Wife vs Secretary **** (1936, Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, Jean Harlow, May Robson) – Classic Movie Review 3686

Director Clarence Brown’s classy 1936 comedy provides a star role for May Robson as Mimi, Clark Gable’s mother, who stirs up his wife Linda (Myrna Loy) to be jealous of his secretary Whitey (Jean Harlow).

The screenplay in this highly polished and pleasing comedy seemingly effortlessly finding something still fresh and fragrant on the old marital jealousy and battle-axe mother-in-law themes.

There are charming performances by all four of the wonderful Thirties stars and there is the usual MGM polished production and cast backup to boost a deliciously witty script (by Norman Krasna, Alice Duer Miller and John Lee Mahin), based on a magazine story by Faith Baldwin.

Director Brown handles it all just beautifully.

Also in the cast are George Barbier, James Stewart, Hobart Cavanaugh, Marjorie Gateson, Charles Trowbridge, John Qualen, Gloria Holden, Gilbert Emery, Margaret Irving, William Newell, Leonard Carey, Hilda Howe, Tommy Dugan, Jack Mulhall, Frank Elliott, Greta Meyer, Frank Puglia and Holmes Herbert.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3686

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