Wife, Husband And Friend (1939)

A building contractor (Warner Baxter) has a wife (Loretta Young) who has aspirations to become a professional opera singer. Her ambition leads to marital tensions that only increase when an opera diva (Binnie Barnes) takes a liking to the husband. Based on the novella by James M. Cain (MILDRED PIERCE) and directed by Gregory Ratoff (INTERMEZZO). An agreeable comedy that pokes fun at artistic pretensions although I'm not so sure that it's also poking fun at opera. Maybe a little of both. It's a modest farce and the actors seem to be having a good time and I enjoyed seeing Loretta Young, an actress not known for her comedic chops, loosen up. Remade ten years later as EVERYBODY DOES IT. With Cesar Romero, Eugene Pallette, Helen Westley and George Barbier.