NR | 1 h 17 mins | Comedy, Romance | 1936
The newspaper business has always attracted the attention of the entertainment industry, particularly filmmakers. From the earliest days of talking pictures, Hollywood has been fascinated by stories about cynical beat reporters, tough editors, scrappy scoop chasers, snobby columnists, and competitive newspaperwomen. The juxtaposition of grit and glamour which characterizes the people who shape the nation’s thinking is perpetually fascinating.
A Clever Story
Carol Baldwin (Arthur) runs a secretarial school with a friend, fellow spinster Helen Davis (Ruth Donnelly). It frustrates them both that many businessmen prefer incompetent but attractive secretaries to plainer women who are efficient.The client who doesn’t seem to prefer anyone is Fred Gilbert (Brent), a magazine editor who has fired several of the graduates Baldwin sent within the day. Frustrated by his pickiness, Baldwin decides to pay him a visit herself. Gilbert assumes that she herself is the new secretary, so he tells her to report to work in the morning. Immediately attracted to the editor, she decides to take the job.
The magazine is a health publication entitled Body and Brain. Gilbert and his right-hand man-fitness trainer, Ernest (Lionel Stander), insist on making the magazine’s employees practice what they preach, including adding frequent exercise breaks into the daily schedule. Gilbert seems pleased with Baldwin’s work, and he quickly introduces her to his flavorless diet. She isn’t sure what to make of this health nut, but she tries adopting his way of life in hopes that he may make her part of it permanently.
While Gilbert transforms Baldwin’s health and wellness habits, the clever secretary tries to implement some changes in the magazine. Despite the hard work the team pours into it, Body and Brain just isn’t selling, much to publisher Mr. Crosby’s (Charles Halton) displeasure.
Conflicting Standards
It’s always interesting to see old movies which feature health fanatics. Today, wellness enthusiasts come in many different forms, often subscribing to trendy diets, like vegan, paleo, gluten-free, keto, and countless others. Fred Gilbert doesn’t fall into any of these definite categories, but he is definitely a vegetarian. It’s both funny and unnerving to see him order a steak made out of ground-up vegetables; Baldwin refers to the substance as “mattress stuffing,” but at least it probably didn’t have the chemicals in today’s meat alternatives.Gilbert is an extremist. He takes his work extremely seriously. In fact, it isn’t just his work; it’s practically his religion. The only problem is that, like most idealists, he won’t listen to advice or suggestions from anyone. Although Body and Brain is floundering financially, Gilbert refuses to even consider Baldwin’s suggestions for improvement. In fact, he fires her when she implements some changes to the layout. He would rather see the magazine go out of business than budge an inch from his preferred standards.
The message to this story is not to be an extremist but to find a logical balance in everything, including health, fitness, work, and social life.
At the beginning of the film, both Gilbert and Baldwin are idealistic extremists, but, as a result, they are lonely. As they get to know each other, they form a great team, helping each other as well as the magazine.
Things aren’t usually that simple, however. Just as Baldwin seems to be turning Gilbert into a reasonable person, the dumbest secretary from her school, Maizie West (Dorothea Kent), ends up in the office. Gilbert, of all people, is easily led astray by her annoying wiles. He almost loses everything before realizing that a life dedicated solely to pleasure is just as empty as one enslaved to wellness.
This is a short but highly entertaining film in these two actors’ careers. It’s a good blend of comedy and drama. Gilbert may exasperate you for a while, but you’ll end up loving all the characters (except West).
