Third Finger, Left Hand

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.