If gangster Leo Carrillo could cook, then he wouldn't need to hire someone to take charge of his kitchen. If Jean Arthur wasn't down on her luck, then she wouldn't need to apply for the job. If the job didn't require a husband, since the ad is for a married couple to work as cook and butler, then Arthur wouldn't need Herbert Marshall's help. If Marshall wasn't eager to get away from the stress of his career as an executive, then he wouldn't agree to team up with Arthur.
If Columbia hadn't needed a comedy hit at the box office, then this film wouldn't have been made. But we're glad it was made, because it's quite funny and wonderfully performed by the three main stars as well as supporting player Lionel Stander.
The nice thing about studio comedies produced in the mid-1930s is that they're often presented as broad farces. We fondly call them screwball comedies today. The scenarios and characters usually defy logic. But in a way, these stories provide commentary about the class discrepancies in American society. Here we have Carrillo as a self-made hood trying to gain a foothold in respectable upperclass circles. But of course, he'll never be fully accepted, no matter how good a cook and butler he has.
As for Jean Arthur's character, she's a working class gal trying to scrape by and make ends meet. She falls for Marshall, after he agrees to pose as her husband. Initially, she doesn't know he's a wealthy entrepreneur from a rich background. One of the more amusing moments has Marshall sneak off to his own home to get pointers on how to be a butler from his butler!
It's all rather harmless and an engaging way to spend about 70 minutes of your time. Did the stars make better motion pictures? Of course. But this one has tremendously good entertainment value. If you take the time to watch it, then you're sure to enjoy it.
If Columbia hadn't needed a comedy hit at the box office, then this film wouldn't have been made. But we're glad it was made, because it's quite funny and wonderfully performed by the three main stars as well as supporting player Lionel Stander.
The nice thing about studio comedies produced in the mid-1930s is that they're often presented as broad farces. We fondly call them screwball comedies today. The scenarios and characters usually defy logic. But in a way, these stories provide commentary about the class discrepancies in American society. Here we have Carrillo as a self-made hood trying to gain a foothold in respectable upperclass circles. But of course, he'll never be fully accepted, no matter how good a cook and butler he has.
As for Jean Arthur's character, she's a working class gal trying to scrape by and make ends meet. She falls for Marshall, after he agrees to pose as her husband. Initially, she doesn't know he's a wealthy entrepreneur from a rich background. One of the more amusing moments has Marshall sneak off to his own home to get pointers on how to be a butler from his butler!
It's all rather harmless and an engaging way to spend about 70 minutes of your time. Did the stars make better motion pictures? Of course. But this one has tremendously good entertainment value. If you take the time to watch it, then you're sure to enjoy it.