What sequences were cut?

Hi! My interest was piqued by your query, so I did a little investigating....

These are notes taken from the MPAA files at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

1) Nothing was censored in the film upon its first release, or while it was in production. The songs and script were routinely passed along to the MPAA, and there are a number of notes such as the following 11/17/1931 letter from Jason S. Joy regarding the risque nature of the film:

"We have read the synopsis and the first completed sequences of ONE HOUR WITH YOU and frankly confess that were there any combination involved other than the particular director and cast of this picture we would be inclined to believe the story could not be handled on the screen. Even so, it appears in the finished picture that Mitzi and Chevalier have committed adultery, and that fact is overlooked by his wife, or treated as a casual incident, there will be a grave question of its suitability. Because the director and cast can handle risque scenes with tact and good taste, we feel that, with this warning of possible danger both as to the Code and censorship, we should reserve opinion until we have had an opportunity to see the finished picture."


On 2/11/1932, Joy writes:

"We have seen your picture ONE HOUR WITH YOU and have thoroughly enjoyed it. In our opinion it is satisfactory under the Code in view of the delicate and charming manner in which the subject matter has been treated. Some of the official censors may object to certain lines and situations, but we do not suggest that you make any changes until we see what they do with the picture."

On 3/26/1932, a Reviewer's Report card from the Atlanta Better Films Committee grades ONE HOUR WITH YOU, finds the film overall is "Exceptional," and that the film should be intended for "Mature Audiences Only." Grades given for Entertainment Value, Acting, Photography, all rate as "Exceptional," while the film's Moral Effect is Graded an "F." Final comments are thus: "Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette McDonald did some splendid acting, but Genevieve Tobin almost stole the show."

On 3/15/1932, ONE HOUR WITH YOU was set to premiere in New York on 2/29/1932, "Approved without eliminations," by Jason S. Roy.

Approved on 3/17/1932 without eliminations for Ohio.
Approved on 3/22/1932 without eliminations for Virginia.

However, censors did have some cutting done when the film got to Canada:

On 3/24/1932, the censors in Alberta had 1 cut in Reel 1:
"Husband and wife in bed with conversation regarding Mitzie and husband insisting upon turning out the light."

On 3/30/1932, the censors in Ontario had a number of cuts made:
Reel 1 -- Eliminate scenes #39 and 42 inclusive with dialogue on pages #8 and 9. (This eliminates views of couple on bed, turning light on and off -- to FADE OUT.)
Reel 5 -- Elimnate scene #48 (This eliminates view of man coming from behind bushes without tie and view of woman's legs behind bush with man's tie around her ankle.
Reel 6 -- Scene 51 - on page #8 to be eliminated. (This elimnates view of couple coming from behind bushes, girl taking man's tie from ankle and giving it to man.); Eliminate view of taxi waiting and driver walking up and down (Scene 39); Eliminate dialogue on Page 6 -- and part of scene #18 -- beginning: - "Um, hum, you drank this brandy from 2:53 to 4:44 etc." and ending "Your wife is very amusing."

On 3/30/1932, the censor in Massachusetts requested the following cuts FOR SUNDAY SHOWINGS ONLY:
Reel 2 -- Eliminate dialogue between Mitzi and Colette regarding pajamas.
Reel 4 -- Eliminate scene showing Colette answering 'phone in bedroom in extreme decollete.

On 4/28/1932, the censor in Chicago requested the dialogue regarding ""Um, hum, you drank this brandy from 2:53 to 4:45," cut.

On 6/4/1932, the censor in Australia requested the following cuts:
Reel 1 -- End reel after song, thus delting bed scenes.
Reel 2 -- Delete dispplay of pajama suit, less pants, and consequent dialogue.
Reel 5 -- Eliminate shots of dress boy on Mitzi's ankle.
Reel 6 -- Eliminate shot of waiting taxi, and whistling driver.
Reel 7 -- Eliminate display of card index.
Reel 8 -- Eliminate song "What would you do?"

On 10/22/1932, the British censor requested the following cuts:
Reel 2 --
Eliminate dialogue by Colette:
"And the painter who painted you -- all draped in gauze."
Eliminate dialogue by Mitzi:
"One night I found out what an artist he was!"
Reel 7 --
Eliminate C.U. (INSERT) - Daily report on the nights of Mme. Mitzie Olivier.
Eliminate following dialogue:
professor: "You drank this brandy from two fifty-three to four forty-four."
Reel 8 --
Eliminate last verse of Chevalier's song: "What Would You Do?"

The film was entire rejected by Bohemia-Moravia (former Chechoslavakia), no reason was given.


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FIRST POSSIBLE U.S. RE-RELEASE -- 1938:

It was completely rejected for re-release, with Joeseph Breen writing:

"[ONE HOUR WITH YOU]is unacceptable from the point of view of the Production Code, for the reason that it contains a great deal of suggestive dialogue, and the suggestion of an adulterous affair, without the necessary compensating moral values."

* * * *


1949 U.S. RE-RELEASE:

Breen writes:

"On the understandingthat the contemplated re-issue of this picture is intended for release only in a few art theaters, and similar restricted localities, we are asking for the following cuts:

1) Delete the shot of the taxi and driver waiting outside apartment at night.

2) Delete Chevalier's song "What Would You Do?"



* * * *

It appears that the UCLA Film and Television Archive, in its restoration of the film in the late 1980s, has saved the film completely intact and without any edits. (This version -- with the color tinting -- would appear to be the version Criterion will be releasing sometime in the near future in its "Eclipse" series...

Hope that helps!

Matt Severson