Third Finger, Left Hand

Myrna Loy and Melvyn Douglas are fantastic, respectively, in this screwball comedy about a career woman with a phantom husband and the man from Wapakoneta, Ohio, who decides to fill-the-bill. The subsidiary roles are wonderfully taken as well. The only quibble I have with the movie is that it is a -wee- bit long for its material, but viewers looking for some light diversion will not be disappointed by this farcical laugh-romp.

Myrna Loy wears a wedding ring on her "Third Finger, Left Hand" in this 1940 comedy, but she's not married. As Margot, the editor of a popular womens magazine, she tells everyone she's married to a guy named Tony. Why? Because every other woman who's had the job has lost it because of the publisher's wife. He's got a roving eye. Meanwhile, Philip Booth (Lee Bowman) wants to marry her, but she just can't seem to find Tony to get a divorce.

Then Margot meets Jeff Thompson (Melvyn Douglas), an artist who figures out that there's no Tony. So he shows up at her house and announces that he is Tony. Now she's in a pickle, and she can't divorce him without marrying him first.

This is a cute comedy, nothing special, with good acting by the always reliable Loy and Douglas. As he sailed through all these supporting roles, Douglas was hiding a serious, incredible dramatic talent. Fortunately, once he was older and there was no studio to cast him as the other man, he was able to show it.

One interesting thing about this film is the role of the train porter Sam, played by Ernest Whitman, who is pulled into service by Jeff to delay the settlement negotiations en route to Reno. Sam is your typical train porter of those days until he tells Jeff that he's taken law correspondence courses. He then recites law to Philip and Margot and delays the divorce. Very unusual for those days, as is the wonderful character of Oliver Cromwell Jones in "Crash Dive" who is one of the soldiers on the submarine. These good roles for African Americans were few and far between back then.

I just saw this for the first time and I really loved it. For one thing, I especially like Loy and Douglas. They were great in Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House so I was already familiar with the two of them interacting (even though they were not each others' love interest in that movie.)

I liked the contrast of her being in/from NYC and him being from Ohio. Of course, I'm from Ohio too so maybe I was a bit biased. :)

It seems that sometimes these comedy/romances can seem a bit forced but I just found this one fun, pleasant and naturally flowing. I highly recommend it.

The story is fun even if predictable, but I have to wonder, what was Jeff Thompson (Melvyn Douglas) thinking? But I'll get back to that.

Margot Sherwood (Myrna Loy) is the editor of a magazine who has a fictitious husband - Tony Merrick - so that she won't get hit on by all of the men who work for the magazine back at a time when smoking and sexual harassment were acceptable in the workplace. It works, but then along comes somebody - artist Jeff Thompson (Melvyn Douglas) - that she would like to see romantically, so she goes out on the town without telling Jeff about the husband. Unfortunately, a drunken would be suitor is also out on the town too and mentions said husband. Jeff is shocked, and Margot explains it was an impulsive never consummated marriage that she intends to end in divorce, but that she cannot find Tony and he is in Argentina somewhere. Jeff uses his journalist contacts in Argentina - funny thing for an artist to have - and discovers there is no husband.

And that is why I ask, what was Jeff thinking when he barges into Margot's home and claims to be said husband? Her dad calls the press, because Margot's family is a prominent one it ends up in the newspapers, and he introduces himself to all of her friends. This could end several ways - For sure Margot is going to cool to him for doing this, maybe she might even announce he is a fraud - there is just no easy out. She does have a bit of fun at his expense when they run into his friends from Ohio and she does her best Jean Harlow as Jeff's saucy hard boiled wife, shocking the small town Ohioans.

So all of this is why Jeff is awful. Margot is awful because, to get out of this predicament legally, she convinces an attorney friend of hers that she is in love with him and would marry him if free of the pretend Mr. Merrick AKA Jeff, and to accomplish this she needs his talents as an attorney. The actors are what make this film, but it is really hard to look at them as nice people after all of the using that both leads do in service of the plot.

One thing nice about the old studio system - MGM had a deep bench of contract players in 1940, not the least of which is Felix Bressart and his homely puss, dishing out homespun compassionate advice in a great supporting role. Also possibly the earliest American film with an African American attorney as a plot device.

"Third Finger, Left Hand" is an outstanding comedy film that stars Myrna Loy and Melvyn Douglas with an excellent supporting cast. Everyone gets in on the humor. Most notable about this comedy is its original and novel plot of a career-seeking woman faking that she is married. The whole idea is to keep suitors away so that she can establish herself and be a success in the business world as the publisher of a woman's magazine.

Loy's Margot Sherwood says she's married to a guy named Tony Merrick. He's a globe-trotting character in some business that we never learn about. Margot met him in Rio de Janeiro where she went for a vacation a year ago. She fell for him in one night and they got married. So, when she came back to New York with a ring on the third finger of her left hand, the wolves stayed away. Only a couple of amorous characters continue to pursue her. They think she should divorce her uncaring husband who stays away. But her ploy at least keeps the boss away, Mr. Russell. And, Margot becomes friends with the boss's wife, instead of another ex-female manager of her husband's magazine. Previous female managers lasted no longer than a few months because of Mr. Russell's attention.

Meanwhile, arriving in New York by ship from Europe, is globe-trotting artist Jeff Thompson, played by Douglas. The meeting of the two lead characters aboard ship begins a hilarious love triangle that involves the third lead, Lee Bowman, as Philip Booth. And, that anchors this comedy that moves between riotously funny scenarios, to hilariously corny and funny scenes.

The original plot has a first-rate screenplay that is filled with witty dialog and funny exchanges. The film has a wonderful cast of well-known and supporting actors. Felix Bressart is superbly funny as August "Gussie" Winkel. Donald Meek, whose last name describes his physical build and usual character persona, is completely out of his familiar character. His Mr. Flandrin is a high-falutin art dealer who barks out orders and scowls at anyone who gets in his way. Bonita Granville is very funny as the teenage sister of Margot, Vicky Sherwood. And, Raymond Walburn's smile alone invites smiles, as he plays Margot's father, Mr. Sherwood. And, there are more.

One can imagine how this will turn out - as do most comedy romances. But, in getting to that point, this film has some different angles and twists that make it quite original. And, it's that originality - with these actors - that makes the film so funny.

A very humorous thread runs through much of the film. It has to do with the State of Ohio - especially its name. Jeff is from Wapakoneta, Ohio, and he likes his home state very much. He's looking forward to returning home to resume his painting career. After traveling around the world and bringing back a large portfolio of professional paintings to sell in New York, he is anxious to return to the sanity of Ohio. He doesn't want to spend more than one night in the cockeyed big city.

The thread that gets repeated several times is an old song about Ohio. The chorus reads, "What's round on the ends and high in the middle? It's o-HI-o." He hums and sings a couple of lines at different times. The railroad porter sings the song, and by the end of the movie, Margot is humming it.

In one scene toward the end, some hometown folks recognize Jeff. When they strike up a conversation, Margot elbows her way between Jeff and a reverend. She butts into the conversation with a street lingo that leaves one in stitches. Loy is superb at this and it reminds one of a similar scenario carried out by Irene Dunne in "The Awful Truth."

Well into the 21st century, "Third Finger, Left Hand" stands the test of time well. It's a very funny story that people of all ages should enjoy. It's truly one of the great comedies at the close of Hollywood's golden era.

Here are some favorite lines. See the Quotes section under this IMDb Web page of the film for many more laughs.

Jeff Thompson, "Tell the folks your idea for doing my den, angel." Margot Sherwood Merrick, "Well, uh, I want to do it very simply. Uh, just a short flight of steps and a gallows. That's the theme. It's going to be very modernistic." Jeff, "She has the most unconventional ideas."

Mr. Sherwood, as the last dinner guest leaves, "Such a lively woman." Jeff Thompson, "Yeah. So interested in other people's lives." Margo Merrick, "And with nine of her own to live."

Jeff Thompson, "When you do get married, you certainly won't need any practice hen-pecking." Margot Merrick, "I'm not hen-pecking." Jeff, "Listen, my Aunt Edith killed my Uncle John hen-pecking. I oughtta know a hen-pecker when I hear one."

Mr. Flandrin, "Young woman, I can be just as unethical as you can."

Jeff Thompson, "Yes sir, you certainly put that over. You know, to look at your face, nobody'd ever think you were such a good liar."

Margot Sherwood Merrick, "Whadda ya think we're doin' in Niagara Falls - huntin' woims?"