Libeled Lady (1936)

Libeled Lady
Directed by Jack Conway
1936/USA
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Repeat viewing

[box] Warren Haggerty: Gladys, do you want me to kill myself?

Gladys: Did you change your insurance?[/box]

Four of MGM’s biggest stars shine in this newspaper comedy.

Managing editor Haggerty (Spencer Tracy) stands up his fiancée Gladys (Jean Harlow) at the altar for the umpteenth time when he finds out Constance Allenbury (Myrna Loy) is suing the paper for $5 million for libel.  Unable to talk Constance or her father (Walter Connelly) out of suing, Haggerty plots to bring Bill Chandler (William Powell), famed libel fighter, to his rescue.  The idea is that Bill will marry Gladys and then put Constance in a compromising position in which she can truthfully be accused of alienation of affections. The only problem is that Bill is perhaps more of a charmer than Haggerty had reckoned with …

This movie is just as fun as the cast makes it sound.  All are in top form and Powell is particularly good.  He shows some talent at doing slapstick in the fishing scenes.  It’s also nice to see Powell and Loy at the beginning stages of a relationship for a change.  Powell was dating Harlow at the time the picture was made and I thought I saw true love in her eyes in some scenes. Recommended.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI-eY-bU9qg

Trailer