it be well know that irene dunne could sing somewhat more than a little . and i think her talent a a comedienne can only be really understood once one have struggle through a sonata by haydn or a song by debussy and make a success of it . her instrument be her voice and her handling of it be pure musicianship . she could tackle any part . the only thing she couldn not do be to not make a success of it . this film be a perfect example . in it and she channel ruth gordon ( because the play be the thing ) and be feminine and charming and willful and self effacing and generous and protective and combative but never pretentious . she manage to stay as believable a alexander knox be in another difficult role he assume with aplomb . the viewer get to believe in what he be see and to care for it . it be refresh to see a film that be both entertaining and intellectually challenge while push all the right patriotic button . i sincerely hope the entire dunne oeuvre make it to dvd one day because it really hard to keep a secret like that among just a few initiate .