The manager of a service agency for the wealthy clashes with--and falls for--an inventor who is seeking funding for a new kind of tractor.The manager of a service agency for the wealthy clashes with--and falls for--an inventor who is seeking funding for a new kind of tractor.The manager of a service agency for the wealthy clashes with--and falls for--an inventor who is seeking funding for a new kind of tractor.
Charles Ruggles
- Scott Robinson
- (as Charlie Ruggles)
Jane Barnes
- Telephone operator
- (uncredited)
Lionel Belmore
- Robert Wade Sr.
- (uncredited)
Wilson Benge
- Butler
- (uncredited)
Stanley Blystone
- Boat captain
- (uncredited)
Frank Coghlan Jr.
- Bellhop
- (uncredited)
Lillian Elliott
- Small Towner
- (uncredited)
Nina Gilbert
- Mrs. Devereaux
- (uncredited)
Lawrence Grant
- Nicolai Voroshinsky
- (uncredited)
Ben Hall
- Yokel on Boat
- (uncredited)
Harry Hayden
- Minister
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFeature film debut of Vincent Price, and in the leading role.
- Quotes
Robert Wade: [Inspects socks mournfully] Can't ya even leave my socks alone, Miss Madison - I like 'em with holes in the toes.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Unauthorized Hagiography of Vincent Price (2014)
Featured review
Price's first leading role
From 1938, "Service de Luxe" gave Vincent Price his first leading role. He was young and quite handsome. The film also stars Constance Bennett, Helen Broderick, Mischa Auer, Charlie Ruggles, and Joy Hodges.
Bennett is Helen Murphy who runs the Dorothy Madison service, which does everything for its clients: plan their weddings, get emergency passports, find them apartments, you name it. Helen is tired of the whole thing.
She then meets Robert Wade (Price). Wade has been henpecked all his life by his aunts. If there's one thing he doesn't like, it's a meddling woman. He is in New York to sell plans for a new tractor. He and Helen fall in love, but because of his feelings about take-charge women, she can't tell him what she does for a living.
In her capacity as the head of her company, she calls a client, Mr. Robinson (Ruggles) and asks him to meet with Robert about his tractor. He hasn't had any success in selling it. Robinson loves the invention and gives Robert a place to work and has the Madison service find him an apartment nearby.
Robinson's difficult daughter Joy falls for Robert. Meanwhile, Helen is stuck - she hasn't told Robert her profession, and he really resents the Madison agency doing things for him.
This is a cute movie and a great chance to see Price as a young romantic lead. He's delightful as a hard-working, serious man seeking success. Bennett is her usual gorgeous self, tired of the rat race and believing she's found true love.
All the performances are good, particuarly from Mischa Auer and Helen Broderick. Auer is hilarious as a Russian chef who is teaching Robinson to cook, and Broderick provides the sarcastic comments.
The only one I wasn't crazy about is Joy Hodges. Part of it is because the character she plays is so annoying. She wasn't a particularly subtle actress. She was, however, a fascinating woman, who helped Ronald Reagan get his start in show business. She was an accomplished singer and Broadway stage actress.
Enjoyable film. Price had an amazing career. It's great to see him at its start.
Bennett is Helen Murphy who runs the Dorothy Madison service, which does everything for its clients: plan their weddings, get emergency passports, find them apartments, you name it. Helen is tired of the whole thing.
She then meets Robert Wade (Price). Wade has been henpecked all his life by his aunts. If there's one thing he doesn't like, it's a meddling woman. He is in New York to sell plans for a new tractor. He and Helen fall in love, but because of his feelings about take-charge women, she can't tell him what she does for a living.
In her capacity as the head of her company, she calls a client, Mr. Robinson (Ruggles) and asks him to meet with Robert about his tractor. He hasn't had any success in selling it. Robinson loves the invention and gives Robert a place to work and has the Madison service find him an apartment nearby.
Robinson's difficult daughter Joy falls for Robert. Meanwhile, Helen is stuck - she hasn't told Robert her profession, and he really resents the Madison agency doing things for him.
This is a cute movie and a great chance to see Price as a young romantic lead. He's delightful as a hard-working, serious man seeking success. Bennett is her usual gorgeous self, tired of the rat race and believing she's found true love.
All the performances are good, particuarly from Mischa Auer and Helen Broderick. Auer is hilarious as a Russian chef who is teaching Robinson to cook, and Broderick provides the sarcastic comments.
The only one I wasn't crazy about is Joy Hodges. Part of it is because the character she plays is so annoying. She wasn't a particularly subtle actress. She was, however, a fascinating woman, who helped Ronald Reagan get his start in show business. She was an accomplished singer and Broadway stage actress.
Enjoyable film. Price had an amazing career. It's great to see him at its start.
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- How long is Service de Luxe?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 25 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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![Constance Bennett, Vincent Price, Mischa Auer, Helen Broderick, and Charles Ruggles in Service de Luxe (1938)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTYxODA2NzIwOV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMjQ5Mzc0MjE@._V1_QL75_UX90_CR0,2,90,133_.jpg)