Third Finger, Left Hand (1940)

Director:

Robert Z. Leonard

Writer:

Lionel Houser (original screenplay)

Release Date:

11 October 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Magazine editor Margot Merrick pretends to be married in order to avoid advances from male colleagues...

Plot Keywords:

Deception | Editor | Magazine | Career Woman | Sister

Cast

Myrna Loy	...	Margot Sherwood Merrick
Melvyn Douglas	...	Jeff Thompson
Raymond Walburn	...	Mr. Sherwood
Lee Bowman	...	Philip Booth
Bonita Granville	...	Vicky Sherwood
Felix Bressart	...	August Winkel
Donald Meek	...	Mr. Flandrin
Ann Morriss	...	Beth Hampshire
Sidney Blackmer	...	Hughie Wheeler
Ernest Whitman	...	Sam
Halliwell Hobbes	...	Burton

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #6660) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Company:

Loew's

Trivia:

Jimmy Conlin (Ernest) and Dick Paxton (Messenger Boy) are in studio records/casting call lists for their roles, but they are not seen in this movie. Most of the men and women at the railroad station listed in the cast are shown in longshot and are not recognizable, but are assumed to be there.

Soundtrack:

The Riddle

Rare 1940 dignified Black role

While 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.