Harry d'Abbadie d'Arrast (as H. d'Abbadie d'Arrast)
Writers:
Douglas Z. Doty (screenplay), Douglas Z. Doty (story)
Stars:
Nancy Carroll, Fredric March, Frank Morgan
Laughter is a sophisticated romantic comedy belying the "fact" that most early talkies were stiff and dull. Nancy Carroll plays a Follies dancer who meets her goal of marrying a millionaire (Frank Morgan). Alas, her husband is a well-meaning bore, and soon Nancy begins seeking entertainment elsewhere. She reunites with her former boyfriend (Fredric March), a composer who seems to have a funny quip for every occasion. This adult affair is paralleled by the romance between Nancy's stepdaughter and a devil-may-care sculptor. Though the plot mechanics slow down towards the climax, Laughter manages to sustain the promise of its title for nearly 80 minutes.