Comments on: If You Could Only Cook

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:19:54 +0000

I have long been a Jean Arthur fan and had seen enough of Herbert Marshall that this was a complete surprise at well they matched up. Marshall is looser than I had ever seen him and it sheds a new light and makes one wonder why he apparently didn’t do more. Jean, as always, is delightful.

Oh, and watch “Too Many Husbands.” Another rare gem from Arthur, Fred MacMurray and Melvyn Douglas.

By: Mr. Blobby

Mr. Blobby — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:04:19 +0000

I think Jean Arthur is a guy thing. An intelligent passive/aggressive blonde. I can’t believe this is on DVD. I’ll buy the whole 4-title set just to get this. Never heard of the others and don’t expect much. This is prime gold – fool’s gold.

By: Jenni, St. Louis

Jenni, St. Louis — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:47:53 +0000

I tivoed this charmer when TCM was showing films of Jean Arthur’s a couple of months ago. This movie is great, as you said in your post. I think you are also right that Arthur’s performance brought out some more energy in Marshall’s, he’s not too serious in this venture. Another great Jean Arthur comedy that aired near the same time as this movie was The Devil and Miss Jones, co-starring Charles Coburn and Bob Cummings. I loved it’s depiction of the common man/worker, Cummings trying to get a union set up at the department store that Coburn owns. Our oldest son watched it with my husband and I, our son works at a grocery store, and we all howled with laughter at the truths of working in an environment where one is constantly serving the public.

By: suzidoll

suzidoll — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:39:22 +0000

I briefly went over the screwball comedy in my class this semester. I did not know about this one. Sounds interesting, but I am with Moirafinnie on Jean Arthur. I am not a fan but can get passed her in most cases.

By: moirafinnie

moirafinnie — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:30:10 +0000

I was delighted to come across this review which included such affectionate accounts of the charm of too little appreciated actors from this period: Leo Carillo & Herbert Marshall.

I will have to try to see this movie in its entirety someday. I have yet to get past Jean Arthur’s presence here. Yes, I am guilty of under-appreciating this actress’ sometimes elusive charm. I’ll try again now that you have made me more aware of a hidden jewel in the screwball comedy treasure trove.