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Special Features
- Vintage musical short: "New Shoes"
- Oscar-winning Crime Doesn't Pay short: "The Public Pays"
- Theatrical trailer
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
For such an unheralded movie, Wife vs. Secretary provides a surprisingly satisfying time, aided immensely by the old MGM gloss and a trio of big stars. Clark Gable, so secure in his manly-man pictures, reminds us that he could be a dab hand at lightweight romance; his role is a typical Gable world-beater, a publishing tycoon with a lavish Manhattan lifestyle. But here he's happily, blissfully married, and his scenes with wife Myrna Loy are playful and cute. The only glitch is, his secretary is Jean Harlow, and despite Gable's fidelity, tongues will inevitably wag. Harlow here has none of the boisterous sass of her earlier pairings with Gable--she really is just an efficient and plucky secretary, even if boss and assistant trade charged glances during a business trip to Havana--and so the movie's tone is pretty genteel. The greenhorn James Stewart, still a couple of years from stardom, plays Harlow's mild but suspicious suitor, and he gets stuck with obligatory dialogue urging Harlow to give up her job and settle down with him. (The movie is interesting in showing how productive and fulfilled Harlow is by work rather than marriage.) MGM mainstay Clarence Brown directed, with an approach so dignified that nothing, alas, ever gets too giddy. Still, Gable and Loy are so fun together the movie succeeds. For Thin Man fans who can't get enough of Loy and the idea of marriage-as-playtime, this is a good fix. --Robert Horton
Product Description
Of course Linda Stanhope trusts her husband Van. Their marriage is based on love and respect. Who cares if Van's secretary has the face of an angel and the body of a chorus girl? Who says a blonde bombshell can't type and take dictation? But people are whispering. And when Linda calls Van's hotel room late at night during his solo business trip to Havana, guess who answers. Four Golden Era greats ? Clark Gable, Jean Harlow and Myrna Loy as the romantic triangle and a lanky newcomer named James Stewart as Harlow's beau ? gild this sophisticated comedy-drama that takes a savvy look at men, women and love. Wife vs. Secretary: Guess who wins!
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
WIFE VS. SECRETARY (directed in 1936 by Clarence Brown) is a brisk programmer starring three of MGM's best of the period: Clark Gable, Myrna Loy and Jean Harlow. It was based on a story by Faith Baldwin which originally appeared in Cosmopolitan Magazine.
Van Stanhope (Clark Gable) is a successful publishing tycoon whose marriage with lovely wife Linda (Myrna Loy) is put to the test when rumours about an affair with Van's secretary 'Whitey' (Jean Harlow) start to circulate. At first, Linda dismisses it as gossip, but later comes to the conclusion it must be true, following a whirlwind business trip to Havana...
Jean Harlow is the one who'll really surprise you in this movie. In a performance worlds away from the zingy dames she played in "Dinner at Eight" and "Red Dust", Harlow is incredibly naturalistic with her character of 'Whitey', Van's efficient, no-nonsense secretary. Observe closely her scenes with Clark Gable (especially during the Havana sequence) and her final scene with Myrna Loy. Very rarely did Harlow convey so much by doing so little on the screen.
Gable and Loy conjure up a very healthy screen chemistry. WIFE VS. SECRETARY also features an early performance from James Stewart, playing Harlow's lanky boyfriend. The supporting cast includes May Robson, George Barbier and Hobart Cavenaugh.
The DVD also includes the 'Crime Does Not Pay' short "The Public Pays" (which recycled the sets used in WIFE VS. SECRETARY), musical short "New Shoes", and the trailer. (Single-sided, dual-layer disc).
Van Stanhope (Clark Gable) is a successful publishing tycoon whose marriage with lovely wife Linda (Myrna Loy) is put to the test when rumours about an affair with Van's secretary 'Whitey' (Jean Harlow) start to circulate. At first, Linda dismisses it as gossip, but later comes to the conclusion it must be true, following a whirlwind business trip to Havana...
Jean Harlow is the one who'll really surprise you in this movie. In a performance worlds away from the zingy dames she played in "Dinner at Eight" and "Red Dust", Harlow is incredibly naturalistic with her character of 'Whitey', Van's efficient, no-nonsense secretary. Observe closely her scenes with Clark Gable (especially during the Havana sequence) and her final scene with Myrna Loy. Very rarely did Harlow convey so much by doing so little on the screen.
Gable and Loy conjure up a very healthy screen chemistry. WIFE VS. SECRETARY also features an early performance from James Stewart, playing Harlow's lanky boyfriend. The supporting cast includes May Robson, George Barbier and Hobart Cavenaugh.
The DVD also includes the 'Crime Does Not Pay' short "The Public Pays" (which recycled the sets used in WIFE VS. SECRETARY), musical short "New Shoes", and the trailer. (Single-sided, dual-layer disc).
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By C. Vincent
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Spoilers here a little -- This film is fun to watch. I love the rapport between characters. Clarke Gable is wonderful as the faithful (but almost not) husband of Myrna Loy. I was quite surprised at the nice acting performance turned out by Jean Harlow. Too bad she did not live to make more films. James Stewart is sparkling, as usual, in his small part in this film. Though labeled a comedy--there are some serious lessons here relating to ill-timed words of suspicion on the part of the mother of the Clarke Gable character. This creates havoc which is not always funny, but definately interesting. The quality of this DVD is excellent. The sound is good and the picture nice and clear. All in all, if you are a fan of older movies--you will enjoy this one.
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I have watch this movie over and over again, and each time I view it, I find it more enjoyable as ever. This movie is about misunderstanding between husband and wife, which is cause by other individual plant seeds of doubt in the ears of a loving wife, about her husband relationship with his secretary.
Of course, nothing is going on between the business man and his secretary, but the wife believe something must be going on, base on what she is told, the poor husband can't figure out what is wrong with his marriage, because he has done nothing wrong.
In this movie you got three of the greatest actors and actresses of all time, Myrna Loy, Clark Gable and Jean Harlow.
Ms. Loy wore some of the greatest gowns ever worn by any actresses in any movie, and she look stunning as always in them, and sexy as ever. Ms. Harlow is equally stunning and sexy, and Gable played one of his best roles ever in a movie, of course "Gone with the Wind" is his best role, but this is close second or third, (in my book).
Ms. Myrna Loy performance was so good, I don't know why she was not nominated for an award. Ms Loy stole this movie, get it you will not be disappointed.
Of course, nothing is going on between the business man and his secretary, but the wife believe something must be going on, base on what she is told, the poor husband can't figure out what is wrong with his marriage, because he has done nothing wrong.
In this movie you got three of the greatest actors and actresses of all time, Myrna Loy, Clark Gable and Jean Harlow.
Ms. Loy wore some of the greatest gowns ever worn by any actresses in any movie, and she look stunning as always in them, and sexy as ever. Ms. Harlow is equally stunning and sexy, and Gable played one of his best roles ever in a movie, of course "Gone with the Wind" is his best role, but this is close second or third, (in my book).
Ms. Myrna Loy performance was so good, I don't know why she was not nominated for an award. Ms Loy stole this movie, get it you will not be disappointed.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Four Screen Legends Battle It Out For Love
Gable, Loy, Harlow, and Stewart comprise the players in this breezy romantic comedy with plenty of witty-one-liners. Read more
Published 1 month ago by H. Fenton
3.0 out of 5 stars
Dated but interesting 1930s "women's film"
This is a neglected film -- it's not even listed in many cinema reference books, which is surprising considering its all star cast -- which will appeal to certain of today's... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Jon Corelis
5.0 out of 5 stars
The reason they invented the 1930s: "Where does your lipstick go when...
WIFE VS. SECRETARY (Dir. Clarence Brown, 1936, 88 minutes) is a wonderful Clark Gable vehicle and not a bad placement for Myrna Loy as his devoted wife. Read more
Published 9 months ago by E. Hernandez
3.0 out of 5 stars
A nice romantic story
With Actors such as Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Myrna Loy and James Stewart you might assume this was one of those all-star romantic comedies that are made just for the sake of... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Fernando Gastelo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Harlow at her very best as an actress
"Wife vs. Secretary" is a mid 30s romantic comedy that isn't all that romantic and certainly not that funny, but what it does have is 3 of the top stars of the era - Gable, Harlow... Read more
Published on March 24, 2011 by Dr. James Gardner
5.0 out of 5 stars
Harlowlujah
Not like I'm like that Rick Blaine in North Africa in 1942 who was misinformed about the waters or anything but I was somehow hoodwinked entirely for a considerable length of time... Read more
Published on April 10, 2010 by Noddy Box
2.0 out of 5 stars
Typical MGM opus and a poor print
MGM, the Tiffany of studios in Hollywood's heyday, specialised in star power. "Wife versus Secretary" is a good example of that power. Read more
Published on April 2, 2010 by Douglas M
5.0 out of 5 stars
Better than 5 stars!
What a gem! This movie is smart, well directed and wonderfully acted. If I had to pick one movie that showcased the best acting of these Hollywood legends this would be it. Read more
Published on January 28, 2010 by Duane Brewster
5.0 out of 5 stars
"A husband! How nice." -- Myrna Loy
"Are you happy?" -- Van teasing Linda
"Happy? I don't know! You've never shown me anything else. Read more
"Happy? I don't know! You've never shown me anything else. Read more
Published on August 30, 2009 by Bobby Underwood
5.0 out of 5 stars
WifeVsSecretaryDVD
Quirky, adorable and charming. Gable and Loy almost give you a cavity in their most enduring portrayal of a loving, societal couple. Read more
Published on August 28, 2009 by CinderK
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