Review of Third Finger, Left Hand

Here is a good example of a film with good intentions that go slightly awry. One could presumably place it in the screwball comedy category but that may be overstating the case. It is intended to be amusing, and for the most part, it lives up that standard.While some may carp that Melvyn Douglas lacks the same credentials as a Cary Grant,he does have an expert sense of timing in his delivery that overcomes his essential lack of charisma.Myrna Loy gives it the old college try and never disgraces herself.(Although she didn't manage to hide her heavyset ankles in this one and we realize why she would never be considered a pin-up queen despite a face that always lit up the screen.) There is only one scene that goes on and on becoming less funny by the minute and that is between Douglas and the unfortunate Lee Bowman playing drunk.If it had been cut the continuity would have survived quite nicely. All told, you could spend time with this one and not feel badly cheated.Better than mediocre, less than scintillating.