It has taken this reviewer exactly twenty-one reels--or, in translation, three pictures--for the revelation to come. Which revelation consists in the single fact that Maurice Chevalier, playing at the Metropolitan in "The Big Pond", is unaccountably unable to sing. Doubtless, there are many of his minions who will be ready to defend him despite the revelation, but anyway there it is and you can't get around Revelations. Which critical appreciation of Monsieur Chevalier's vocal talents being summarily disposed of, there remains only a bit of a word about the picture.

It is all about a Frenchman who, having lost his fortune in the War, has become a guide de societe in Venice. Big charming voice--which has already been shown as non-existent, thus reducing the motivating forces of the film ad absurdem--and his just as charming tenderness--which the reviewer doesn't believe in anyway-- wins him (Maurice) an American Heiross which makes a very long sentence. Father of heiress objects to foreign influence, but being a clever old cadger, brings Maurice of America so he may flicker in contrast with the go-getters of this country. Maurice, of course, becomes an outstanding success in the world of finance, makes speeches at banquets, gives sales-talks, and does everything to lose the girl, who fell in love with him only because he was different. But all you need in Romance, a motorboat, a girl, an overcoat, and the story ends happily. This picture with Intelligent and restrained direction could have been made into the smartest satire on Big Business in some years, but the introduction of the obvious goes a long way toward making it a boring and dissatisfying film. Claudette Colbert deserves a much better part. The only merit of the stage-show is a "brother-sister" dancing team which is excellent. The news reel is slightly below its usual performance.