Personal Maid's Secret

Lizzie (Ruth Donnelly) worked for the Bentleys on Park Avenue. She quits in frustration and goes to the employment agency. When she encounters working middle class Joan Smith (Margaret Lindsay), she decides to work for her even at a lower pay. She starts helping the Smith family climb up until they even take over the Bentley estate.

I almost died when little Bobby says, "Mommy. Please buy this one." It's the only laugh in the movie and an outlier in many different ways. That needs to be a meme. The story is rather odd. For most of it, Lizzie never explains why she doing what she's doing. Then the movie does a big reveal and it comes out of left field. It's a soap opera move.

I love this movie! The opening music is up tempo and very 30's. There are great character actors and the scenes of Park Avenue and double decker buses are wonderful. Another reviewer said the story was a stretch because the couples' first apartment was not so nice and if they lived there how could they afford a maid. I think that the story is believable because the furniture was correct for the time and their status and the fact that they had so many rooms - living room, dining room, at least 3 bedrooms, kitchen and maid's quarters - definitely put them in a class that could have supported a maid and the salary mentioned. If you enjoy looking at the architecture, furnishings, etc this is a real period piece. I am just old enough to remember some of those buildings on Park Avenue and it is a good glimpse of old NY.

The actors are a treat too. The casting seems perfect to me. Even the young boy does a good job.

It is a very upbeat story so just sit back and enjoy it as the audiences of the time must have. Goodness prevails and the maid's secret is safely in the happiest of endings.

In the 1930s and 40s, thousands and thousands of B-movies were made in Hollywood. These films were meant to be the lesser film on a double feature---a lower budgeted film that was churned out very quickly. Not surprisingly, these films also featured lesser-named actors. Now many of them were rather poor BUT many were actually as good or better than the accompanying feature! So, B didn't necessarily mean bad or inferior. A great example of this is "Personal Maid's Secret". Despite only clocking in at 58 minutes (and most Bs were between 55 and 65 minutes), it's a dandy film for many reasons. To me, the biggest reason was that it starred Ruth Donnelly. Donnelly was a wonderful actress but was never a starring actress--mostly because she was not beautiful and was usually cast as a supporting player. She was fine in these roles, but "Personal Maid's Secret" showed she COULD carry a film--though, oddly, she did not receive top billing. This was given to Margaret Lindsay--who clearly was NOT the lead in the film. The other reason is that the film was well written from start to finish--and especially good near the end of the film, where it took some nice twists. All in all, a very satisfying B--one you should see if you have a chance.

By the way, some might blanch at the comments the little boy makes in the film about 'colored people', though I think he was adorable and the comments UNUSUAL, not racist. See the film and see what I mean.

With a run time of only fifty-eight minutes, this film is surprisingly satisfying.

A maid goes to work for a young family who can barely afford her services, but she uses subtle influence to elevate their social aspirations. Ruth Donnelly plays the maid, Lizzie, who uses craft and kindness to motivate the Smith family. Along the way, we learn that she harbors a secret.

The script is admirably economical as it creates connections between many of the characters, leading to conflicts and attractions. Through it all, Lizzie works her magic, leading to a revelation of the secret and an interesting, if brief, commentary on social classes.

This is a charming film. Watch for Arthur Treacher as a snooty but likable butler who is Lizzie's long-time friend.

Not even Hazel working for the Baxters in the comic strip or on television did as much good as Ruth Donnelly does for nominal stars Warren Hull and Margaret Lindsay in Personal Maid's Secret. With her offhanded suggestions thie couple manages to rise several notches on the social scale.

Donnelly should have gotten top billing, she has the title role and the film does revolve around her. As per the title she does have a secret and it''s a beaut. She has to reconcile with her past as well and does.

for you Arthur Treacher fans he's once again a butler and something happens to him that you won't see in any of his other films.

A nice product from Warner Brothers B picture unit and for fans of donnelly and Treacher.