[Bounci]

A short but sweet clip from the days of Pre-Code, this is from The Smiling Lieutenant (1931) and features Miriam Hopkins in only her 3rd film in Hollywood. She plays a Princess who mistakes a wink Maurice Chevalier makes at his girlfriend Claudette Colbert for her and falls in love with him - meaning Chevalier has to marry her! Colbert realizes the situation is hopeless for her, so teaches Miriam how to dress sexily before bidding her goodbye - and giving her a full girl on girl kiss on the lips! That scene is included, as is the scene of Miriam in her negligee, which when she turns round to go to bed seems somewhat see through and gives us a glimpse of Miriam's cheeky features. Naturally I've slowed this for a better look. I do wish I'd had something better for you for Christmas, but I'm sure some of you will like seeing this - and of course of two girls locking lips together!

As for Miriam Hopkins, this was the start of a successful Pre Code career, and she gained a reputation for risqué roles, such as Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1931) (as a prostitute), Trouble in Paradise (1932), Design For Living (1933) (involving a menage a trois) and the highly controversial The Story of Temple Blake (1933), which hastened the Hayes code. Ironically, this code - along with her famous temper - eventually curtailed Hopkins' career, despite roles in Becky Sharp (1935) and The Old Maid (1939), and by the 1950's she was mainly in television. Her last film was in 1970 and she died of a heart attack two years later, aged 69.