After Office Hours (1935)

A rough talking newspaper editor (Clark Gable) fires the snooty society dame (Constance Bennett) working as the paper's music critic. But he rehires her when he sees she can be useful to the paper in opening the door to New York society. They can't stand each other so naturally they fall in love. Written by Herman Mankiewicz (CITIZEN KANE) and directed by Robert Z. Leonard (ZIEGFELD GIRL). Newspaper settings with rapid fire talking editors and wisecracking reporters were a staple of 1930s cinema. This minor entry in the subgenre has its charms, notably the pairing of Gable and Bennett who show how important star power can be to a trifling romantic comedy. There's an added murder mystery element although since we know who the murderer is, it's not so much a mystery as waiting to see when and how he's caught. Audiences liked it enough to make a profit for MGM and it remains a good example of solid film making in the studio system. With Billie Burke doing her patented ditzy act as Bennett's mother, Harvey Stephens, Katharine Alexander, Henry Travers and William Demarest.