If You Could Only Cook

19351935
PassedPassed
1h 12m

Jean Arthur and Herbert Marshall in If You Could Only Cook (1935)

An executive lets an attractive cook talk him into taking a job as butler.An executive lets an attractive cook talk him into taking a job as butler.An executive lets an attractive cook talk him into taking a job as butler.

Director
- William A. Seiter
Writers
- Howard J. Green(screen play)
- Gertrude Purcell(screen play)
- F. Hugh Herbert(story)
Stars

See production, box office & company info

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Jean Arthur, Herbert Marshall, and Leo Carrillo in If You Could Only Cook (1935)

Jean Arthur and Herbert Marshall in If You Could Only Cook (1935)

Jean Arthur and Herbert Marshall in If You Could Only Cook (1935)

Jean Arthur, Herbert Marshall, and Leo Carrillo in If You Could Only Cook (1935)

Director
- William A. Seiter
Writers
- Howard J. Green(screen play)
- Gertrude Purcell(screen play)
- F. Hugh Herbert(story)
All cast & crew
See more cast details at IMDbPro

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Auto magnate James Buchanan has a fiancée who doesn't love him and a board of directors who won't listen to him. Brooding on a park bench, he meets unemployed Joan Hawthorne, a fine cook who needs a partner to apply for a 'couple' butler/cook job with gourmet ex-bootlegger Mike Rossini. Bemused, Buchanan goes along with the gag, taking lessons from his own butler. But there's sure to be a day of reckoning... —Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>

new york city gourmet gangster police officer frustration farce 6 more

Taglines
- SHE GAVE UP HER PARK BENCH FOR HIM! HE GAVE UP MILLIONS FOR HER! (original print ad - all caps)
Genres
- Comedy
- Romance
Certificate
- Passed
Parents guide
- Add content advisory

Trivia
In order to cash in on Frank Capra's popularity in England, Columbia Pictures released this film in London as "A Frank Capra Production, produced by Frank Capra." Capra, who had never even seen the film, was furious. This led to a bitter year-long dispute between head of Columbia Harry Cohn and Capra, who sued the studio for libel. It almost cost Cohn his job and almost resulted in Capra leaving the studio. It was resolved when Cohn relented and promised to buy for Capra the rights to the play "You Can't Take It with You" for $200,000, and pay him some back salary if he would drop the suit. Capra did.

Goofs
When Rossini pulls up to tell his gang the hit is off, a reflection of the boom microphone is visible on the trunk of his car, lower right of the frame.

Quotes
Jim Buchanan: Do you think I'm out of my mind?
Jennings: I'm hoping for the best sir!

Connections
Featured in The Lady with the Torch (1999)

Soundtracks
Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride)
(uncredited)
from "Lohengrin"
Written by Richard Wagner
[Played on piano by Walter Byron at the wedding rehearsal, reprised by the band at the wedding]

Top review

10/10

Charming B&W comedy with WiseGuys

The Austin Film Society showed this entertaining old film last week on election night. The receptive audience found laughs in many lines that still seem current, especially about unemployment, the want ads and being broke.

Jean Arthur looked lovely in this movie, and Herbert Marshall was perfect. What a wonderful voice that man had! My husband thinks that his walk may have inspired C3PO's formal motions, although the robot had a metal leg, not a wooden one like Mr. Marshall's.

Lionel Stander was already in full bellow, many decades before 'Hart to Hart', and Leo Carillo was a treat as the gangster employer. It was a surprise to hear them use the term 'wise guy' for a prospective member - I didn't realize it was already being used back then.

helpful•30

4

AustinKatAnne
Nov 9, 2004

Release date
- December 30, 1935 (United States)
Country of origin
- United States
Languages
- English
- French
Also known as
- Wenn sie nur kochen könnte
Production company
- Columbia Pictures
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Runtime
1 hour 12 minutes
Color
- Black and White
Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1

Afs is Bringing Me The Lubitsch Touch, Oh Yes

Oct 8Slackerwood

Jean Arthur and Herbert Marshall in If You Could Only Cook (1935)

Top Gap

What is the Spanish language plot outline for If You Could Only Cook (1935)?

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