Myrna Loy and Melvyn Douglas are fantastic, respectively, in this screwball comedy about a career woman with a phantom husband and the man from Wapakoneta, Ohio, who decides to fill-the-bill. The subsidiary roles are wonderfully taken as well. The only quibble I have with the movie is that it is a -wee- bit long for its material, but viewers looking for some light diversion will not be disappointed by this farcical laugh-romp.
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Costu-215 December 2003
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blanche-230 November 2010Myrna Loy wears a wedding ring on her "Third Finger, Left Hand" in this 1940 comedy, but she's not married. As Margot, the editor of a popular womens magazine, she tells everyone she's married to a guy named Tony. Why? Because every other woman who's had the job has lost it because of the publisher's wife. He's got a roving eye. Meanwhile, Philip Booth (Lee Bowman) wants to marry her, but she just can't seem to find Tony to get a divorce.
Then Margot meets Jeff Thompson (Melvyn Douglas), an artist who figures out that there's no Tony. So he shows up at her house and announces that he is Tony. Now she's in a pickle, and she can't divorce him without marrying him first.
This is a cute comedy, nothing special, with good acting by the always reliable Loy and Douglas. As he sailed through all these supporting roles, Douglas was hiding a serious, incredible dramatic talent. Fortunately, once he was older and there was no studio to cast him as the other man, he was able to show it.
One interesting thing about this film is the role of the train porter Sam, played by Ernest Whitman, who is pulled into service by Jeff to delay the settlement negotiations en route to Reno. Sam is your typical train porter of those days until he tells Jeff that he's taken law correspondence courses. He then recites law to Philip and Margot and delays the divorce. Very unusual for those days, as is the wonderful character of Oliver Cromwell Jones in "Crash Dive" who is one of the soldiers on the submarine. These good roles for African Americans were few and far between back then. -
pepe4u2225 March 2010I watched this movie just the other night and found it refreshing and yet sweet. I was also amazed how much this movie reflects a lot of problems that some women in positions of authority have with the stigma of not being married. Besides that I will say that the modern romantic comedies borrow greatly from movies such as this yet even though I have seen many romantic comedies I found this movie fresh and almost new probably due to fact that the cliques nowadays evolved from this movie. I will also admit I love Myrna Loy and with a certain degree of bias I enjoy all her movies and love her mere presence in the movie and I was caught unaware of her improvising skill when she did her Brooklyn accent. I found Mervyn Douglas a good match though had a feeling that the character written may have been for William Powell. I found it quick and enjoyable and this is why classics always bring a smile to my face.
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njlionstorm20 October 2003While this comedy is about the romantic complications facing a woman executive and the artist who loves her, "Third Finger, Left Hand" provides a rarely seen dignified Black role. When first we see Sam (portrayed by veteran African American actor, Ernest Whitman) he is a train porter speaking in an 'uneducated' manner - employing the type of language structure used by script writers of the time to reinforce negative racial stereotypes. Later, however, a Sam is revealed to have taken college correspondence courses for years and to be someone quite knowledgeable in matters of Law: able to quote court rulings and present effective legal arguments on behalf of his client, the artist. Ultimately, Sam is the hero of "Third Finger, Left Hand", making it possible for the protagonists' love to triumph.
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vincentlynch-moonoi10 October 2012This is a delightful romantic comedy...and just a bit saucy, although the initial premise is a little silly. Myrna Loy, a magazine editor, pretends to everyone (including her father) that she is married after a fling in Rio. Her real intention is actually to fend off romantic suitors and protect her job. Along comes Melvyn Douglas, who is sort of looking for a wife, but a highly idealized one. He fans the flame a bit with Loy, and although initially rebuffed, catches on to her little personal scam...and arrives at her home pretending to be her long-lost husband. And soon they are married, but on the way to a divorce...or are they?
Of the supporting roles, Raymond Walburn is very humorous as Loy's father. Lee Bowman is not particularly impressive as a lawyer who advises Loy and is in love with her. Bonita Granville is good as Loy's sister, although her role gets little screen time. Felix Bressart is entertaining as an eccentric employee at Loy's magazine. Sidney Blackmer is here briefly...and not in a role like you have ever seen him in before...as a lush. Ernest Whitman is great as Sam, the porter. And, Halliwell Hobbes as as the butler is always a welcome presence.
The plot here is somewhat unique, and this is a pretty pleasant comedy. It's easy to forget what a fine actor Melvyn Douglas was, and although I usually think of him as a dramatic actor, he could be pretty crisp in comedies, as well. And Myrna Loy rarely disappoints. Recommended, and perhaps even for your DVD shelf. -
AlsExGal14 January 2022The story is fun even if predictable, but I have to wonder, what was Jeff Thompson (Melvyn Douglas) thinking? But I'll get back to that.
Margot Sherwood (Myrna Loy) is the editor of a magazine who has a fictitious husband - Tony Merrick - so that she won't get hit on by all of the men who work for the magazine back at a time when smoking and sexual harassment were acceptable in the workplace. It works, but then along comes somebody - artist Jeff Thompson (Melvyn Douglas) - that she would like to see romantically, so she goes out on the town without telling Jeff about the husband. Unfortunately, a drunken would be suitor is also out on the town too and mentions said husband. Jeff is shocked, and Margot explains it was an impulsive never consummated marriage that she intends to end in divorce, but that she cannot find Tony and he is in Argentina somewhere. Jeff uses his journalist contacts in Argentina - funny thing for an artist to have - and discovers there is no husband.
And that is why I ask, what was Jeff thinking when he barges into Margot's home and claims to be said husband? Her dad calls the press, because Margot's family is a prominent one it ends up in the newspapers, and he introduces himself to all of her friends. This could end several ways - For sure Margot is going to cool to him for doing this, maybe she might even announce he is a fraud - there is just no easy out. She does have a bit of fun at his expense when they run into his friends from Ohio and she does her best Jean Harlow as Jeff's saucy hard boiled wife, shocking the small town Ohioans.
So all of this is why Jeff is awful. Margot is awful because, to get out of this predicament legally, she convinces an attorney friend of hers that she is in love with him and would marry him if free of the pretend Mr. Merrick AKA Jeff, and to accomplish this she needs his talents as an attorney. The actors are what make this film, but it is really hard to look at them as nice people after all of the using that both leads do in service of the plot.
One thing nice about the old studio system - MGM had a deep bench of contract players in 1940, not the least of which is Felix Bressart and his homely puss, dishing out homespun compassionate advice in a great supporting role. Also possibly the earliest American film with an African American attorney as a plot device. -
Amy-Sue-Taylor7 February 2020I just saw this for the first time and I really loved it. For one thing, I especially like Loy and Douglas. They were great in Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House so I was already familiar with the two of them interacting (even though they were not each others' love interest in that movie.)
I liked the contrast of her being in/from NYC and him being from Ohio. Of course, I'm from Ohio too so maybe I was a bit biased. :)
It seems that sometimes these comedy/romances can seem a bit forced but I just found this one fun, pleasant and naturally flowing. I highly recommend it. -
bkoganbing20 January 2016I suppose by 1940 the public and the critics just were used to seeing Myrna Loy with William Powell. At least that's what it said in the Citadel Film series book on Myrna Loy's films. In any event I think that the public and the critics gave short shrift to this film that had her co-starring with Melvyn Douglas. They have some funny moments together.
Third Finger Left Hand has Myrna Loy as a successful career woman a type that Katharine Hepburn and Rosalind Russell essayed in their sleep. It's curious because today this would be unthinkable, but to guard against both jealous wives and horny men both married and single, Myrna keeps a wedding ring in the proper place as the title indicates. It works maybe all too well as there are no men in her life nor prospects of same.
That doesn't deter free spirit itinerant painter Melvyn Douglas who in a hail mary type move pretends to be the husband she pretends she has. That makes it all real hard to explain to her family like her father Raymond Walburn, sister Bonita Granville, and young attorney Lee Bowman who would like to be the man in her life.
There are two really funny moments the first belongs to Myrna who when at Niagara Falls Douglas runs into some straight laced folks from his small Ohio hometown, Myrna turns the tables on him and with her impression of a gun moll really mortifies those poor people.
The second is when on a train Douglas drafts a Pullman porter played by Ernest Whitman as an attorney. Whitman actually has studied law and goes head to head with Lee Bowman and it's a draw.
Despite only so-so reviews Third Finger Left Hand is a real comedy gem and a great film credit for its stars. -
"Third Finger, Left Hand" is an outstanding comedy film that stars Myrna Loy and Melvyn Douglas with an excellent supporting cast. Everyone gets in on the humor. Most notable about this comedy is its original and novel plot of a career-seeking woman faking that she is married. The whole idea is to keep suitors away so that she can establish herself and be a success in the business world as the publisher of a woman's magazine.
Loy's Margot Sherwood says she's married to a guy named Tony Merrick. He's a globe-trotting character in some business that we never learn about. Margot met him in Rio de Janeiro where she went for a vacation a year ago. She fell for him in one night and they got married. So, when she came back to New York with a ring on the third finger of her left hand, the wolves stayed away. Only a couple of amorous characters continue to pursue her. They think she should divorce her uncaring husband who stays away. But her ploy at least keeps the boss away, Mr. Russell. And, Margot becomes friends with the boss's wife, instead of another ex-female manager of her husband's magazine. Previous female managers lasted no longer than a few months because of Mr. Russell's attention.
Meanwhile, arriving in New York by ship from Europe, is globe-trotting artist Jeff Thompson, played by Douglas. The meeting of the two lead characters aboard ship begins a hilarious love triangle that involves the third lead, Lee Bowman, as Philip Booth. And, that anchors this comedy that moves between riotously funny scenarios, to hilariously corny and funny scenes.
The original plot has a first-rate screenplay that is filled with witty dialog and funny exchanges. The film has a wonderful cast of well-known and supporting actors. Felix Bressart is superbly funny as August "Gussie" Winkel. Donald Meek, whose last name describes his physical build and usual character persona, is completely out of his familiar character. His Mr. Flandrin is a high-falutin art dealer who barks out orders and scowls at anyone who gets in his way. Bonita Granville is very funny as the teenage sister of Margot, Vicky Sherwood. And, Raymond Walburn's smile alone invites smiles, as he plays Margot's father, Mr. Sherwood. And, there are more.
One can imagine how this will turn out - as do most comedy romances. But, in getting to that point, this film has some different angles and twists that make it quite original. And, it's that originality - with these actors - that makes the film so funny.
A very humorous thread runs through much of the film. It has to do with the State of Ohio - especially its name. Jeff is from Wapakoneta, Ohio, and he likes his home state very much. He's looking forward to returning home to resume his painting career. After traveling around the world and bringing back a large portfolio of professional paintings to sell in New York, he is anxious to return to the sanity of Ohio. He doesn't want to spend more than one night in the cockeyed big city.
The thread that gets repeated several times is an old song about Ohio. The chorus reads, "What's round on the ends and high in the middle? It's o-HI-o." He hums and sings a couple of lines at different times. The railroad porter sings the song, and by the end of the movie, Margot is humming it.
In one scene toward the end, some hometown folks recognize Jeff. When they strike up a conversation, Margot elbows her way between Jeff and a reverend. She butts into the conversation with a street lingo that leaves one in stitches. Loy is superb at this and it reminds one of a similar scenario carried out by Irene Dunne in "The Awful Truth."
Well into the 21st century, "Third Finger, Left Hand" stands the test of time well. It's a very funny story that people of all ages should enjoy. It's truly one of the great comedies at the close of Hollywood's golden era.
Here are some favorite lines. See the Quotes section under this IMDb Web page of the film for many more laughs.
Jeff Thompson, "Tell the folks your idea for doing my den, angel." Margot Sherwood Merrick, "Well, uh, I want to do it very simply. Uh, just a short flight of steps and a gallows. That's the theme. It's going to be very modernistic." Jeff, "She has the most unconventional ideas."
Mr. Sherwood, as the last dinner guest leaves, "Such a lively woman." Jeff Thompson, "Yeah. So interested in other people's lives." Margo Merrick, "And with nine of her own to live."
Jeff Thompson, "When you do get married, you certainly won't need any practice hen-pecking." Margot Merrick, "I'm not hen-pecking." Jeff, "Listen, my Aunt Edith killed my Uncle John hen-pecking. I oughtta know a hen-pecker when I hear one."
Mr. Flandrin, "Young woman, I can be just as unethical as you can."
Jeff Thompson, "Yes sir, you certainly put that over. You know, to look at your face, nobody'd ever think you were such a good liar."
Margot Sherwood Merrick, "Whadda ya think we're doin' in Niagara Falls - huntin' woims?" -
robert-temple-18 August 2012Myrna Loy and Melvyn Douglas sparkle in this lightweight romantic comedy. Obviously, the ring on the third finger of the left hand means a gal is married. Myrna Loy is not married, she is an editor who is a 'career gal' at an influential New York-based fashion magazine. But she claims to be married, and her husband is always 'away' and no one has met him. She has increasing difficulty maintaining this fiction, however. Melvyn Douglas discovers the truth and impersonates the non-existent husband, to amusing and sometimes hilarious effect. Well, you can guess the rest. Fun to watch because of Loy and Douglas, though not a masterpiece by any means.
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susenet1 July 2019Melvyn Douglas and Myrna Loy are both excellent in their roles as a couple who are fake-married. Her character made up a fictional long-distance husband for work, and his pranks her by showing up as as that husband.
It's not Tolstoy but it's a lovely little comedy with excellent performances. I used to be surprised to see Melvyn Douglas in leading-man romantic roles. But while he may not be conventionally handsome by modern standards, he makes up for that in charm and wit, not to mention excellent comic timing.
One reviewer said that it was silly to think that a single female executive needed a pretend marriage unless she was a closeted lesbian. But you that you can't judge the premise of a 1940 film by 21st century standards. The Production Code would not have allowed a film to have a lesbian character unless that she was doomed to some sort of awful end as comeuppance for her supposed "deviancy". The studios followed those rules back then. To see why a single woman might wish to feign being romantically unavailable at the workplace 'back in the day', view Mad Men. It will give you some perspective.
This is an engaging and enjoyable comedy with good performances not only from the leads but from the supporting actors as well. -
richardrandbman2 February 2010Here is a good example of a film with good intentions that go slightly awry. One could presumably place it in the screwball comedy category but that may be overstating the case. It is intended to be amusing, and for the most part, it lives up that standard.While some may carp that Melvyn Douglas lacks the same credentials as a Cary Grant,he does have an expert sense of timing in his delivery that overcomes his essential lack of charisma.Myrna Loy gives it the old college try and never disgraces herself.(Although she didn't manage to hide her heavyset ankles in this one and we realize why she would never be considered a pin-up queen despite a face that always lit up the screen.) There is only one scene that goes on and on becoming less funny by the minute and that is between Douglas and the unfortunate Lee Bowman playing drunk.If it had been cut the continuity would have survived quite nicely. All told, you could spend time with this one and not feel badly cheated.Better than mediocre, less than scintillating.
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edwagreen6 February 2010The typical screwball comedy of the 1930s and 1940s has Myrna Loy as an editor inventing a fictitious husband so as not to jeopardize her career.
When she meets Melvyn Douglas, he discovers she is "married." When he finds out that her husband is a no show, he enters the picture as the missing husband.
Lee Bowman plays another of Ms. Loy's suitors. If he were so interested in her, why didn't they marry before and avoid this charade?
Loy is funny and when she sports a Brooklyn accent at Niagara Falls, this is comedy at its best. Yet, the movie is too predictable -
TheLittleSongbird12 December 2019Can never get enough of Myrna Loy, who was always a delight and her pairing with William Powell in particular was a classic one. It was not hard to see why they were paired so often, just to say this is just a general context point to say what work of Loy was particularly notable to me and not saying that they star together (which they don't). Have also liked what has been seen of Melvyn Douglas, especially 'Hud', 'Ninotchka' and 'Mr Blandings Builds His Own House', more needs to be seen though.
If one has to compile a list of Loy's best films and a list of Douglas' best, 'Third Finger, Left Hand' is probably unlikely to be there on either list. It doesn't disgrace either of them though, the opposite particularly in the case of Loy, and it was interesting to see them together. As for 'Third Finger, Left Hand' as a film itself, it is worth seeing for namely curiosity and far from near-obscurity-worthy though would hesitate in calling it an essential.
Loy is the main reason to see 'Third Finger, Left Hand' and the best thing about it. She shows strong comic timing and enough charm to make her performance an endearing one. Douglas shows a very pleasing chemistry with her, showing that she can work very well with another leading man other than Powell, and brings the same qualities that Loy did to his performance.
Although the supporting cast vary more, Raymond Wahlburn is very amusing as is Bonita Granville. There are enough fun moments, it has enough of a light touch to not make it feel too heavy and some sweet charming ones without falling into schmaltz. It starts off very promisingly and is throughout nicely made visually, while there is some very witty dialogue in the first portion particularly and fun character interaction.
Did feel though that there were problems. Even though obvious from reading the basic plot outline that 'Third Finger, Left Hand' was not a film to be seen for its story, the story is as hokey as one can get and later on it felt forced for my taste. The script runs out of steam too early, the material feeling thin and some of the humour pretty childish at times.
Pacing was fine at first, but the tireder and thinner the material got the more it dragged. The drunk scene is quite tiresome and Lee Bowman is for my taste pretty bland here.
Summing up, not bad at all but could have been better. 6/10 -
SnoopyStyle2 January 2020Magazine editor Margot Sherwood Merrick (Myrna Loy) often gets hit on. She insists that a single woman could never climb the corporate ladder and even invents a South American husband Tony Merrick in order to survive. It's their fake one year anniversary. She goes to meet a friend on a passenger ship and instead gets involved with art dealer Jeff Thompson (Melvyn Douglas). He uncovers her secret while on their date. Soon he's pretending to be Tony Merrick in front of her family and friends.
This is a light comedy that is driven by the Loy Douglas chemistry. The premise is a bit silly. The stakes are fairly low. The stakes could be higher if she costs him that business deal. He could do the prank as a more real revenge. The stakes would be elevated. No matter the case, Margot's plan doesn't make much sense. Why can't they get a fake divorce? It's a silly premise to begin with. It gets sillier and lighter as it goes. Of course, they go to Niagara Falls. The comedy is able to maintain its level due to the expertise of the legendary duo but it isn't able to rise. -
gbill-7487722 March 2024The plot to this is silly, I mean why would this woman keep the ruse of being married up with her family and the artist, why would she have to get married to the artist so they could get divorced, etc, but that's the screwball genre, and this one is pretty sweet. It's studded with some fine little moments:
- The strength of the female executive (Myrna Loy), who points out harassment in the workplace ("I don't know why it is, but the wolf pack seems to think that a woman in business is fair game") and advocates for women being there ("I think every woman should have a career").
- Loy adopting a low-class Brooklyn accent out of nowhere when she tells her new husband's friends "Whaddya think we're doing in Niagara Fawls? Huntin' Woims?" She then proceeds to deliberately offend all of the people from his home town, channeling a little Mae West in her interaction with the pastor, which was hilarious, and must watch if you're a Loy fan.
- Melvyn Douglas getting in a few nice bits of his own, like ordering drinks for everyone and when they decline, promptly downing all three. While nothing can compare to the chemistry William Powell had with Loy, Douglas doesn't do so bad himself.
- The enlisting of an African American porter (Ernest Whitman) who has studied law by correspondence to act as his lawyer towards the end, which was a wonderful little surprise, and led to a decent amount of non-stereotypical, funny screen time for Whitman, whose charisma comes forth.
Loy didn't have a hand in creating the porter character, but it was certainly in keeping with her progressive activism. In her autobiography Being and Becoming she wrote: "During my early years in the studios, movie people were too busy getting a foothold to concern themselves with social conscience. I once asked, 'Why does every Negro in a film have to play a servant? How about just a black person walking up the steps of a courthouse carrying a briefcase?' Well! The storm that caused!"
There is a town vs. City aspect to the story, with Douglas's character coming from Wapakoneta, Ohio, eschewing New York, and preferring women to be "unsophisticated," as he puts it when asked. I cringed a little at that but took it to mean "down to earth," but later he complains about wives who "henpeck," and it's pretty clear, he prefers a woman who is constrained within old-fashioned, traditional bounds. Meanwhile, Loy is an executive, comes from a wealthy family, and is a world traveler who has only seen Ohio "from a train window," the equivalent to today's viewpoint of "flyover country." You can see the romantic ending coming from a mile away and it's fine and all, but it's a little unfortunate that the idea of her career and New York seem to have vanished, the Production Code morality prevailing. However, we can imagine them coming to some kind of compromise, and her not completely living his dream of renting a houseboat on the Ohio River and "floating along with nothing to do." -
planktonrules20 September 2015Margot Merrick (Myrna Loy) is a big-time magazine editor. She's also married...or so she tells folks! This is because she loves her job and doesn't want male co-workers making passes at her or publisher's wives getting jealous--so in desperation she has a friend send letters from her supposed husband as he travels about the world on business! It's a sad state of affairs that back then a plot like this would make sense!
Along the way, Margot accidentally hurts the business prospects of an artist, Jeff (Melvyn Douglas). Fortunately, she makes it up to him and she goes her way. Later, when he's bored, he calls her. After all, he's in the city on business and has some spare time. They go out and have a fine time. However, later she tells him he's married--and she does it in a manner that is pretty nasty. But her story is very inconsistent and Jeff soon realizes there is no husband...and he wants to teach her a lesson. So, he shows up at her house and announces he is Mr. Merrick! What can she do? After all, she HAS told everyone she's married and she can't just tell everyone he isn't the guy!
Both Myrna Loy and Melvyn Douglas were wonderful in light comedies-- and here they are up to form. However, Loy was much tougher to like and her 'cheap girl' imitation near the end is a bit hard to take. There also is a very interesting scene with Jeff's lawyer. Overall, well written and very enjoyable. It's only deficit is that you KNOW exactly where the film will end! But the journey sure is fun! -
HotToastyRag27 January 2020There's only one movie capable of beating the immortal comedy The Shop Around the Corner out of the Hot Toasty Rag Award for Best Comedic Screenplay: Third Finger, Left Hand. As much as it pained the members of the board to deny the former, Third Finger, Left Hand is so hilarious and so clever, it couldn't have been bested by anything. What's the final sign of a terrific screenplay? You can imagine anyone in the characters and it would be just as good as the final result. Indeed, when you watch this nearly forgotten classic, you can imagine Rosalind Russell and Robert Montgomery, Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire, Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable, and Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray in the romantic leads. Each of them would have delivered the lines and made your sides split. Myrna Loy and Melvyn Douglas made the cut and immortalized the lines on celluloid, but Lionel Houser got the Rag Award for his writing.
Myrna plays a career woman intent on keeping her job. Back in 1940, a single woman in the workforce was looked at as an easy target for a pick-up, so to keep her boss off the scent, she lies after getting promoted to Editor-in-Chief and says she's a married woman. She receives love letters from her husband, and puts off anyone asking after his whereabouts by saying her hubby's travelling in South America. Her boss respects her work, the boss's wife doesn't try to get her fired since she's no longer a threat, and her ardent suitor, Lee Bowman, is kept at a safe distance. Her partner-in-crime is her pal at work, Felix Bressart, the magazine's photographer. He's the only one who knows the truth, and he's the one who writes her love letters!
It sounds like a pretty good set-up, but of course there's a conflict: Myrna meets Mel. Mel is a starving artist from Ohio on a trip to New York City to show off his paintings to an art gallery. He and Myrna hit it off, but when he finds out she's married, he gets very upset. When he finds out her husband doesn't even exist, he gets very, very upset. What does he do about it? I won't tell you, but I will give you a hint: As a stranger in town, if he pretended to be somebody else, everyone would believe him. . .
This movie is so funny, I've probably seen it close to fifty times and it still makes me scream with laughter. Mel and Myrna's comic timings are impeccable, and their clever, witty banter is unforgettable. Felix doesn't have much screen time, but his lovable sidekick persona is so funny you'll find it hard to believe the majority of his movies were dramas. Lee is sweet and harmless, and you'll hope nothing bad happens to him along the way. Donald Meek is a self-important art dealer who says with a grin, "I can be just as unethical as you can," without realizing what he's revealing. Bonita Granville, transitioning from her youth, plays Myrna's kid sister, Halliwell Hobbs is the adorable butler who's dating the cook, and Raymond Walburn plays the clueless dad. Jeff Corey is only in one scene, but I thought he was really Swedish and wasn't an actor! What a surprise to see him other movies with no accent; he was in over a hundred through the decades. And Ernest Whitman, who steals the show in the last segment of the film, plays a train porter with hidden talents as a lawyer. Ernest is quick and steps right in as if he's been a part of the entire movie, and he gets to deliver the last line, one of the best lines in the whole movie.
From start to finish, this movie is delightful. If you've never heard of it, you've got to rent it. You'll be quoting it in no time, making jokes about Wapakoneta, and you'll be singing right along to the Ohio jingle. "What's round on the ends and high in the middle? Think think think think; what's the riddle? Round on the ends and high in the middle: it's Ohio." -
rickdumesnil-552036 August 2019Since a very long time i keep 2 list of my 20 favorite actors and 20 favorite actresses. melvyn douglas was not even in my top 50.....until i just saw 3 of his films in a row. mr. dougas now entered the top 20. what a marvelous actor hes funny,,,,,not bad looking and registers emotions like no one. was a change not to see myrna loy always playing with cary grant and william powell. in fact melvyn douglas is just as effective as mr. grant. the movie is not a masterpiece but its fun and lively. im getting the dvd.
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chipe28 January 2010I don't usually bother to make a "user review" to movies because others do it so much better than me. However, I saw that there were only two reviews here, and no substantial external reviews and that the film got a (high) 6.8 vote. Therefore, I felt it was my civic duty to warn the viewing public.
I am a big fan of Myrna Loy and Melvyn Douglas. I saw the 3 out of 4 star rating in my TV listing. The plot seemed liked a delightful screwball comedy -- Myrna Loy is a powerful head of a magazine who pretends to be married for business and social reasons. I was all geared up to enjoy the movie. It started out OK, as do most movies, but it turned out to be so wordy, boring, action-less, painful and lengthy, that I deserve an award for seeing it to the end. (That a black actor --the train porter who studied law via a correspondence course-- had an important, decent role at the end in this 1940 movie was quite commendable.) -
Turn on the hot water, lather, rinse and repeat. That's the formula for most romantic comedies of the 1930's and 40's, some more entertaining than others but pretty predictable and mostly unremarkable. On occasion, that formula can really have results, and in the case of this MGM sophisticated comedy, it really does work. Perhaps that is because of its stars, Myrna Loy and Melvyn Douglas, maybe not Loy or Powell, but a perfect facsimile.
With her sophisticated charm, Loy becomes the Miranda Priestley of the early 40's, editor of a popular woman's magazine who may scare the male clerk when he presents her with a wedding anniversary present, but is really quite graceful and kind. She's pretended to be married so she can keep her job as the wife of the owner of the magazine is apparently pretty jealous.
Douglas comes along, learns her story, realizes that she's making it all up, and shows up at the front door of her Manhattan penthouse and claims to be her husband. He uses the analogy that she is Dr. Frankenstein and he's the monster, so she has to deal with his presence. In the supporting cast are Raymond Walburn as her father, Bonita Granville as her sister, Felix Bressart as her conspirator, Donald Meek, Lee Bowman and Sidney Blackmer, Robert Z. Leonard at the Helm directing. Sophisticated with lots of zany twists and turns. -
Viewing this for the first time in Nov. 2020. Always liked the chemistry between Myrna Loy and Melvyn Douglas in Mr Blandings Builds His Dreamhouse, but about halfway thru movie realized it could be placed in a Hallmark Movie lineup and fit in perfectly but has better actors. Don't get me wrong, this is a great film and lots of fun.