Good 30s Films: Wife vs. Secretary

1936 Comedy
From MGM
Directed by Clarence Brown

Starring
Clark Gable
Jean Harlow
Myrna Loy
James Stewart
May Robson
George Barbier

Remakes: The Women

There have been three versions of The Women, the story of marriage, infidelity and gossip among a large circle of friends.  The most popular one was in 1939, certainly the template for the next two.  It was based on the Broadway smash by Claire Boothe Luce.  All three maintain the same basic story and have glittering casts.  One thing that made the play and the first and third movie versions particularly memorable is that there were no men.  In some circles these days, that doesn't sound like a bad idea.

Billy Haines: Run Out of the Movies

I don't think I've ever seen any of his 51 movies although I've glommed some clips from several of them and was flabbergasted at how femme he was on screen (and off).  I've always recalled him because of that and for one other thing.  His boss, Louis B. Mayer, fearsome head of MGM, told him to give up his live-in relationship (with boyfriend Jimmie Shields) or leave the movies.  William Haines left the movies.  How very admirable.