fred macmurray and melvyn douglas and and jean arthur star in this very loose adaptation of the w. somerset maugham play about a woman with a dilemma that could potentially be scandalous . jean arthur husband ( macmurray ) supposedly drowns and be legally declare dead . arthur marry his best friend ( douglas ) . macmurray then turn up alive a year later . that the simple premise behind this little see film from 1940. jean arthur voice and smile and and comic timing be always impeccable and and this film be no exception . while macmurray and douglas seem awkward in spot and eventually they gel enough to hold this farce together . consistently funny throughout with great dialog and comic situation and comparison have be draw between it and my favorite wife which be actually release later that year . harry davenport shine a arthur fussy live in father . melville cooper be the dour butler . edgar buchanan and tom dugan be great in their brief bit near the end . this be one of those film where cast make all the difference . these pro sell it to u lock and stock and and barrel . i doubt this film could be cast today . of 4 star .