Stewart followed "Next Time We Love" with supporting roles in two commercially successful romantic comedies, "Wife vs. Secretary" (1936) and "Small Town Girl" (1936). In both, he played the betrayed boyfriend of the leading lady, portrayed by Jean Harlow and Janet Gaynor, respectively. Both films garnered him some good reviews. After an appearance in the short subject "Important News" (1936), Stewart had his first top-billed role in the low-budget "B" movie "Speed" (1936), in which he played a mechanic and speed driver competing in the Indianapolis 500. The film was a critical and commercial failure, although Frank Nugent of "The New York Times" stated that "Mr. Stewart the rest of the cast perform as pleasantly as possible."