Main Cast: Myrna Loy, Melvyn Douglas, Raymond Walburn, Lee Bowman, Bonita Granville
Release Year: 1940
Country: US
Run Time: 96 minutes
Plot
This box-office smash comedy of manners featured the popular Myrna Loy as Margot Sherwood Merrick, the stodgy editor of a glamorous women's fashion magazine. To protect herself from suitors and jealous wives of businessmen, she wears a gold band on the third finger of her left hand and pretends that she is married. But the wolfish artist Jeff Thompson (Melvyn Douglas) is undeterred. After his efforts to romance Margot fail repeatedly, her icy exterior finally melts and the two become involved. She then has to explain the ring to all her cronies. Jeff's idea is to pretend to be her long-lost husband, but this plan backfires and leads to some comic complications. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
Review
To be perfectly honest, Myrna Loy and Melvyn Douglas are not quite as vibrant as Loy and William Powell used to be. That said, there are several very funny exchanges in this polite comedy, and Douglas is, of course, splendid as his usual glib self. Loy, on the other hand, seems slightly subdued this time around, which is odd because she plays a high-powered businesswoman who is supposed to know exactly what she wants. Until, of course, Douglas makes his humorous entrance. Everything works out exactly as you assumed it would all along, but before you get from point A to point B, Loy is offered the rare occasion to try on a Brooklyn accent -- just to upset the overbearing Douglas of course -- and the scene remains the film's funniest. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
Third Finger, Left Hand is a 1940 romantic comedy film. A woman magazine editor pretends to be married to fend off would-be suitors and jealous wives, then regrets her deception when she meets an artist.
The Silent Command •Heritage •Judge Not; or The Woman of Mona Diggings •Secret Love •The Crippled Hand •The Love Girl •Little Eve Edgarton •The Plow Girl •The Eagle's Wing (with Rufus Steele) •On Record •A Mormon Maid •The Primrose Ring •At First Sight •Princess Virtue •Face Value •The Bride's Awakening •Her Body in Bond •Modern Love •Danger, Go Slow •The Scarlet Shadow •The Delicious Little Devil •What Am I Bid? •Big Little Person •The Way of a Woman •The Miracle of Love
