My Dear Secretary (1948)

Sick Product of a Sick System

Captivating movie !

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

I was one of those who found this DVD in a Dollar Store bin and took it home figuring some evening when I had nothing else to do I'd watch it for Kirk Douglas - a long time favorite actor. Well, I finally cracked the seal tonight, and I'm glad I did! This movie was a pleasant surprise. Far from perfect with the unevenness of tone commented on elsewhere, but well worth the time.The slapstick - especially every scene so deftly stolen by Keenan Wynn - rolled along merrily. The romance was somewhat predictable, and the attitudes appear dated - well sure - the movie was released in 1948! Yet even there the film managed to defy expectations - no spoilers, but don't get too settled with how you think things will happen. While the end result may be expected the route is not! A delightful ensemble supporting cast carries their parts well, and a token stab at relevance works better than would have seemed possible in such a featherweight story.Relax, break out the popcorn and let this sweet-natured charmer do its thing. Hopefully your copy doesn't act up and almost ruin the end as mine did - let the buyer beware - you gets what you pays for!

"My Dear Secretary" is an odd film, as the first and last portions of the film vary so much in quality. The first is brisk and funny--the second is very slow and completely different. It's too bad because if the film could have maintained its pace, it would be an excellent and enjoyable picture. Instead, it's just frustrating to watch.The film begins with Laraine Day being hired as a secretary to a successful writer. She's excited by this but her excitement soon wanes as she sees that her new employer (Kirk Douglas) is a very immature and undisciplined guy. Again and again, instead of working on his book, he takes the secretary and his friend (Keenan Wynn) out gambling and on spur of the moment vacations! Despite this portion of the film being hard to believe, it was quite funny--particularly for Wynn, who provided wonderful support. However, completely out of the blue, Day (who is rather conservative) marries Douglas--a wedding that makes absolutely no sense at all. And, as if the unlikelihood of the pairing also threw the writer, the film just languished and stopped being funny. Instead, the marriage soon begins to fizzle and Douglas' attempt to write his next great novel seems to be a bust. There's more to it than this--including Day becoming a great writer herself and a divorce--but none of it made much sense or kept my interest.Rarely have I seen such an uneven film. I wanted to like it a lot more than I did and can say it's, at best, just an amiable time-passer and nothing more.

Every line is a gag in this hilarious romp with Kirk Douglas, Laraine Day, Keenan Wynn and a great support cast. Watching this, and most other comedy romances of the 30s through 50s, it's easy to understand how so many movie fans can conclude that they don't make movies that can compare today. Laraine Day was known mostly for her dramatic roles over the years, including some pretty good film noir. And, Kirk Douglas was more of an action and dramatic actor. But both are good in this comedy in descending straight roles for the running dialogue of wit and wisecracks carried off mostly by Keenan Wynn. The script was excellent and the combination of characters brought it all together nicely for one big hoot of a good time. It's hard to understand the low average rating for this film. With only 350 votes as of the time of my comments, I have to conclude that, except for the few other commentors who saw the great humor, most viewers to date just don't like comedy. Or worse -- they may be modern movie mavens who don't recognize real humor. Perhaps the dialogue is over the heads of the crowds that only recognize constant blurs of mayhem, noise and motion. Given time, and perhaps some more daytime or late night TV airing, this gem of a comedy may catch the eye and tickle the funny bone of more living and breathing humans. If you're one of those, I heartily recommend "My Dear Secretary" for an afternoon or evening of good laughs.

Charles Martin directs this charming and entertaining, but trivial comedy. The all-star cast is the redemption of MY DEAR SECRETARY. Best-selling novelist Owen Waterbury(Kirk Douglas)proves himself to be a die-hard skirt-chaser. When an aspiring novelist Stephanie Gaylord(Laraine Day)becomes his secretary, he decides to give up squiring the ladies and puts all of his attention toward her. No sooner than they marry, Stephanie finds out that Owen's new secretary is not only intelligent, but very beautiful as well. Let the fun begin. Evocative of the 40's, this movie is pretty straight-laced. At times Douglas seems too earnest to be so tempted by women. Day exudes natural beauty. Rounding out the cast: Keenan Wynn, Rudy Vallee and Irene Ryan.