Fast Company

In her whirlwind MGM career, Florence Rice made more than 40 movies from 1934 to 1943, starring opposite a who's who of leading Roberts of the era: six movies with Robert Young, three more with Robert Taylor, and one with her 3rd husband, Robert Wilcox. (OK, Wilcox was less of a who's who and more of a "who's dat?") In this movie, she's in the traditional Myrna Loy role with Melvyn Douglas basically "trying out" to replace the ailing William Powell in the "Thin Man" movies. (Here, Melvyn & Flo are book shop owners solving crimes on the side.) Well, it was not to be, as that kind of on-screen chemistry couldn't easily be manufactured, and fortunately for all involved, Powell recovered in time to heroically resume his signature Nick Charles role. Meanwhile, this movie came and went, Melvyn moved on to bigger and better roles, and MGM's career mismanagement would ensure that Florence Rice would begin moving more swiftly toward her 30-year-long retirement with her 4th/final husband.