Another William Powell/Myrna Loy film. I think Powell actually came off better than Loy in this case. There didn't seem to be as much for her to do here.Stephen and Susan Ireland (Powell and Loy) are about to celebrate their fourth wedding anniversary when they are crashed by Susan's overbearing, can't-take-a-hint mother (Florence Bates) who manages to fall on the rug she gives them as a present. Susan has to go pick up an aunt from the train station, leaving Stephen to baby-sit Mom. He has just learned that old flame Isabelle (Gail Patrick) has moved into the apartment downstairs and enlists her help in getting away from the old battleax. Mommie Dearest, who isn't nearly as hurt as she was pretending, overhears the exchange and gleefully tells Susan on her return. Susan decides to teach Stephen a lesson by being "caught" with Isabelle's husband but ends up with the wrong neighbor (Jack Carson). Hijinks ensue.
Things take a turn for the serious when Susan finds out that Stephen had lied to her about taking a cab to a bar with Isabelle and she files for divorce. Desperate not to lose his wife, Stephen decides to delay the proceedings by being declared insane. Susan, smelling a rat, has him committed. Soon they both find that it's much easier to get into a nuthouse than out of one as all of Stephen's cute quirks (elaborate anniversary traditions, drunken party acts) are counted as signs of mental imbalance.
This one was a little too screwball-y for my personal tastes. I like Powell better when he's trading quips rather than tripping over himsef. Plus, I think Myrna is better at physical comedy than he is. She has this adorable bewildered expression that carries the gag further and makes her continued gaffes seem more believable. Still, their chemistry is as outstanding as always. I don't know that they've made a bad movie between the two of them.
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