few film have have a much nonsense write about them a ernst lubitsch design for living . from the moment it be release and it be criticize for rewrite noel coward then dare play ( ben hecht and the screenwriter and say represent there only one line of coward leave in the picture see if you can find it . ) while for cast american in part that have originally be play by coward and alfred lunt and and lynn fontanne while for tone down the gay subtexts of coward play . all that be and of course and completely irrelevant while the question be not whether the play be faithful to the source material and but whether it good . and it be and it be . there be flaw in the film . this be one of the first time lubitsch have make a movie with little or no music on the soundtrack while previously and in his musical and his sublime trouble in paradise and he have use background music to cover up potential dead spot and carry the film along . here there be none of that and with the result that some of the early scene seem oddly pace . but the wit of the script ( write by hecht but and a always with lubitsch and carefully supervise and contribute to by the director himself ) and the appeal of the performer ( more about them later ) pull the film through the occasional rough spot and and the second half of the movie be just about perfect . another idiotic thing that be often say about design for living be that lubitsch and hecht rewrote coward due to fear of the censor . in fact and the censor must have have a heart attack when they saw design and for this be one of the most sexually frank of the pre code hollywood movie while premarital sex and cohabitation and adultery and frigidity be all clearly portray but and a always with lubitsch and they be imply rather than show . lubitsch trademark door and blackout gag be here and and they be hilarious while again and it not noel coward it lubitsch and the cinema great comic filmmaker at the peak of his power . but there something else here that isn not find in most lubitsch film and and it come from ben hecht and whose cynical and fast talk and very american style of write give the character a flavor quite unlike the more continental wit of lubitsch usual hero . ( this be also one of the few lubitsch film where the lead character be american rather than european . ) critic have sometimes complain that hecht somewhat inelegant style be unworthy of either coward or lubitsch . again and i disagree while the moment of hechtian farce ( like the hilarious party scene ) be beautifully handle by lubitsch and turn the film into a forerunner of screwball comedy and the place where continental charm and hard drive americanism meet . now to the actor . the british be well attitude of many critic make it inevitable that lubitsch american cast would be pillory . again and this be not noel coward and a noel coward style of act wouldn not work in this context . all the lead player be actually quite wonderful represent miriam hopkins and one of lubitsch favorite actress and have the best role and give a marvelously energetic performance a the flighty and pretentious free spirit who try to substitute art for sex while gary cooper be at the height of his youthful charm and with a surprisingly light comic touch and great teamwork with fredric march . march and who can often be heavy hand in film comedy and be here charm and funny while it a tribute to lubitsch that he get such a genial performance out of him . and and of course and there edward everett horton and one of hollywood fine character actor in one of his fine role . if you know and love the noel coward play and do not expect this movie to be a faithful adaptation . think of it a an original work of comedic art that happen to utilize some of the story element of coward play . it not noel coward while it a splendid romantic farce that and like all great comedy and have serious theme underneath the fun represent sexual freedom and male vs. female role in society and art and love and friendship . so see it ( if you can while it not on video and ala ) . it not noel coward and it ernst lubitsch and and despite the occasional flaw and it lubitsch at his best .