Pacionsbo
Absolutely Fantastic
Hayden Kane
There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes
Fatma Suarez
The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful
mark.waltz
O.K., is it even thinkable that wealthy business man Clark Gable would think of having an affair with secretary Jean Harlow when he's married to none other than Myrna Loy? Well, he'd probably think about it, but other than checking her out now and then, the odds are he'd remain faithful. But thanks to his mother (May Robson), Loy thinks hanky panky is possible, and everybody in her social group views Harlow with suspicion, albeit gleefully as if they want to see something happen to break up this happy home. James Stewart is around as Harlow's brooding man who spends more time waiting for her in a car than doing anything really to keep the home fires burning. Sound a bit like "The Women" with a few men around? Harlow is as far from Joan Crawford's Crystal Allen as can be, and other than the dark hair, Loy has nothing in common with the oh-so-sweet butter wouldn't melt in her mouth Norma Shearer. With the exception of the well-meaning but buttinsky mother-in-law, the major leads are all nice people. Snobbish socialites played by Cora Witherspoon and Gloria Holden(back from the dead after playing the lead in the same year's "Dracula's Daughter") add to Robson's paranoiac demand that Loy have Harlow fired. There's never anything to indicate a possible interest other than mutual admiration, that is until one drunken evening in Cuba, and then, it's a major misunderstanding.If there is a real point to this movie, it is the warning of suspicion and gossip, and as a result, there's no real tension. If it wasn't for the three major stars and the typical MGM gloss, this would rank lesser in my ratings.
vincentlynch-moonoi
I thought this was a very good film, mature for 1936, and one of the few films I have seen with Jean Harlow where she didn't play some version of the blonde bombshell, but rather played a "real" human being. All of the major here are played with a subtle maturity that makes this drama seem more like a mid-40s film, rather than a mid-30s film. Clark Gable's demeanor in the film is also quite different from his typical bravado. He plays it straight as a businessman who has a wonderful and beautiful secretary who is just that -- a wonderful secretary. And, as always, Myrna Loy is superb as the wife who may have been cheated on. And that is the crux of the plot -- an innocent business relationship that is misinterpreted by many, leading to the potential of divorce. Jimmy Stewart is still a couple of years away from the big time here, although he is more mature than in a few of his later films...although this is only a supporting role. May Robson, playing Gable's mother, is one of those character actresses to cherish, even though you may not recognize her name.This is a solid story that I highly recommend.
Alex da Silva
Van (Clark Gable) is the boss of a magazine and wants to expand his circulation by buying out a rival. He travels abroad to seal the deal and spends most of his time with his secretary Whitey (Jean Harlow). There are several misunderstandings that leave his wife Linda (Myrna Loy) feeling neglected and betrayed and she files for divorce....There is not much of a plot to this film and the story takes it's time to develop. Apart from the stupid names in this film - Van and Whitey....?? - the cast are good with special mention going to the women. There are interesting sets to look at and memorable scenes include the bedroom scene between Gable and Harlow in Cuba, the confrontation between Harlow and Loy, and the ending. As Harlow seems to be in most of the memorable scenes, I think she comes off best in the film, despite not being the "blonde bombshell" that she is famous for being. She's not that blonde! The film drags and then, all of a sudden, it gets good towards the end with Harlow in all the good scenes.As regards the story, it's waifer-thin but I have to mention May Robson's role as Van's mother, "Mimi". What a bitch! She pulls her son's wife aside and poisons her mind with ideas of a fictional affair between him and his secretary. Bloody cow! Despite the film taking ages to get to the confrontational scenes that we are waiting for, it gets there in the end and you are left feeling that the film has been worth it.
kenjha
The title suggests a comedy, but it's more like a fluffy drama about a woman who starts to become jealous when her husband lavishes too much attention on his secretary. It's fairly well done, but perhaps it would have worked better as a comedy. The cast is stellar. Gable is charming in typical role of the virile male who makes the ladies swoon. Loy is wonderful as the loving wife, a role she played often. Harlow is effectively subdued as the devoted secretary. Stewart, in only his fifth film, shows the screen persona that would soon carry him to super stardom. Unfortunately, all this star power is undermined by the mediocre script.
