THIRD FINGER, LEFT HAND
US, 1940, 96 minutes, Black and white.
Myrna Loy, Melvyn Douglas, Raymond Walburn, Lee Bowman, Bonita Granville, Felix Bressart, Donald Meek, Sydney Blackmer, Ernest Whitman, Halliwell Hobbes.
Directed by Robert Z. Leonard.
Third Finger, Left Hand is a very entertaining screwball comedy in the MGM tradition, especially with Myrna Loy and a part that might have been written for William Powell, her co-star in many similar films. This time it is Melvyn Douglas who had been playing leads with Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell.(Later he was to win to Oscars for Best Supporting Actor, for Hud and for Being There.)
The title obviously refers to marriage. Myrna Loy easily portrays a career woman, editor of a magazine, pretending to be married so that she is acceptable to her staff as well as to the wife of the roving-eyed boss. She is able to keep up the pretence with the help of the firm’s photographer, Felix Bressart, who writes letters in the fictitious husband’s name. Lee Bowman portrays a lawyer who is in love with her and would like her to divorce her absentee husband. Raymond Walburn is her father and Bonita Granville her younger sister. There are some amusing cameos from Donals Meek as a fussy art entrepreneur and Sydney Blackmer as would-be suitor.
More importantly, and noted by many people, Ernest Whitman, an African American actor, portrays the porter on the train, doing the waiting and talking in the usual character fashion until it is revealed that he has been doing law by correspondence and is able to hold his own in legal discussions.
The film is one of the least known by director, Robert Z. Leonard, who at this time was making such films as New Moon, Pride and Prejudice, When Ladies Meet.
1. A pleasing screwball comedy? Of the 30s and 40s? The relevance of this issues, especially for a career woman and marriage in later decades?
2. MGM production value, black and white photography, the publishing house and its officers, the mansion, the wharf on the ship, diners? The musical score?
3. The strong cast, their reputations for this kind of film?
4. The portrait of Margot, strong woman, editor, with the boss and his floating, with his wife, the new member of staff, her reliance on August, friendship, writing the letters from her non—existent husband? Philip and his wanting to marry her? The background of her father, and her younger sister?
5. Going to the wharf, making the mistake about the paintings, the manager of the gallery, her being rude to him, claiming to represent the artist, discovering the mistake she had made, tried to brush it off, his persistence, the meeting with the manager, her skill in bargaining and getting the best possible contract for Jeff?
6. Jeff, his background, proud of his background in Ohio, not liking New York? His being upset with Margot’s behaviour? His gratitude towards her? Going out, her ringing him at the hotel, the evening at the restaurant, the drunken suitor and revealing the truth? Her describing the non-existent husband by looking at one of the staff (as you’d done so for the private detective, describing August)? Jeff and his being upset?
7. Philip, wanting to marry her, wanting a divorce? But having to get married in order to get the divorce?
8. Jeff, investigations in South America, his decision to impersonate the husband, arriving at the home, the father delighted to meet him, the sister delighted, the reaction of the Butler? Margot shock, wanting to get rid of him, the guests arriving? The awkwardness of the meal and Jeff enjoying himself?
9. Staying the night, Margot ousting him onto the balcony, the storm, the extra blanket, soaking, their both getting colds, being upset? His telling the truth to Philip? His getting the legal papers, ranging Niagara Falls for the wedding, helping during the cold I standing on his head?
10. Niagara Falls, the wedding, the lecture from the officiate? Sitting on the bench, waiting, the people from Ohio please to see Philip? Margot and her accent and pretending to be a woman from Brooklyn?
11. The aftermath, the documents, her upset the thinking twice, the photo at the novelty parlour? Jeff and his being upset? The success of his exhibitions? The decision to go on the train?
12. The three in the carriage, Jeff and his waking people up, the bright idea to ask Sam, the porter, to impersonate a lawyer? The African American actor in 1940? The role of porters? His correspondence course? Knowing the law – and his keeping more than pace with Philip?
13. Arriving in Ohio, the crowd to meet Jeff, arranged by Margot? The happy ending?
