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The Princess Comes Across

Play trailer Poster for The Princess Comes Across Released May 22, 1936 1h 16m Mystery & Thriller Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 62% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
A murderer is hiding aboard the S.S. Mammoth, an ocean liner on its way to New York. But he's not the only passenger who is not what they appear -- for example, Princess Olga of Sweden (Carole Lombard) is not royalty, but a Brooklyn actress named Wanda Nash pretending to be a princess to pursue an acting career. She charms concertina player King Mantell (Fred MacMurray), who is actually an ex-con. Things get more complicated when a blackmailer starts extorting the passengers.

Critics Reviews

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Dennis Harvey 48 Hills As ever, Lombard elevates the proceedings by being simultaneously beautiful and down-to-earth, balancing comic chops with able handling of the tearful scenes these movies always seemed to hand her. Apr 10, 2021 Full Review Robert B. Phillips, Jr. Washington Star More fun than a firecracker, less brilliant than a skyrocket, it is a sort of comic pinwheel, slightly off the axle but amusing enough to behold on a hot holiday afternoon. Jun 10, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Steve D I found this one clunky despite the great cast. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/07/24 Full Review Audience Member Fascinating Lombard film that is hugely enjoyable...up to a point. It gets bogged down in a silly murder mystery which adds nothing to the movie when all you really want is to see more of her glorious, and very skilful, deception as Princess Olga of Sweden. The 'My Concertina' number, as performed by Fred McMurray, is utterly sublime. Beautifully photographed and scored. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray are great together in this mystery/comedy! Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member charmy light hearted drama with just a touch of mystery Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Charming whimsy with a bit of mystery on the side. Carole and Fred spark off each other very well, with Alison Skipworth and William Frawley adding zip as their companions. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member A more than boring film, it astounds me how lovers of 30's films defend them so. The Princess Comes Across is a hopelessly trivial and boring film on an ocean liner. The setting alone is boring let alone the murder plot that pretends to engross us. Carol Lombard might be the diva of film stars back in the day, but she must have got stuck with many a loser films like this one. Wonderful title and very creative, the pricess comes across as a phoney. She has that Swedish accent when she is royalty, with everyone kissing her ass, but behind closed doors she is American all the way. Profoundly disappointing film. Fred MacMurray is the tall bumbling American that chases Lombard, the stuck up royal crab. Of course, they get together, the original Odd Couple. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Princess Comes Across

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Cast & Crew

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William K. Howard

Director

Carole Lombard

Princess Olga (Wanda Nash)

Fred MacMurray

King Mantell

Douglas Dumbrille

Inspector Lorel

Philip MacDonald

Writer

Walter DeLeon

Writer
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The Princess Comes Across

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Movie Info

Synopsis A murderer is hiding aboard the S.S. Mammoth, an ocean liner on its way to New York. But he's not the only passenger who is not what they appear -- for example, Princess Olga of Sweden (Carole Lombard) is not royalty, but a Brooklyn actress named Wanda Nash pretending to be a princess to pursue an acting career. She charms concertina player King Mantell (Fred MacMurray), who is actually an ex-con. Things get more complicated when a blackmailer starts extorting the passengers.
Director
William K. Howard
Producer
Arthur Hornblow Jr.
Screenwriter
Philip MacDonald, Walter DeLeon, Frank Butler, Claude Binyon
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 22, 1936, Wide
Release Date (DVD)
Apr 4, 2006
Runtime
1h 16m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Academy (1.33:1)