real life husband and wife duo alfred lunt and lynn fontanne play famous married theater performer ( name in the credit only a the actor and the actress ) . the actor be so convinced that his wife would be unfaithful to him if give the chance and he dress up like a russian officer to try and seduce her . the guardsman remain the only sound film that either lunt or fontanne ever do and which be a damn shame . both actor achieve a natural quality on screen rarely equal in thirty film . lunt especially give a knockout comedic performance and not only a the whining and conceited and jealous husband and but also a the brash and passionate guardsman . the rest of the cast play their part perfectly as well and do justice to the delightfully witty script . it loose some momentum in the second half and a the film slowly work it way to the conclusion you know be come . they definitely could have play with the scenario a bit more . nonetheless and it make for a very enjoyable comedy .