Wife vs. Secretary (1936)

71% of users liked it
(983 ratings)

Magazine publisher Clark Gable is happily married to Myrna Loy. Clark's devoted, super-efficient secretary Jean Harlow may have once harbored a secret desire for her boss, but she's perfectly content with boyfriend James Stewart. Accompanying Gable on a crucial business trip, Jean answers the phone… More Magazine publisher Clark Gable is happily married to Myrna Loy. Clark's devoted, super-efficient secretary Jean Harlow may have once harbored a secret desire for her boss, but she's perfectly content with boyfriend James Stewart. Accompanying Gable on a crucial business trip, Jean answers the phone in her boss' suite. Myrna, on the other end of the line, misunderstands, thereby setting the stage for a series of subsequent misunderstandings. As one can see, nothing much really happens in Wife vs. Secretary. The film is a vehicle in every sense of the word, totally reliant on the appeal of its stars. But it works beautifully, and remains as entertaining now as it did sixty years ago. One film historian has wondered what Wife vs. Secretary would have looked like had it been made before the imposition of the production code: would Jean have really had an affair with Clark, thereby giving Myrna something to really worry about? No matter; while it may have been racier, it's not likely the film could have been any more entertaining than it already is. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 29 min.
Directed By: Clarence Brown
Written By: John Lee Mahin
Genres: Drama, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Feb 28, 1936 Wide
On DVD: Jun 20, 2006
Studio: MGM

No Critic Reviews Found…

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

A normal drama of a suspicious wife and her husband who may or may not be cheating. It's predictable and boring, but the acting is good.
Michael G

Generally obvious with a good cast. Myrna Loy is so cute in this movie it actually hurts. The star power is the only thing worthwhile in a tale of jealousy and workaholics. The supporting role from Jimmy Stewart made me kind of sad--namely the scene towards the end where he calls… More
Generally obvious with a good cast. Myrna Loy is so cute in this movie it actually hurts. The star power is the only thing worthwhile in a tale of jealousy and workaholics. The supporting role from Jimmy Stewart made me kind of sad--namely the scene towards the end where he calls Harlow. Wife Vs. Secretary isn't the slapstick comedy I was expecting, but worth watching if only for the cast and set design.
jay n

four great stars in the service of an ordinary story make this worth watching
Doctor S

Megawatt cast stuck in a dimestore novel. They way they cranked 'em out in those days, they can't all be winners. Neat to see the stars in atypical roles - Clark Gable as affable millionaire, James Stewart as jealous boyfriend, and Jean Harlow the innocent secretary… More
Megawatt cast stuck in a dimestore novel. They way they cranked 'em out in those days, they can't all be winners. Neat to see the stars in atypical roles - Clark Gable as affable millionaire, James Stewart as jealous boyfriend, and Jean Harlow the innocent secretary falsely suspected of being the maneater she usually portrays! Myrna Loy has the most thankless role as the suspicious wife. Stewart and Harlow have the best scene in his parked car as Jimmy flashes the brilliant timing and nuance he would become famous for. I actually felt sorry for Harlow at the end, even though it was supposed to be a feel-gooder. "Don't look for trouble where there isn't any because if you don't find it, you'll make it," the sage moral to this slight cinematic fable.

Cast

            Clark Gable as Van Stanhope

            Jean Harlow as Helen "Whitey" Wilson

            Myrna Loy as Linda Stanhope

            May Robson as Mimi

            Hobart Cavanaugh as Joe

            James Stewart as Dave

            George Barbier as Underwood

            Gilbert Emery as Simpson

            Margaret Irving as Edna Wilson

            Marjorie Gateson as Eve Merritt

            Gloria Holden as Joan Carstairs

            Tom Dugan as Finney

            Hooper Atchley as Postal Clerk

            Eugene Borden as Ship's Officer

            Frederick Burton as Trent

            Leonard Carey as Taggart

            Maurice Cass as Bakewell

            Andre Cheron as Frenchman

            Clay Clement as Herbert

            Guy D'Ennery as Cuban Waiter

            Frank Elliott as Mr. Barker

            Paul Ellis as Raoul

            Richard Hemingway as Bridegroom

            Holmes Herbert as Frawley

            Tom Herbert as Business Man

            Hilda Howe as Mary Connors

            Charles Irwin as Information Clerk

            Edward J. Le Saint
            
            Mary MacGregor as Ellen

            Myra Marsh as Miss Clark

            Greta Meyer as German Cook

            Harold Minjir as Williams

            Jack Mulhall as Howard

            William Newell as Tom Wilson

            Aileen Pringle as Mrs. Barker

            Frank Puglia as Hotel Clerk

            John Qualen as Mr. Jenkins

            Nina Quartero as Telephone Operator

            Tom Rowan as Battleship

            Philip Trent as Elevator Boy

            Charles Trowbridge as Hal Harrington

            Lucille Ward as Scrub Woman

            Niles Welch as Tom Axel

            Helen "Whitey" Wilson as Jean Harlow

            Tom Mahoney as Policeman

            Helen Shipman as Bits
See full cast