The Heavenly Body (1944)

Having recently discovered a comet, an astronomer (William Powell) is so wrapped up in his work that he ignores his beautiful wife (Hedy Lamarr), who turns to astrology for guidance. Directed by Alexander Hall, who directed the popular fantasy HERE COMES MR. JORDAN which dealt with Heaven so I suppose MGM thought he might be the proper director for this unsure mixture of romance and screwball comedy dealing with astronomy and astrology. Alas, poor Lamarr doesn't appear to have the comedic chops (Myrna Loy or Jean Arthur could have done the part in their sleep) for comedy, romantic or screwball, and she drags down almost every scene she's in and Powell seems to be working overtime to compensate for her lack of expertise. The film's comic highlight is a lesson on how to properly drink vodka. If the rest of the movie had been on that level, it might have been something. Watchable ..... just. With Fay Bainter, James Craig, Spring Byington, Marietta Canty and Connie Gilchrist.