Love Crazy (1941)

After his wife (Myrna Loy) suspects him of infidelity and starts divorce proceedings, an architect (William Powell) feigns insanity in the hope of delaying the divorce until he can get her back. Directed by Jack Conway (LIBELED LADY), this screwball comedy should be better considering the talent involved. But even with a tired script, it's amazing what the entire cast does with the material. Once again, in the age of the auteur theory and "the script's the thing" philosophy which tends to diminish the importance of the actors' contribution, it proves how important actors are. William Powell does some inspired work here (his hot shower scene had me laughing out loud), the man was a genuine comic genius. Myrna Loy is relegated to playing straight man to all the lunacy around her though she does have one good scene in the courtroom. The movie takes a bit to get its engine going but once it does, hilarity is plentiful. The first rate supporting cast is terrific and includes Jack Carson, Florence Bates, Gail Patrick, Donald MacBride, Sara Haden, Sig Ruman, Sidney Blackmer, Clarence Muse and Elisha Cook Jr.