Stars: Kirk Douglas, Lorraine Day, Keenan Wynn, Irene Ryan, Rudi Valle
Best Quote: Is it informal, or shall I bathe?
Absurdly underrated (5.7 IMDB rating) My Dear Secretary is an uneven fluffy comedy with some excellent performances by Day, Wynn, and the supporting cast. The first 40 minutes or so, are briskly paced and full of laughs. Unfortunately, the movie then runs out of steam and fizzles out. Performances? Wynn - for once - is actually funny although his character doesn't make a lot sense. Why would playboy Douglas have a live-in Gay Best friend? As for Kirk, comedy wasn't his forte - he didn't have the necessary timing. Douglas either reads his lines too slowly or shouts them in an exaggerated "Madcap" way. Also, his character is supposed to be likable and silly - but Kirk can't keep up the charm for long, and an underlying tone of anger and menace keeps popping up.
The best thing about the movie is the supporting cast, including Grady Sutton as a befuddled bad writer, Alan Mowbray, Florence Bates as the officious Land lady, the beautiful Helen Walker, and a warm and solid Rudi Valle. Gertrude Astor has one of the funniest scenes where she storms into Douglas' Apartment to get her things. "My lipstick. My vase. My Typewriter. Your Frankfurters".
Summary: An uneven comedy with a weak lead performance by Kirk Douglas and an excellent female lead and supporting cast. Rating ** 1/2
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