"Take a Letter, Darling" is the very good comedy that Rosalind Russell and Fred MacMurray made. Two things keep it from being a top comedy. One is the heavy overtone of the unscrupulous doings of Russell's character. That tends to overpower the considerable humorous dialog of her role. The second is a lingering sense that the chemistry just doesn't click with Russell and MacMurray.
Russell played many more dramatic roles than comedy, and although she could do comedy well, it was sort of hit and miss. MacMurray, on the other hand, excelled in comedies - more than half of his 98 film and TV credits were for comedy. He played opposite most of the Hollywood actresses who did comedy.
In this film, Russell plays A. M. MacGregor, an ice-cold, hard as a rock, success-driven Wall Street executive in the advertising business. MacMurray is Tom Verney, a penniless painter who needs a job to be able to eat. Because he fits the mold of the handsome male she can use as a ruse for her purposes, MacGregor hires him. Even though he catches on quickly, and plays his role to the hilt, Verney finds this work distasteful. He's only doing it to get enough money to take off in a small house trailer for Mexico where he can paint to his heart's delight.
All audiences know what to expect in the end of movies like this. But, it's hard to believe these two falling for each other in the short time and with their relationship. While the story is nothing special and fairly simple, the screenplay is superb, with a script filled with witty lines and humor. And, the film has a very good, small supporting cast.
With the advertising business serving as the main plot for this film it will probably be of interest mostly to middle-aged and older adults. My eight stars are for an exceptionally clever script, with good production qualities and good performances.
Here are some favorite lines.
A. M. MacGregor, "Never fall in love with we, will you?" Tom Verney, "Don't worry. I couldn't fall in love with you if I wanted to." MacGregor, "Why not?" Verney, "Because you're a beautiful brain and beautiful clothes - no temperature, no pulse, that's all."
Mr. Horner, "And your hat? Miss MacGregor wouldn't stand for it. She definitely would not stand for it." Tom Verney, "It's my head. Get me a hat that folds flat."
Mr. Horner, "And, uh, how does the coat feel?" Tom Verney, "It's too tight." Horner, "Just where is the coat too tight?" Verney, "All over." Horner, "Maybe so, and maybe not." Verney, "I said the coat's too tight. Get me a larger one or I'll spank you."
A. M. MacGregor, "I'm sorry - I must have fainted." Jonathan Caldwell, "It's probably the altitude - we're on the fourth floor. Show her to the door, Moses."
Jonathan Caldwell, "If you'd care to faint again, would you mind doing it in the hall?"
Jonathan Caldwell, "It couldn't be, could it, that you think you'll need a little help with my sister?" A. M. MacGregor, "No. I'm sure that your sister and I will get along splendidly. It's just that Mr. Verney is one of the most brilliant minds in advertising, and we may as well have the benefit of his ideas." Caldwell, "Suit yourself - she may fall for him at that. How about 8?"
Jonathan Caldwell, "Well, from the looks of things up to now, you're going to get the contract and lose your man." A. M. MacGregor, "MY man? Huh! He's just a bit of hamburger I brought along for your wolf."
Proprietor (grocer), "I see you got yourself a new boy." A. M. MacGregor, "Uh huh." Proprietor, "Looks all right from here - but so did the last one." He laughs and then MacGregor laughs.
Tom Verney, "Deliberate instructions to make some hungry Southern fried chicken fall for me. A handful of ideas that aren't my own. Pretending to be Mr. Big just back from Washington. I met guys like that. They make me sick to my stomach."
Jonathan Caldwell, "Do you dance?" A. M. MacGregor, "Why, yes." Caldwell, "My four wives danced - let's not."
A. M. MacGregor, " I represent an advertising agency, not the league of homeless creampuffs."
Tom Verney, "Look, you wanted the contract. My instructions were to get it. And if it means sitting around on a plantation drinking mint juleps with a beautiful blond, I can take it."
A. M. MacGregor, "There's just one more thing I must say. Never in my life have I seen a man make a bigger fool of himself over a woman." Tom Verney, "Check!" MacGregor, "Prancing around the floor there like a great Dane chasing butterflies." Verney, "Check!" MacGregor, "You never even asked me for a single dance." Verney, "Check!"
A. M. MacGregor, "We'll see who's top man around here." G. B. Atwater, "Well, I know I'm not."
A. M. MacGregor, "I should beat my brains out in New York so you can convince her you're an encyclopedia with muscle."
A. M. MacGregor, "You? What ideas could you possibly have between juleps?" Tom Verney:, "Oh, I think now and then. I'm not completely primitive?"
A. M. MacGregor, "Do you think what you're doing with that Caldwell woman could be worth a hundred dollars to me?" Tom Verney, "Shhh! Not so loud. If Ethel finds out you're only paying me a hundred, she'll report you for cruelty to executives."
A. M. MacGregor, "What about the ideas I sent down?" Tom Verney, "Help me with the boots, will you? Straddle it. Pull!" (As he pushes her rump with his other foot.)
A. M. MacGregor, "Some of these sample layouts haven't even been opened." Tom Verney, " Well, I, uh, I showed her the first ones you sent down and she didn't like them, so I told her they were your ideas and we decided to ignore the rest."
