Design For Scandal (1941)

An unethical newspaper publisher (Edward Arnold) plots with a reporter (Walter Pidgeon) on his paper to have the reporter romance a judge (Rosalind Russell) and place her in a compromising position so that she can be blackmailed. Directed by Norman Taurog (BROADWAY MELODY OF 1940), this unsuccessful attempt at a romantic comedy was Russell's last film under her MGM contract. With the rare exception (like THE WOMEN), Russell was wasted at MGM who didn't seem to know what they had on their hands. Loaned out to Columbia for HIS GIRL FRIDAY (1940) and Russell was able to show what a sensational comedienne she was. MGM casting her in this romcom was an attempt to rectify their misuse of her talents but the script did her no favors (though the movie was a hit) and she blossomed away from the studio. It might have benefited with a leading man more suited to this kind of material than Pidgeon (like Fred MacMurray), who could often be charming but not here. It's not terrible by any means, just blah! With Anne Revere, Lee Bowman, Mary Beth Hughes and Barbara Jo Allen.