If You Could Only Cook (1935)

Herbert Marshall is quite charming as an automobile tycoon who chances upon unemployed, nearly-homeless Jean Arthur in the park; he conceals his true identity and helps land a cook-and-butler job for them both at the home of a wealthy racketeer, but his impending marriage to a society girl might put an end to the charade. Silly fluff, but put over with so much professionalism that one isn't apt to complain too loudly. Arthur creates a likable character and has some very cute scenes (especially her cooking audition with the garlic), while her conversation with Marshall early on about "two hundred people for every one job" is remarkably relevant in the 21st century. The premise is thin, with the stretch marks extremely apparent in the final tug, yet there are still enough big laughs here to satisfy fans of nutty 1930s comedies. **1/2 from ****