Too Many Kisses (Blu-ray)

The Paramount backlot doubled as Basque country for this romantic comedy which proved to be a nice showcase for Richard Dix. Richard Gaylord Jr. (Dix) is a pleasure-loving playboy who is constantly getting in trouble with the ladies, much to the chagrin of his father, Richard Gaylord Sr. (Frank Currier). Finally fed up, the elder Gaylord comes up with a plan -- one of his company men, Simmons (Joe Burke), is traveling to the Basque country, and he tells his boss that the Basque women only marry their own people. So Gaylord Sr. sends young Dick along, promising to give him half interest in his business if he will only stay away from women. Upon his arrival, Dick almost immediately becomes involved with Yvonne Hurja (Frances Howard), the daughter of the businessman (Albert Tavernier) that Simmons is working with. Julio, the local police chief -- who does double duty as a bandit chief (William Powell) -- loves Yvonne too. When she expresses her preference for Dick, Julio sends his men to kidnap the brash young Americano. Dick's father shows up just in time to see his son escape from the bandits and duke it out with Julio. Gaylord Sr. approves of Yvonne, and decides to share his company with Dick anyhow. The onscreen career of Frances Howard was extremely brief -- she married producer Samuel Goldwyn before she could make any mark as an actress. Appearing in a bit part is Harpo Marx in one of his rare appearances away from his fellow Marx Brothers.