Wife vs. Secretary (1936) 6.9
The wife of a publishing executive mistakenly believes that her husband's relationship with his attractive secretary is more than professional. Director:Clarence Brown |
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Wife vs. Secretary (1936) 6.9
The wife of a publishing executive mistakenly believes that her husband's relationship with his attractive secretary is more than professional. Director:Clarence Brown |
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| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Clark Gable | ... | ||
| Jean Harlow | ... | ||
| Myrna Loy | ... | ||
| May Robson | ... | ||
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George Barbier | ... | |
| James Stewart | ... | ||
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Hobart Cavanaugh | ... | |
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Tom Dugan | ... | |
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Gilbert Emery | ... | |
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Marjorie Gateson | ... | |
| Gloria Holden | ... | ||
Magazine publisher Van Stanhope is a hard-working, dynamic executive very happily married to his beautiful wife Linda. Although their relationship is is built on unconditional trust, friends caution her about the dangers of allowing Whitey, her husband's extremely sexy secretary, to continue to have access to him. Even Van's mother warns Linda that Van's father philandered during their marriage, and Van, like all men, will eventually succumb to opportunity and temptation. Although Whitey has a faithful boyfriend, she secretly harbors unrequited feelings for her boss. When they take business trip to Havana, circumstantial evidence convinces Linda that the rumors she's heard may have a basis in fact. Written by Gabe Taverney (duke1029@aol.com)
This is a perfect little film, absolutely well-rounded and exquisite. Beautifully scripted, intelligently directed, ebulliently acted.
Clark Gable is the successful publisher, newly married to society lady Myrna Loy who, although very modern and not jealously disposed, begins to suspect that he is carrying on an affair with his bleach-blonde secretary, Jean Harlow. As Gable's mother states, laconically of her son, "You wouldn't blame a boy for stealing a piece of candy".
All fluff, right? Light as air, unsubstantial? Of course it is, it takes masters of their craft to make this plot stick, to make the movie plain unforgettable. Gable was never better, he seems to relish every second he is on screen, and there is none of the masculine stiffness about him that his worst performances have. He is a joy to watch with the always delightful Loy, their scenes together bristle and self-combust, and they are a really sweet, engaging couple. Loy has to be the most sophisticated creature ever to be filmed, she is SO cool and contemporary ("I'm the best, aren't I?", she says with just the slightest sardonic hint.) Harlow isn't given as much to work with, and she has to downplay her sassy sexiness in order not to tip the scales. But she is still almost all Harlow, and they go as far as they possibly could under the Production Code. The scene with Harlow and Gable in the Havana hotel room is all about sex, as we are left in no doubt.
So, watch it and love it. It is as perfect a piece of 30's film-making as you are likely to see.