If You Could Only Cook (1935)

Director:

William A. Seiter

Writers:

F. Hugh Herbert (story)
Howard J. Green (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

30 December 1935 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

SHE GAVE UP HER PARK BENCH FOR HIM! HE GAVE UP MILLIONS FOR HER! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Cook | Butler | Park | Arrest | Minister

Cast

Herbert Marshall	...	Jim Buchanan
Jean Arthur	...	Joan Hawthorne
Leo Carrillo	...	Mike Rossini
Lionel Stander	...	Flash
Alan Edwards	...	Bob Reynolds
Frieda Inescort	...	Evelyn Fletcher
Gene Morgan	...	Al
Ralf Harolde	...	Swig
Matt McHugh	...	Pete
Richard Powell	...	Chesty

Runtime:

72 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #1748) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Finland:K-16

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

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 the head of Columbia Harry Cohn, and Capra (who sued Columbia 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. And Capra did.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Lady with the Torch (1999)

Soundtrack:

Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride)

Thin romantic comedy is fluffy material, but fun...

TCM's star tribute to JEAN ARTHUR included a few of her early films, some of which are on the weak side, as is IF YOU COULD ONLY COOK. With a brief running time of an hour and ten minutes, it might have been ideal for the bottom half of a double feature back in the '30s, yet it opened as an A-film at New York's Roxy theater. But what can I tell you? Not every film TCM shows is really what we call a "classic".

HERBERT MARSHALL is Jean's husband, who poses with Jean, as a servant in the home of a mobster. Marshall is a bored designer for an automobile manufacturer mistaken for being unemployed by Arthur who's job hunting and sees an ad for a husband and wife team. She talks Marshall into joining forces so they can find work.

Marshall, who says he's "fishing for something better to do with his life" proves to be quite adept at light comedy rather than the heavier material usually associated with him. His scenes with Arthur have every bit as much sparkle as those she did with stars like William Powell or Cary Grant.

Both stars are warm and appealing in roles that could have been written expressly for them. LIONEL STANDER and LEO CARILLO are amusing in supporting roles as the mobsters who hire the housekeeping team, with Stander suspicious of both of them from the start.

JEAN ARTHUR, as the girl who has faith in Marshall's auto designs, was never one of my favorites but she's on good display here and HERBERT MARSHALL is much less stiff than usual. Basically a romantic comedy, it turns screwball for the frantic ending.

Fans of the stars should find it an enjoyable romp that passes the time pleasantly.

Summing up: Strictly fluff.