The Love Parade (1930)

In the heart of the stately kingdom of Sylvania, a single question echoes through the elaborate halls and bustling town squares - when will their adored Queen Louise choose a husband? Yet, the radiant Queen, a paragon of beauty and grace, has little interest in marriage. The prospect of finding a suitable consort is further complicated by the unusual circumstances of the Sylvanian monarchy; her husband would not be a king, but a Prince Consort with a royal figurehead's responsibilities, but without the title's prestige. However, the winds of change come sweeping through the grand corridors of the palace when Queen Louise's womanizing military attaché, the dashing Count Alfred Renard, is summoned back from Paris. An unexpected spark ignites between the Queen and the Count, leading them down the aisle. Yet, this union of convenience soon reveals its prickly thorns. Count Renard quickly finds the reality of his new role as Prince Consort to be far less glamorous than he had envisioned. Stripped of real power, he languishes in the shadow of the Queen, who effortlessly juggles her royal duties with aplomb. The Count's public dissatisfaction threatens to pull apart the seams of their marriage, which could have disastrous consequences for the stability of Sylvania itself. This delightful drama of royal romance and marital mishaps takes an unexpected turn as the disgruntled Prince Consort attempts to introduce a different style of monarchy to the Queen, setting the stage for an intriguing power play within the regal confines of Sylvania. The Love Parade is a captivating dance of love, duty, and ambition, where the lines of personal desires and national interests blur, promising a journey filled with unexpected twists and turns.

The Love Parade is a comedy movie featuring Maurice Chevalier and directed by Ernst Lubitsch.

The Love Parade is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.