The Private Life of Don Juan should have remained a little more private. Douglas Fairbanks' swan song in film is a flat, messy little film that feels as if it were put together from bits and pieces. Indeed, the screenplay is really nothing more than a series of would-be set pieces revolving around the premise that Don Juan is too old to be Don Juan anymore. The segments are put together with flimsy connecting tissue, and the dialogue -- whether in the set pieces or the connecting pieces -- is dull; this is quite a surprise, given the inclusion of the witty Frederick Lonsdale on the writing team. The script is also quite confusing, especially as directed by Alexander Korda. It takes a while to figure out the whole imposter angle, not to mention to clear up Don Juan's age and marital status. The basic idea of Don Juan vacillating between wanting to be his old impassioned lover self and wanting to merely settle down and grow old has promise, but it's totally fudged by the creators. Fairbanks is a problem as well; although the character is supposed to be past his prime, it's still a bit of a shock to see the actor flabby and balding. Worse, he only hints at both the comedic and romantic possibilities in the character, delivering a performance that lacks any hint of sparkle or punch. The supporting cast is better, although Korda's direction doesn't allow anyone except Merle Oberon to make their best impression, and Oberon does so only because her beauty is so stunning at this early stage of her career. The Private Life of Don Juan has a few good moments and some lovely sets and costumes, but on the whole it's rather lifeless.