This comes off as a frantic, anarchistic version of Roxie Hart(1941)and Chicago(1929). It is loud and silly and has a plot nearly as mad as the psychopathic alcoholic self-proclaimed world's greatest criminologist played by John Barrymore. It lacks some of the wit, but it does reach the manic, anything goes, level of some of the best Marx Brother's movies. Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray are a shockingly dysfunctional married couple. He can't tell a lie and she sees no value in telling the truth. They are as unromantic here as any screen couple has ever been, sort of the anti-Nick and Nora Charles.
Of the six movies in the wonderful Carole Lombard Glamour Collection DVD, this was the fastest paced one. "We're Not Dressing" with Bing Crosby is as wacky and irrational, but it has the leisurely pace of the Hope/Crosby road movies. This is more like a Mel Brooks film. Most screwball comedies are romantic comedies at heart, like "Bringing up Baby" or "It happened One Night." The lack of romance here is noteworthy. Lombard's performance is not very funny, but it is offbeat and one of her best.
Of the six movies in the wonderful Carole Lombard Glamour Collection DVD, this was the fastest paced one. "We're Not Dressing" with Bing Crosby is as wacky and irrational, but it has the leisurely pace of the Hope/Crosby road movies. This is more like a Mel Brooks film. Most screwball comedies are romantic comedies at heart, like "Bringing up Baby" or "It happened One Night." The lack of romance here is noteworthy. Lombard's performance is not very funny, but it is offbeat and one of her best.