sbasu-47-608737 First of all, out of the 5 stars, about 2 are to Ms Russel. Else it is probably 2 star or 3 star movie, all of which goes to smooth flow of the story.Though I say story here, but that is a poorly executed one. None of the character-built up is mature, starting with the two main protagonists. Both the lead actors are - well ready to jump in casting - or should I say business - coach, at least almost, at the drop of a penny, and the definition of morality is strange. The hero is ready to walk out (on the heroine), when he considers her offer to be of becoming her Mister ( masculine of Mistress) , but is ready to be a Gigolo without much ado, and even does that part admirably (from her angle) ! He does need money, but that is for his hobby, to go to Mexico for painting, and he was walking off her even then on the mister offer. Heroine is of course ready to have a relationship with her clients, to get an order. It might not have been to physical stage, but probably because Hayes won't have accepted it. Otherwise I don't see how she could have deflected all the clients. There goes the two main protagonists. Then the role of the two beaus on the quadrangle, Mr and Miss Caldwell.Multi millionaire, Caldwell (McDonald Carey), after four costly alimonies behind him, is ready to pay the fifth one to Ms Russel, after marrying her of course, despite being perfectly aware that she is madly in love with Tom (McMurray. Naturally for another, sooner or later (probably quite sooner) divorce and alimony. He gets her to accept his proposal, but on a cleverly manipulated (and stupidly behaved by his opposition, Tom) rebound, and after putting his man-eating sister (Constance Moore), loose on Tom ! It sometime reminds me of the World War propaganda movies of Hollywood, where the Nazis and SS were shown to be stupid beyond belief, and even some idiotic American (or British) hero would take care of a full battalion of them. Here of course the idiot wasn't Nazi/SS but the hero, Tom.There would have been nothing to gain for either siblings, all to loose, in terms of the double alimony, sooner or later. And just to think of ! The two in love, staying in close proximity (on account of being married to the siblings) the ember simply can't be covered in ash, it would have flared quickly.The sister looked to be more intelligent, she flirted, even almost proposed, but probably she understood and respected the play-condition, which her brother, already burnt several times, didn't. Even the ending seemed to be too hurriedly brought, and the way the director tried to sort out the equation, didn't look convincing. Since this is a Russel movie, one could just manage to stand it.

dougdoepke The first half-hour sparkles. Tom (Mac Murray) is hired as a male secretary to what turns out to be a female (Russell) advertising executive. Worse, A.M. (that's her name) insists the tall good-looking secretary act as her beck-and-call escort. Remember, those were the days of strictly defined gender roles that were being transgressed by the arrangement. Hence, it's a setup with all sorts of entertaining complications. Meanwhile, Tom sees his masculinity slipping away, playing second-fiddle to a woman even if she is a generous paymaster. Those early scenes crackle with amusing by-play and are beautifully performed by two of Hollywood's best. I just wish the versatile Mac Murray had gotten the recognition his talent deserves. However, once the focus shifts to complications with the Caldwells (Carey & Moore), the movie settles into more familiar and less sparkling terrain. Nonetheless, the results remain a fine example of studio craftsmanship from the '40's. Screenwriter Binyon, for example, was renowned for the wit and satirical abilities that show up here, while director Leisen certainly had the right touch for the frothy material. Note, for example, how many of his scenes don't end with a conventional cut-away from cast principals. Instead, Leisen ends the nightclub scene with two extras engaged in some card-playing business, or the scene that ends with a bellhop extra walking a dog up the hallway. These are colorful touches from a director who obviously cares.Anyway, in my book, the movie's an imaginative little comedy from the studio that certainly knew how to do them, Paramount.

bkoganbing It's too bad that director Mitchell Leisen wasn't working today and making Take A Letter Darling. If he did there would be a whole lot more explicit gender bending in this one.Not that this film isn't good. In fact it's witty and bright and shows Rosalind Russell at her best. In her autobiography Russell describes this film as the first in her career woman roles. I'm supposing she isn't counting His Girl Friday, I guess Russell thought that Hildy Johnson had a job as a reporter as opposed to a career. After all she was trying all through the film to get away on her elopement and honeymoon with Ralph Bellamy.But in Take A Letter Darling, Russell is a partner with Robert Benchley in an advertising agency. She can't keep a secretary and for good reason, she's got some specific night work requirements for a secretary and she demands the male gender as requirement number one.In the gay world that Mitchell Leisen was part of, it's called hiring a beard. So many did it back in the day when the closet ruled. Many of the gay stars were always paired with public female dates lest there be any whispers about their sexuality. I'm sure it was the same in the business world.Russell hires free spirited artist Fred MacMurray to squire her around and keep jealous wives at bay and to deter husbands from getting any ideas about some after office frolicking. In fact she sends MacMurray out to a favorite men's shop of hers where she gets him outfitted the same way Gloria Swanson took care of William Holden in Sunset Boulevard.In real life Russell would have hired a gay man for her purposes, but since the mere mention of gay was out of the question, the heterosexist MacMurray is hired. They double team husband and wife George Reed and Margaret Hayes to land one account.But an even bigger challenge presents itself with brother and sister tobacco heirs, Macdonald Carey and Constance Moore. Carey's been married four times already and Moore is a mint julep sucking southern belle who looks at MacMurray like a Virginia ham.Take A Letter Darling holds up very well today although a knowledge of the mores of the times would certainly help younger viewers. This is definitely a film that could stand a remake, a more honest and explicit film about the practice of bearding.

kenandraf Very good love comedy film that will satisfy any fan of the genre who understands 1940's lifestyle.One of Rosalind Russell's best movies.McMurray was in his full glory prime here.Nothing spectacular here,just good old love comed fare done with some degree of pride.....