The Baron is an aging, cynical lady's man. He has a key-chain with about 50 keys to different women' apartments in Paris. He selects one at random to see who he will sleep with at night. His adversary is a young Parisian artist (the next Picasso), Victor. Victor believes in love and he's going to marry his girlfriend Claudette as soon as he sells his first painting. The Baron seduces Claudette, seemingly to teach Victor a lesson. However, as might be predicted, he soon falls in love with Claudette himself.
Lew Cody, who was married to Mabel Normand for three and 1/2 years (1926-1930) plays the Baron. Cody was 48 at the time and soon died two years later at 50. He looks older, which makes the Baron seem more lecherous as he searches for young women to hook up with. What saves him is that he is quite generous with the women he hires to have affairs with. He gives them expensive jewelry. At one point, when a woman wants to break up with him, he opens a book and notes that he has given her 460 thousand francs worth of jewelry. She offers to give them back. He rejects the offer and says that he expected to give her 1/2 million, so he gives her 40 thousand more francs as a going away gift. Cody is quite likable, suave and amusing, although a handsomer actor like Douglas Fairbanks would perhaps have been better.
Gilbert Roland is surprisingly weak as the artist Victor. He plays the film very straight. There is none of the glee that one might expect based on his other roles (for example, the Spanish Ambassador in Greta Garbo's "Queen Christina"). He genuinely seems to detest the Baron.
Marion Shilling is quite sophisticated and charming as Claudette, the object of both their affections. She is very good here. Her career ended four years later at the age of 26, after playing in a bunch of B Westerns.
The movie starts out very witty and naughty. It does a good job of capturing a Parisian atmosphere. It does drag a little bit. It is certainly worth watching for fans of sophisticated comedy and early cinema.
