Too Many Husbands (1940)

A woman (Jean Arthur) marries her husband's business partner (Melvyn Douglas) after the husband drowns at sea. But when the husband (Fred MacMurray) shows up after being rescued from a desert island, she must choose between the two. Based on the play HOME AND BEAUTY by W. Somerset Maugham and directed by Wesley Ruggles (I'M NO ANGEL). This is an immensely likable screwball comedy performed by an ace trio of expert farceurs. Arthur's character gets a bit annoying after awhile when she hems and haws about making a choice but MacMurray and Douglas are in fine fettle as they banter back and forth and even try to physically out do each other to win Arthur's hand. Yes, it's another variation on ENOCH ARDEN by Alfred Lord Tennyson (like MY FAVORITE WIFE and its remake MOVE OVER DARLING). This one was remade as a musical in 1955 with Betty Grable and Jack Lemmon called THREE FOR THE SHOW. With Melville Cooper, Harry Davenport and Edgar Buchanan.