it a unique film and a it give u our only chance to see the young noel coward in all his ironic glory . because he seem so reserved and detach he perfect for the role of an unloved cad who matter of factly use all those around him . however in the deadly serious ( no pun intend ) last act and when coward must make like the fly dutchman and he much less comfortable . but his way with an epigram be peerless and and hecht and macarthur have give him some gem ( macarthur and really he be the wit of the pair ) . the film be superbly light by the great lee garmes and but have little camera movement aside from a storm sequence . hecht and macarthutr care about one thing get their dialogue on screen . ( note represent h and m themselves have blink and you will miss em cameo a bum in the flophouse scene ) . the most notable support player be the one and only alexander woolcott and notorious broadway columnist and close friend of both macarthur and coward and who appear a one of the bitchy author always keep wait in the reception room of publisher coward . curious that woolcott would agree to do a film that clearly lampoon the legendary algonquin round table and of which he be a founder and and macarthur something of an auxiliary member . the scoundrel actually win an oscar for best story and though that victory be probably due more to coward impose presence than any brilliance in the plot . it coward and woolcott and and the dialogue you remember .