Wife vs. Secretary

film by Brown [1936]

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July 20, 2026

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Wife vs. Secretary is a 1936 American comedy film directed by Clarence Brown. The movie stars Jean Harlow, Clark Gable, and Myrna Loy. Loy plays the wife of Gable's character, while Harlow portrays his secretary. The film explores the dynamics and potential conflicts that arise when a wife and a secretary are involved with the same man. Myrna Loy, known for her roles as sophisticated and resourceful characters, was often promoted as an ideal wife by her studio. This film, featuring a notable cast, delves into themes of romance and workplace relationships within the context of a comedy.12

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Clarence Brown
The 1930s
…rare foray into comedy with Wife vs. Secretary, which featured the notable cast of Jean Harlow, Gable, and Loy. He had less success with The Gorgeous Hussy (1936), which starred Crawford as Peggy Eaton, the daughter of a tavern keeper whose friendship with Pres. Andrew Jackson (Lionel Barrymore) becomes a…
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…rare foray into comedy with Wife vs. Secretary, which featured the notable cast of Jean Harlow, Gable, and Loy. He had less success with The Gorgeous Hussy (1936), which starred Crawford as Peggy Eaton, the daughter of a tavern keeper whose friendship with Pres. Andrew Jackson (Lionel Barrymore) becomes a…
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Jean Harlow
…Man, China Seas (1935), and Wife vs. Secretary (1936). After the censorious Motion Picture Production Code was strengthened in 1934, she counterbalanced the “racier” aspects of her screen image with a newly acquired sophistication and an appealing vulnerability. Her films from that period included Reckless (1935), Suzy (1936), and Libeled…
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…Man, China Seas (1935), and Wife vs. Secretary (1936). After the censorious Motion Picture Production Code was strengthened in 1934, she counterbalanced the “racier” aspects of her screen image with a newly acquired sophistication and an appealing vulnerability. Her films from that period included Reckless (1935), Suzy (1936), and Libeled…
Read More