THE PUBLIC MENACE (1935)

Not really all that good, overly-complicated story about a lowly newspaper report (George Murphy) who is tricked into marriage by a source (Jean Arthur) that ends up not having any information.  At the same time he's fired and can't afford a divorce.  More needlessly complicated things happen and soon these two are mixed up with a trigger happy gangster who has every cop in town hot on his tail.

Arthur does the best she can with this mess of a script, but it's honestly beyond repair.  I watched the entire thing, but I didn't care at all what happened cause you know no matter what stupid shit they get into everything is gonna work out just fine at the end and it does.  Weak humor, uneven pace, no chemistry between Arthur and Murphy, ridiculous story.  Skip it.

MORE THAN A SECRETARY (1936)

I might have been "pleasantly surprised" with the same year's ADVENTURE IN MANHATTAN, but I was pretty bored with this one.  The idea is promising...the owner (Arthur) of a secretarial school/business is curious why one of her customers (Brent) keeps returning her secretaries so she goes to investigate.  The owner mistakes her as a new secretary, but when she starts to correct him she notices how beau-hunky he is and takes the job!  That sounds hilarious, but it's not.

First off Brent runs a health magazine that borders on being a cult.  He forces his employees to exercise throughout the day, read mountains of health literature and eat nothing but bland health food.  Mmmm, a steak made out of "vegetables and mashed nuts"...sounds great!  In other words, this dude is a complete square.  But Arthur sticks with him and then when she finally gets him to loosen up a bit what does he do?  He goes out and bangs another secretary that's been ragging Arthur on how old she is!!!  Of course in the end everything works out great and Arthur and Brent hook up.  Lucky her.

The film isn't a total bust, there's a few humorous moments but for the most part I never even cracked a smile.  For hardcore Arthur fans only.  If you need me I'll be in my room watching THE MORE THE MERRIER.

YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU (1938)

James Stewart is the son of an ultrawealthy banker and his ultrasnooty wife, but as love would have it James falls for Jean Arthur who has quite the eccentric family.  And even worst...they're middle-class!  Yikes!

To say that YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU is idealistic and overly sentimental is an understatement, but you know what?  I still love it and I always get a little teary-eyed during that harmonica scene.  Yea, the story is completely unbelievable, but who cares?  It's a fun time.

Quick pace, great ensemble cast full of familiar faces and happy tears.  What more could you ask for? Well, some closure on that Grandpa's IRS situation would be nice, but it never happens.  I guess his troubles just disappear kinda like they do in films of this kind.  Highly recommended.