Third Finger, Left Hand (1940)

The editor (Myrna Loy) of a prestigious Manhattan based magazine has invented a fictitious husband to fend off wolves, suitors and jealous wives. But when she meets an eccentric artist (Melvyn Douglas), she's attracted to him but her deception backfires and disrupts both their lives. Directed by Robert Z. Leonard (THE BRIBE), this romantic comedy is no more than fluff and we pretty much know where it's going. Nonetheless, it's enjoyable for most of its journey especially the first hour. What really makes this routine romcom work is the expert comedic playing of Loy and Douglas. What a joy it is to see to virtuoso farceurs elevating average material by expert comedic timing. Today, Douglas is probably remembered for his late life dramatic roles in films like HUD and I NEVER SANG FOR MY FATHER so that people tend to forget how accomplished he was in comedy in the 30s and 40s in films like THEODORA GOES WILD and NINOTCHKA. Of course, fodder like this is mothers milk to Loy who does it effortlessly. With Lee Bowman, Bonita Granville, Donald Meek, Felix Bressart, Sidney Blackmer and Jeff Corey.