If you are a James Stewart fan, this is a film to avoid. It starts with his stupid character Playwright Gaylord 'Gay' Esterbrook, who is a combination of Peter Morgan Jr (His character in "Vivacious Lady" who marries entertainer Francey (Ginger Rogers) on his first trip to New York), Jefferson Smith from "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington", and David Graham (The killer in "After The Thin Man). If you have seen these films, you know that they are very naive characters who are not what anyone expects (Particularly at the end). Here he marries actress Linda Paige (Rosaland Russell), also on his first trip to New York. However, he becomes a nasty, drunken, cynical character who cheats on Linda with 'Mandy' Swift (Genevieve Tobin), and becomes the exact opposite of his Jefferson Smith character. In fact, becomes a hater to the degree of Graham (Who really despises Selma Landis( Elissa Landi) to the extent of framing her for murder, while being a spineless weasel). The only reason this film does not get zero stars is Russell (Although I certainly preferred Rogers (And the supporting cast) in "Vivacious Lady"). I even wonder if they used the word "Gay" in the homosexual context back in 1940, because you think of gay, cynical and drunk (Sometimes together) and playwright in the same context. NOT terms you use to describe Jimmy Stewart. In other words, Stewart fans... Avoid.
Review of No Time for Comedy
