Twin Husbands

The wife of a businessman and his secretary attempt to trick her husband's double into impersonating him so that they can get their hands on what remains of his wealth. Low-budget entry from Invincible offers character actor (and usually screen villain) John Milan a rare lead role as a master safecracker. It begins intriguingly with Shirley Grey and Monroe Owsley inexplicably attempting to kid Miljan into believing its four years later than it actually is. The plot grows increasingly strained with each of many twists until it kind of peters out. Its pre-code status is obvious from the fact that nobody really pays for their crimes - and nearly everyone involved is guilty of some kind of crime...

John Miljan wakes in a strange room with a headache. A butler enters and calls him by an unfamiliar name, but soon breaks down and confesses he is an actor, hired to play the role of a butler for a brief time. It turns out that Shirley Grey and Monroe Owlsley -- the wife and secretary of the man Miljan is to imitate -- are in a plot to steal the last $200,000 in the estate and fly to South America, and Miljan bears an uncanny resemblance to him, which will aid their plans. They do not, however, know who Miljan really is.

It's a cleverly written and performed movie, really a stage play opened up a bit, a delightful Pre-Code movie about a dashing, honest burglar and two dishonest honest people.... or is it three? Or one? Or all of them? Director Frank Strayer demonstrates his talent for farce by turning the screenplay by Robert Ellis and Anthony Coldeway into a simply shot and constantly entertaining movie which kept me wondering what would happen next to the end.