The Gay Divorcee 1934

In the lively atmosphere of a Paris nightclub, we find Guy Holden, an acclaimed American dancer, reveling in the company of his friend, the disoriented English lawyer Egbert Fitzgerald. However, their merriment is abruptly halted when they realize both have left their wallets behind. To escape the fate of washing dishes to settle their bill, Guy charms the audience with his dance moves; just as luck would have it, Egbert discovers his wallet tucked away in a different pocket.

As they embark on a sea voyage to England, Guy finds himself entangled in a whimsical encounter with Mimi Glossop, whose dress gets snagged while she attempts to close her trunk. Seizing the opportunity, Guy playfully tries to help her but accidentally tears her skirt, much to her dismay. Flustered and regretful, Guy offers his coat to cover her and requests her address, which Mimi adamantly insists she’ll send back the coat via mail.

Mimi successfully returns the coat, ensuring that the courier does not reveal her whereabouts. After two fruitless weeks spent searching for her in London, destiny intervenes when Guy inadvertently crashes into her car. The pair inadvertently find themselves in a playful chase, and during this uproar, Guy cleverly orchestrates a fake roadblock to invite Mimi to an impromptu picnic; amid the chaos, he proposes marriage in a moment of spontaneity. Surprised and convinced of his irrationality, Mimi declines and tries to destroy his contact notes, although she ends up keeping one.

Unbeknownst to Guy, Mimi is seeking a divorce from her husband, Cyril Glossop, a geologist she has not seen in ages. With the meddling guidance of her overbearing Aunt Hortense, she turns to the hapless Egbert Fitzgerald for legal assistance, who hatches a plan for Mimi to be caught in a staged affair to secure her divorce. Against her wishes, Egbert, relying on a phrase shared by Guy about fate, unwittingly provides Mimi the means to identify her co-respondent, Rodolfo Tonetti.

As Guy accompanies Egbert to the seaside hotel for the elaborate ruse, he and Mimi reconnect, and she admits her attempts to reach out to him. Their dance to Cole Porter’s enchanting “Night and Day” casts a romantic spell over them, leading Guy to wax philosophical yet again, inadvertently revealing himself as the man who shares the password for the co-respondent. Mistaken in her assumptions, Mimi views him as the gigolo she had anticipated.

When Mimi slyly invites Guy to her room at midnight, he is both stunned and intrigued by her boldness. When he arrives, the confusion escalates with the arrival of Tonetti, who clarifies the situation. In a bid to protect Mimi, Guy opts to stay, though Tonetti warns them not to be seen together outside the confines of the room. In a twist of fate, while Tonetti is otherwise occupied, Guy and Mimi make their escape and indulge in a spirited dance session that culminates in an extravagant 16-minute routine called “The Continental,” featuring Mimi’s captivating vocals and dynamic ensembles.

Eventually, morning arrives with its own set of complications. Miscommunications with the waiter abound, and when Cyril unexpectedly shows up, Guy has to hide to maintain the facade. Following a brief confrontation, Guy steps out to embrace Mimi, hoping to convince Cyril of their supposed affair, but Cyril, unyielding and accustomed to his wealth, is not easily swayed. In a serendipitous turn, the oblivious waiter reveals Cyril’s infidelity, ultimately paving the way for Mimi to finalize her divorce and embrace a future with Guy.