The Baroness and the Butler is a 1938 American romantic comedy film directed by Walter Lang and starring William Powell and Annabella in her American English-language debut. The supporting cast includes Helen Westley, Joseph Schildkraut, Nigel Bruce and Lynn Bari. The film was produced and distributed by Twentieth Century-Fox. It is based on the play Jean by the Hungarian writer Ladislaus Bus-Fekete. It received a generally positive reception from film critics.

Plot

Johann Porok, a third-generation butler in the service of Count Albert Sandor, the Prime Minister of Hungary, is unexpectedly elected to the Hungarian parliament, representing the opposition social progressive party. Despite this, he insists on remaining a servant as well. Count Sandor is pleased with this peculiar arrangement, as he has found Johann to be the perfect butler and does not wish to break in a new man. His daughter, Baroness Katrina Marissey, however, considers Johann a traitor and treats him very coldly.