Paradise for Three (1938) in Color — Starring Robert Young & Frank Morgan

Paradise for Three (1938) — Buy This Classic in Color

Discover Paradise for Three, the 1938 romantic comedy starring Robert Young, Frank Morgan, and Mary Astor, now available as a professionally colorized version. This sparkling screwball comedy of mistaken identities features Frank Morgan in a delightful performance just one year before he became immortal as the Wizard of Oz. Own this classic movie in color as a DRM-free MP4 digital download for just €15.00.

Plot Summary

Wealthy American businessman Rudolph Dodd grows weary of his privileged but suffocating existence and decides to escape on a vacation to Germany, determined to experience life as an ordinary working-class person for once. Through an elaborate ruse, he wins a contest to spend time at a luxurious Alpine resort, posing as a humble factory worker to shed the burdens and expectations of wealth. At the picturesque resort, Rudolph encounters the charming and witty Irene Dodd — who shares his surname by sheer coincidence — a woman whose elegant bearing and sharp intelligence suggest she may not be exactly the simple hausfrau she claims to be either.

Meanwhile, the eccentric and irrepressibly lovable Fritz, who actually is a genuine working-class man, has also legitimately won a place at the resort and provides constant comic complications with his innocent enthusiasm and unpolished manners. As romantic entanglements multiply between Rudolph, Irene, and the resort’s other guests, true identities threaten to be exposed at every turn. Rudolph finds himself falling for Irene while desperately maintaining his disguise, Fritz stumbles into one social disaster after another while remaining blissfully unaware of the chaos he creates, and the resort’s snobbish regular guests grow increasingly suspicious of the newcomers in their midst. The hilarious consequences of everyone pretending to be someone they are not build to a farcical climax where all masks finally slip and the truth proves far more entertaining than any of the elaborate fictions.

Cast & Crew

Director: Edward Buzzell

Stars: Robert Young, Frank Morgan, Mary Astor, Edna May Oliver, Florence Rice, Reginald Owen

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

Paradise for Three was originally filmed in black and white, capturing the elegance and humor of its European resort setting in the polished MGM style of the late 1930s. This professionally colorized restoration enhances every scene with frame-by-frame precision, from the snow-capped Alpine mountains and lush green meadows surrounding the resort to the glamorous evening gatherings where guests dance beneath crystal chandeliers. The colorized version brings warm golden tones to the sunlit terrace scenes, while the formal dining rooms gleam with polished silver, white linen, and rich wood paneling. The contrast between Fritz’s rumpled working-class clothes and the elegant attire of the other guests becomes an even more effective visual joke in color, and the picturesque Bavarian setting — with its flower boxes, half-timbered facades, and clear blue skies — adds a fairy-tale quality that perfectly suits this lighthearted romantic farce. Now also available in colour.

Buy Paradise for Three in color today for just €15.00. Your DRM-free MP4 download is available for instant access.

Historical Significance

Released in 1938, Paradise for Three brought together some of MGM’s finest comedic talents in a production that exemplified the sophisticated romantic comedies of Hollywood’s golden age. Frank Morgan delivered precisely the kind of lovable, bumbling eccentric performance he would perfect the following year in his immortal dual role as the Wizard of Oz and Professor Marvel — his Fritz is a masterclass in gentle, self-deprecating comedy that makes the character impossible to dislike. Robert Young, one of the most reliable and appealing leading men in 1930s Hollywood, brought easy charm and genuine romantic appeal to the businessman-in-disguise role. Mary Astor contributed her trademark intelligence and cool wit, while the formidable Edna May Oliver added tartly hilarious commentary as she had in so many classic films of the decade. Director Edward Buzzell, who would go on to helm two Marx Brothers films for MGM, demonstrated a sure touch with comic timing and ensemble work. The film was based on Erich Kästner’s novel “Three Men in the Snow,” adapting the German author’s gentle social satire for American audiences with considerable skill. Through modern colorization, this delightful comedy reaches new audiences who can enjoy its timeless wit and the remarkable chemistry of its golden-age cast.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD restored
• Colorized: Professionally colorized from original black and white
• Audio: Original mono restored
• Runtime: Approximately 75 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — watch on any device
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: What kind of comedy is Paradise for Three?
A: It is a classic romantic screwball comedy built on mistaken identities and class-swapping, in the sparkling tradition of 1930s Hollywood sophistication, with multiple characters pretending to be someone they are not.

Q: Is Frank Morgan the same actor from The Wizard of Oz?
A: Yes, Frank Morgan, who would famously play the Wizard and Professor Marvel the following year in the most beloved film of all time, delivers a wonderfully endearing comic performance here that showcases the same lovable qualities.

Q: Who else is in the cast?
A: The film features Robert Young as the romantic lead, Mary Astor as the witty heroine, the legendary Edna May Oliver in a tartly funny supporting role, and Reginald Owen adding to the comedic ensemble.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as an MP4 file that plays on virtually any device.

Q: Is there DRM on the file?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free so you can watch it on any device without restrictions.

Q: How quickly can I watch after purchase?
A: Your download link is available instantly after payment, so you can start watching within minutes.

Related Colorized Classics

• The Lavender Hill Mob (1951)
• Follow the Fleet (1936)
• The Model and the Marriage Broker (1951)
• Ladies of Leisure (1930)
• Unfaithfully Yours (1948)