It's not the cast, but the script and direction, a comedy about two rather disagreeable people with no chemistry in a marriage that barely exists, her attempt to get out of it and his attempt to prevent it from ending, mainly for the matter of his pride. When the audience first meets the beautiful but empty headed Anna Lee, she's flirting with social climbing Gilbert Roland, and her father (Charles Winninger) informs him that she's not free to accept his proposal. Out of the blue, her estranged husband (Ronald Colman) shows up, his reasons for wanting a reconciliation not quite believable.
Certainly Colman and Lee are attractive people, but she's written as a ninny and he's a boring snob. This isn't the dashing Colman of Shangri La or 1780's London or the suave Raffles, closer to Herbert Marshall or Ian Hunter in his staid behaviors. Lee, a British leading lady for nearly a decade, has always been likeable (loveable as matriarch Lila Quartermain on "General Hospital"), but she's not very fleshed out thanks to the weak script so it's difficult to care what happens to either of these characters.
This leads the better material to the supporting players although Winninger and Roland could play their rolescin their sleep. Reginald Gardiner plays even more of a pretentious snob than Colman, but it's funny watching him stick his foot in it every time he speaks. Kay Leslie walks off with the film as the Eve Arden like best friend, her acerbic delivery an absolute delight. Director Lewis Milestone and the one note script are the biggest issues. The art direction is sublime though, very glamorous and art decco.
Certainly Colman and Lee are attractive people, but she's written as a ninny and he's a boring snob. This isn't the dashing Colman of Shangri La or 1780's London or the suave Raffles, closer to Herbert Marshall or Ian Hunter in his staid behaviors. Lee, a British leading lady for nearly a decade, has always been likeable (loveable as matriarch Lila Quartermain on "General Hospital"), but she's not very fleshed out thanks to the weak script so it's difficult to care what happens to either of these characters.
This leads the better material to the supporting players although Winninger and Roland could play their rolescin their sleep. Reginald Gardiner plays even more of a pretentious snob than Colman, but it's funny watching him stick his foot in it every time he speaks. Kay Leslie walks off with the film as the Eve Arden like best friend, her acerbic delivery an absolute delight. Director Lewis Milestone and the one note script are the biggest issues. The art direction is sublime though, very glamorous and art decco.