The plot of this movie seems rather crazy. After all, Carole Lombard plays an American who can't get a job in Hollywood, so she pretends to be a Swedish princess (sort of like a royal version of Garbo) and is adored--and offered a film contract. Now you'd think this is a totally ridiculous idea, but in real life just a year later, Samuel Goldwyn introduced a Norwegian sensation--Sigrid Gurie. Unfortunately, when it was found out that Gurie was born in Brooklyn (exactly like Lombard's character),it didn't exactly help her film career! Now you'd think that having Lombard playing a rather broad Garbo impersonation would be silly, but because she was such a likable actress and it's such a cute film, they manage to carry it off well.

The film begins with Lombard coming aboard an ocean liner with a lot of hubbub from the press--after all, they think a princess is on her way to America. Once aboard, band leader Fred MacMurray falls for her and pursues her. However, unexpectedly, the comedy becomes a murder mystery--and both MacMurray and Lombard are suspects. However, MacMurray also knows that she was the victim of a blackmailer who was just murdered--and he knows she has something to hide. There's much more to the film than this, but you can just see it yourself--it's worth it.

Overall, the film works well because the writing is very good and the actors have nice supporting character actors on hand--such as William Frawley, Douglas Dumbrille and Sig Ruman. Plus, the ever slimy Porter Hall made for a great blackmailer. Clever and most enjoyable from start to finish.

Oh, and I must point out that this film allows the viewer to hear MacMurray Crooning! His voice, though a tad weak, was actually far better than I expected and was rather reminiscent of the singing of Dick Powell.

Comedy, romance and murder mysteries are great on their own. Those three elements together seemed even more appetising and there have been numerous instances where it has worked. The story sounded so great on paper and the cast is a talented one, do like Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray and the two worked very well together in their too few appearances.

This is evident in 'The Princess Comes Across', which is a very good representation of both and of their partnership. It is also a very good, if not quite great, film in its own right, what could have been a basic whodunit is elevated to a greater level by the cast, the clever writing and how the elements are balanced well. The mystery is not exactly a complicated one, but it is wholly diverting and it was a good idea to have enough to keep one guessing without trying to over-complicate.

By all means, 'The Princess Comes Across' is not without faults. For me, at just an hour and a quarter it was a little too short. Would have given it 10 minutes more perhaps.

With a slightly longer length, it would have made the more serious second half less hasty, don't get me wrong there is a lot to enjoy about the second half it just felt a bit rushed at times and the tonal shifts don't always gel and create a disjoint.

However, there is a huge amount to enjoy about 'The Princess Comes Across'. It is especially worth seeing for a wonderful Carole Lombard, exuding glamour and enjoying herself to the hilt, her trademark zaniness and delicacy perfectly captured. Fred MacMurray may not be at his very best, but he is dashing and has amiable comic timing. The supporting cast are all solid, with the best turns coming from a deliciously sardonic Mischa Auer, Porter Hall playing a weasel to perfection and especially a delightful Alison Skipworth relishing some of the film's best lines. They are all efficiently directed and have believable chemistry, Lombard and MacMurray do sparkle together.

It's a visually beautiful film too, it's sumptuously shot with beautiful costumes and the camera clearly loves Lombard. The script is witty and sophisticated in the comedic elements of the first half, which is the better half and the element where 'The Princess Comes Across' scores highest. The romantic element works a charm and for me the mystery was diverting and not too simple or complicated, reservations with it are with it being taken a little too seriously in the second half. The music is like its own character and adds hugely to the film.

Concluding, well worth seeing with Lombard being the biggest attraction. 7/10 Bethany Cox

The main reason to see this fun, if slowly paced, comedy-mystery is to see a glowing Carole Lombard do an hilarious impersonation of Greta Garbo. She plays an American actress pretending to be a Swedish princess - and Carole has a ball sending up Garbo in the process. Also great to get a glimpse of pre-WW2 politics, with the detectives on board coming from all over the globe - including Germany, Russia and Japan. Great fun. What a shame we don't all travel by boat still!