A Disappointing Continuation

Watch something else. There are very few redeeming qualities to this film.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

Misfire MGM comedy that might have worked better with two different leads. Rich brat Joan Crawford meets archaeologist Brian Aherne. Brian's got a thing against rich people so Joan lies and says she's a secretary. Later when he finds out the truth, sparks fly and they yell a lot. But oh those clever writers -- turns out they're just yelling because they're in love. Well they must love each other to the depths of their souls because there's a lot of yelling and fighting in this. It gets worse. The rich people are on the verge of losing everything. So, instead of getting jobs they decide to whore Joan out and force her to marry a rich guy. Anyway, it's all rather unpleasant and not the least bit funny. I didn't really like anybody and the romance was completely forced as Crawford and Aherne had no chemistry.

Brian Aherne and Joan Crawford declare "I Live My Life" in this 1935 comedy. No one can butcher a comedy like Joan Crawford. After I saw "Susan and God," I found out that it was supposed to be a comedy. The problem with Crawford is that she was such a hard worker, and when you work hard at comedy, it doesn't come off. She was much more successful in drama. Brian Aherne, an excellent actor who was better than most of his roles, just didn't have a grasp of comedic style.Crawford plays Kay, an heiress in Greece who meets a handsome archaeologist (Aherne). He falls for her, but she hasn't given him her real name and has told him she's a secretary. When he gets to New York, he can't find her. When he does, he finds out she's engaged to someone else.This could have been much better with Gable and Lombard, or Gable and Myrna Loy. It is a spirited comedy with a terrific supporting cast that includes Aline MacMahon, Arthur Treacher, Eric Blore, and Jessie Ralph. Jessie Ralph, as Kay's grandmother, is a scream.This is somewhat fun, but it could have been so much more.

Tall, dull and handsome Brian Aherne is no match for Joan Crawford in this tepid, loose screwball that never catches fire. Trouper Crawford looks fit and trim riding a donkey backwards as well as stunning in a form fitting wedding gown but Aherne's Terry lacks the male intensity to parry with Joan for the film to balance properly making it a rather lopsided and unsatisfying affair. The only , albeit brief, moments of humor belong to two of the best go to servants in film history, Arthur Treacher and Eric Blore. Spoiled little rich girl Kay Bentley literally falls into an archaeological dig in Greece where she meets Terry O'Neil who is at first annoyed but soon bewitched by Kay. He pursues her back to the states and the two begin a romantically abrasive relationship that continues right up to the altar.As the entitled and rebellious Kay, Crawford's character is given little to work with and undeveloped while Aherne's thick headed and socially inept Irishman is an insensitive but then as now acceptable stereotype. He may have a doctorate but he's Irish and lack of decorum in polite society is to be expected. Support wise, Frank Morgan does his usual dithering and calming influence Aline MacMahon lends council in a typical day's work for both but like the rest of the cast fail to put any life into this formless formulaic that limps along rather than stride.

MGM's desperation for new Crawford ventures wafts over this overstuffed and un-funny 1935 production. The gowns are beautiful, she looks fantastic ... but look for no chemistry between Crawford and Aherne. "Fun" and "silly" escape Crawford's abilities. Yes, she rides a runaway mule, slips down a hill, and falls on her backside ... but all done with a grimly painted on smile. Her discomfort spans the decades.