The Lady Is Willing (1942)

A stage actress (Marlene Dietrich) rescues an abandoned baby and discovering her maternal instinct decides to keep it. However, she needs a husband in order to adopt the child. To that end, she proposes a marriage of convenience to a doctor and medical researcher (Fred MacMurray). Directed by Mitchell Leisen (MIDNIGHT). An uninspired screwball comedy that gets all sappy at the end by putting the infant's life on the line. Marlene Dietrich provides some star wattage although she's all wrong for the role. Dietrich has no talent for screwball comedy and watching this I kept on thinking how an Irene Dunne or Claudette Colbert could have effortlessly coasted through it. As the male lead, MacMurray is fine but the by the numbers screenplay proves a Herculean task for any actor to deal with. Even Dietrich's most ardent fans would have a hard time defending this one! With Aline MacMahon, Arline Judge, Ruth Ford, Marietta Canty, Elisabeth Risdon and Stanley Ridges.