Lady Windermere (May McAvoy), having abandoned her daughter 20 years earlier. Later, Mrs. Erlynne attends a birthday party for Lady Windermere, and her daughter thinks she's Lord Windermere's mistress. Stung, Lady Windermere allows the romantic advances of Lord Darlington, until her mother comes to the rescue.
Painter George (Gary Cooper) and playwright Thomas (Fredric March) are two Americans sharing a Paris apartment. They're also rivals for the affection of commercial artist Gilda (Miriam Hopkins). When the plucky Gilda moves in, with the express understanding that there will be no funny business, the rivalry between George and Thomas heats up even further. Then Thomas heads to London when one of his plays is being produced there, leaving George free to make his move.
To teach her to stay within her social station, Cluny Brown (Jennifer Jones) is sent by her plumber uncle to work as a parlor maid in the country house of Sir Henry Carmel (Reginald Owen) and his wife, Alice (Margaret Bannerman). Brown soon finds herself torn between her attraction to Adam Belinski (Charles Boyer), a political refugee staying as a houseguest, and the prospect of a stable marriage with stuffy Jonathan Wilson (Richard Haydn), a chemist.
Having spent a lonely, sheltered life being tutored by the kindly Dr. Juttner (Jean Hersholt), handsome Crown Prince Karl Heinrich (Ramon Navarro) refuses to reveal his royal lineage when he enrolls at the University of Heidelberg. At last just one of the boys, young Karl makes friends at the local beer garden, where he also falls in love with a beautiful waitress named Kathi (Norma Shearer). But when Karl's royal duties intervene, he must decide whether to return to his former life.
A no-nonsense diplomat of the Soviet Union, Nina Ivanovna "Ninotchka" Yakushova (Greta Garbo) arrives in Paris to ensure the sale of jewels seized during the Russian Revolution. Meanwhile, carefree bachelor Count Leon d'Algout (Melvyn Douglas) attempts to intercept the valuables on behalf of their former owner, the Grand Duchess Swana (Ina Claire). Despite their conflicting allegiances, the icy Ninotchka soon warms to Leon's charms, reluctantly going against her better judgment.
A simple wink, intended by Austrian palace guard Lt. Nikolaus von Preyn (Maurice Chevalier) for girlfriend, Franzi (Claudette Colbert), is accidentally intercepted -- and misread -- by the visiting Princess Anna (Miriam Hopkins). As a result, the soldier has no choice but to marry the royal lady and move with her to the neighboring kingdom of Flausenthurm. His girlfriend follows to continue the romance and, subversively, give Princess Anna tips on how to keep her husband satisfied.
Alfred Kralik (James Stewart) and Klara Novak (Margaret Sullavan) are employees at Matuschek and Company, a general store in Budapest. Klara and Alfred are constantly at odds with each other, butting heads and disagreeing on almost everything. Both are enamored of their respective pen pals, who serve as welcome distractions in their lives. Little do they know, they are each the other's pen pal and, despite outward differences, have unwittingly fallen in love through their letters.
Thief Gaston Monescu (Herbert Marshall) and pickpocket Lily (Miriam Hopkins) are partners in crime and love. Working for perfume company executive Mariette Colet (Kay Francis), the two crooks decide to combine their criminal talents to rob their employer. Under the alias of Monsieur Laval, Gaston uses his position as Mariette's personal secretary to become closer to her. However, he takes things too far when he actually falls in love with Mariette, and has to choose between her and Lily.
Acting couple Joseph (Jack Benny) and Maria Tura (Carole Lombard) are managing a theatrical troupe when the Nazis invade Poland. Maria is having an affair with Lieutenant Sobinski (Robert Stack), who suspects Professor Siletsky (Stanley Ridges) is a Nazi spy. With Siletsky in possession of a list of members of the Polish resistance, the Turas' company takes action. Using their skill for impersonation, Joseph and company must confuse the Nazis and stop Siletsky from handing over the list.
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