Third Finger, Left Hand

While this comedy is about the romantic complications facing a woman executive and the artist who loves her, "Third Finger, Left Hand" provides a rarely seen dignified Black role. When first we see Sam (portrayed by veteran African American actor, Ernest Whitman) he is a train porter speaking in an 'uneducated' manner - employing the type of language structure used by script writers of the time to reinforce negative racial stereotypes. Later, however, a Sam is revealed to have taken college correspondence courses for years and to be someone quite knowledgeable in matters of Law: able to quote court rulings and present effective legal arguments on behalf of his client, the artist. Ultimately, Sam is the hero of "Third Finger, Left Hand", making it possible for the protagonists' love to triumph.

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.

I watched this movie just the other night and found it refreshing and yet sweet. I was also amazed how much this movie reflects a lot of problems that some women in positions of authority have with the stigma of not being married. Besides that I will say that the modern romantic comedies borrow greatly from movies such as this yet even though I have seen many romantic comedies I found this movie fresh and almost new probably due to fact that the cliques nowadays evolved from this movie. I will also admit I love Myrna Loy and with a certain degree of bias I enjoy all her movies and love her mere presence in the movie and I was caught unaware of her improvising skill when she did her Brooklyn accent. I found Mervyn Douglas a good match though had a feeling that the character written may have been for William Powell. I found it quick and enjoyable and this is why classics always bring a smile to my face.

I suppose by 1940 the public and the critics just were used to seeing Myrna Loy with William Powell. At least that's what it said in the Citadel Film series book on Myrna Loy's films. In any event I think that the public and the critics gave short shrift to this film that had her co-starring with Melvyn Douglas. They have some funny moments together.

Third Finger Left Hand has Myrna Loy as a successful career woman a type that Katharine Hepburn and Rosalind Russell essayed in their sleep. It's curious because today this would be unthinkable, but to guard against both jealous wives and horny men both married and single, Myrna keeps a wedding ring in the proper place as the title indicates. It works maybe all too well as there are no men in her life nor prospects of same.

That doesn't deter free spirit itinerant painter Melvyn Douglas who in a hail mary type move pretends to be the husband she pretends she has. That makes it all real hard to explain to her family like her father Raymond Walburn, sister Bonita Granville, and young attorney Lee Bowman who would like to be the man in her life.

There are two really funny moments the first belongs to Myrna who when at Niagara Falls Douglas runs into some straight laced folks from his small Ohio hometown, Myrna turns the tables on him and with her impression of a gun moll really mortifies those poor people.

The second is when on a train Douglas drafts a Pullman porter played by Ernest Whitman as an attorney. Whitman actually has studied law and goes head to head with Lee Bowman and it's a draw.

Despite only so-so reviews Third Finger Left Hand is a real comedy gem and a great film credit for its stars.

Melvyn Douglas and Myrna Loy are both excellent in their roles as a couple who are fake-married. Her character made up a fictional long-distance husband for work, and his pranks her by showing up as as that husband.

It's not Tolstoy but it's a lovely little comedy with excellent performances. I used to be surprised to see Melvyn Douglas in leading-man romantic roles. But while he may not be conventionally handsome by modern standards, he makes up for that in charm and wit, not to mention excellent comic timing.

One reviewer said that it was silly to think that a single female executive needed a pretend marriage unless she was a closeted lesbian. But you that you can't judge the premise of a 1940 film by 21st century standards. The Production Code would not have allowed a film to have a lesbian character unless that she was doomed to some sort of awful end as comeuppance for her supposed "deviancy". The studios followed those rules back then. To see why a single woman might wish to feign being romantically unavailable at the workplace 'back in the day', view Mad Men. It will give you some perspective.

This is an engaging and enjoyable comedy with good performances not only from the leads but from the supporting actors as well.