Bunny Beatty, Charley Grapewin, Cora Witherspoon

Newspaper comedy doesn't seem like an MGM genre--ink-stained wretches don't go with Adrian gowns and white deco furniture--but Jack Conway, the designated bull in the Metro china shop (Boom Town...( read more  read more... )>, Too Hot to Handle) does what he can to bring some dash and flair to a wildly complicated script. Spencer Tracy is the tough city editor who goes to some spectacular extremes when socialite Myrna Loy files a $5 million libel suit against his paper for calling her a notorious home-wrecker; he hires celebrated ladies' man William Powell to seduce Loy and asks his long-suffering fiancée, Jean Harlow, to marry Powell temporarily so she can play the wronged wife when Loy and Powell are discovered together. The couples crisscross, with frenetic and not entirely unpredictable results, but much of the pleasure here lies in seeing these iconic stars being so thoroughly themselves. The dialogue strains for champagne wit, but the movie's most memorable moment is pure, rotgut slapstick--Powell's bout with an unruly fly-fishing rod. --Dave Kehr

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89% liked it

414 ratings

Unrated, 98 min.

Directed by: Jack Conway

Release Date: October 9, 1936

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DVD Release Date: March 1, 2005

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Flixster Reviews (96)


  • January 14, 2008
    This has to be one of my favorite screwball comedies. This grand film from MGM studios stars the best coupings of; Myrna Loy, Williams Powell. Spencer Tracy, & Jean Harlow.

    I love this film and it is truly a flm on top of my MUST SEE list. No matter in this comedy whom you en...( read more)d up with you are a winer no matter what. Other than the hit Thin Man series this is the other best vehicle for Loy & Powell. And the powers of Harlow & Tracy make it a very special comedy with great costumes, funny story line and more. Check this comedy staple out!
  • December 5, 2007
    A fun and witty movie with an incredible cast. One of the great classic underrated screwball comedies of the 30s. This was the first Jean Harlow movie I've seen and my interest is definitely piqued. Spencer Tracy proves that he was just as great at comedic roles as he was at dram...( read more)atic ones. And of course Powell and Loy are nothing short of stupendous here as they share tender and silly scenes here--the raft scene really sticks out as does the fly fishing scene. Damn fun stuff.
  • January 3, 2009
    If William Powell, Myrna Loy, Spencer Tracy, & Jean Harlow are all in a movie together then you know it's greatness. Very entertaining screwball comedy with a rare teaming of Spencer Tracy and William Powell, who are great and I would have liked to see them do more films togethe...( read more)r. A must see if you are a fan of the actors or the genre.
  • November 3, 2009
    Fantastic comedy!!!!! Superb acting throughout. Jean Harlow was incredible, as was William Powell, Myrna Loy, and Spencer Tracy. Highly recommend this one. I would watch this one over and over again!!!
  • September 18, 2009
    What a funny plot. Jean Harlow is superb and Spencer Tracey is plain funny, specially William Powell. Amazing classic romantic comedy.

    77/100
  • December 11, 2008
    nothanks not my kinda thing
  • December 10, 2008
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  • August 9, 2008
    The fishing scenes is gotta be one of the funniest running gag ever!
  • July 3, 2008
    want to see this because it was nominated for best picture at the oscars
  • April 27, 2008
    Amusing - though not quite hilarious screwball comedy featuring the well known team of William Powell and Myrna Loy plus Spencer Tracy and Jean Harlow. The fishing scene with Powell is very funny indeed, and the one liners from the as usual angry Harlow are always good for a laug...( read more)h or two (or three or four).

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