Formulistic romantic comedy, with Rosalind Russell(Roz), the leading lady, as Kendal Browning, and Virginia Bruce, the 'other woman', as Phillis Walden. Handsome, debonair, Brian Aherne is the leading man, as Stephen Dexter, while John Carroll, as Jose, is the odd man out. He's brought to the attention of Phyllis by Roz, as a possible consolation prize, albeit a trumped up one.... Rosalind had just finished her starring role with Cary Grant, in the popular romantic comedy "His Girl Friday". Virginia Bruce would next play the lead in the popular offbeat comedy "The Invisible Woman". Although Brian did other romantic comedies, I most remember him playing Maximillian, in "Juarez". He was perfect for that role, coming across as a natural pompous aristocrat, as he does in this film. The plot involves the need for Dexter to somehow avoid an injunction slapped on his cement business by his local competitors. Dexter's lawyer, accountant and friend(Robert Benchley) suggests he find an instant wife and transfer his assets to her name, as a means of avoiding such. Dexter jumps on this idea(Sounds potentially catastrophic to me). Instead of the 'obvious' choice of his established single executive secretary("Every secretary is in love with her boss"), he focuses on an advertising model(Phyllis), whom he doesn't know. He sends Roz to check her out and make the offer, but the lady turns him down. Roz volunteers to take her place and is accepted. The assets are signed over to Roz. Then, Roz volunteers that she led Phyllis astray. Dexter is hopping mad at first, but settles down. Nonetheless, he asks for a divorce, which Roz doesn't agree to. Later, it turns out that this is a moot decision. In all this chaos, the importance of Dexter having signed over his assets to Roz is lost. In the finale, we have a switcheroo or two. The ending is cute, if unrealistic and rather contrived.
All the main players were excellent. I don't understand why Dexter latches onto the unknown Phyllis: no more beautiful(and perhaps less, with her pompadour hairdo) than the available and willing Roz with whom he had spent 6 years as his executive secretary. I don't know if his scheme of 'hiding' his assets in his wife's name would have stymied the injunction, but the screenplay assumes it would.
All the main players were excellent. I don't understand why Dexter latches onto the unknown Phyllis: no more beautiful(and perhaps less, with her pompadour hairdo) than the available and willing Roz with whom he had spent 6 years as his executive secretary. I don't know if his scheme of 'hiding' his assets in his wife's name would have stymied the injunction, but the screenplay assumes it would.