Theodora Goes Wild

Irene Dunne takes top billing here, but as usual it's Melvyn Douglas who steals the show - this time alongside an on form Thomas Mitchell. It's the latter man, "Jed", who is the editor of the local ne... Irene Dunne takes top billing here, but as usual it's Melvyn Douglas who steals the show - this time alongside an on form Thomas Mitchell. It's the latter man, "Jed", who is the editor of the local newspaper who has spent a small fortune on the serialisation rights to a best selling and rather steamy novel. The local women's guild types are outraged and threaten him with the ultimate sanctions - the disapproval of the "Lynn" family. Thing is, though, we quite quickly learn not only is the paper selling like hot cakes, but that one of that very family - using the pseudonym of "Caroline Adams" (Dunne) is the one doing a bit of the George Eliot. This is where "Grant" (Douglas) comes in. He designed the book sleeve, smells a rat and quickly discovers the book's true identity. What now ensues sees a series of comedic spats between the two - who are obviously destined for... The writing is pithy at times, exposing the hypocrisy and double standards of a population who do anything but practice what they preach in a town of busy-bodies and gossip-mongers well led by a perfectly cast and mischievous Spring Byington. It's entertainingly paced with plenty of quick-wittedness throughout and though maybe there's little jeopardy as to the story's trajectory, there's bundles of chemistry between Dunne and Douglas and this is well worth ninety minutes.