"Personal Property" is one of the outstanding movies in a small sub-genre of comedy films based around butlers or maids. Some are butlers or maids in the story, but most are characters who must assume the roles for some reason. Most of the comedy comes in those positions. Robert Taylor has that distinction in this film, taking second billing to Jean Harlow. The plot had been used once before -- "Man in Possession" of 1931. But it's not been overused, and here it makes for a wonderful story with an excellent cast in its own right.
Among the many pluses of this film, the dialog is superb. The film is filled with witty and funny lines, especially between the leads. Harlow, as Crystal Wetherby, and Taylor, as Raymond Dabney and Ferguson, have wonderful chemistry. Then there are the antics and hilarious situations. The dinner scenario is one of the funniest such segments in filmdom. Finally, the supporting cast is first-rate with superb performances.
Reginald Owen, as Raymond's brother, Claude Dabney, is the master of "balderdash" on the silver screen. No other actor could puff himself up so absurdly to play the snooty, self-bloated and insulted English snob. Owen is at his best at that in his role here. Forrester Harvey is a delight as Bailiff Herbert Jenkins. And, a perennial favorite as a maid in so many movies of Hollywood's golden age, Una O'Connor adds to the humor. The rest of the cast, with some very eccentric characters, add to the humor and quality of this film.
I must take exception to the comments of a couple of regular IMDb reviewers whom I especially appreciate and respect. I think Robert Taylor is perfectly cast as Raymond Dabney in this film. And, that "Personal Property" is a wonderful comedy and excellent film for Jean Harlow as Cyrstal Wetherby. Here, she is as good as in any other of her comedy films. Just three months after this film's release, Harlow died of blood poisoning caused by kidney failure.
This film clearly shows that Taylor had a flair for comedy. It surprised me some, as it must have many other movie buffs of that time and since then, because we have been so accustomed to seeing Taylor in serious roles -- dramas, love stories, war films and Westerns. Most of these were later in his career. In some roles, I thought he was serious to the point of being droll (i.e., "Waterloo Bridge" in 1940 and D-Day the Sixth of June" in 1956).
Taylor's first comedy/romance was a year earlier before this in "Small Town Girl" with Janet Gaynor. But he had made a name for himself already in some smashing dramatic films, including "Magnificent Obsession" of 1935 and "Camille" of 1936. So, I'm not surprised, as some reviewers are, that Taylor would get the comedy lead in "Personal Property," where it otherwise would seem to be a role made for Franchot Tone, Ray Milland, or even Melvyn Douglas or Fred MacMurray. No doubt, Louis B. Mayer was trying his rising leading male actor in different venues to see how high his star might rise. And, it continued to rise with this film.
Still, Taylor made only a few comedy films after this. "Lucky Night" in 1939 with Myrna Loy was a drama-comedy. Neither it, nor "Remember?" of that same year scored as well. So MGM may have decided to keep their handsome male lead in dramas, romances, war, mystery and Western films - all of which he did quite well. The only other comedy Taylor would make that would have some success was "Many Rivers to Cross" in 1955 with Eleanor Powell. But a number of great dramas would follow ("Quo Vadis" in 1951, "Ivanhoe" and "Above and Beyond" in 1952, "Saddle the Wind" of 1958, "Miracle of the White Stallions" of 1963 and others).
This film has some hilarious scenes. In a couple, Taylor serves as a sheriff's assistant for a bailiff with a big bill for Mrs. Wetherby. In another couple, he is the Wetherby butler to the dismay of his family who are dumbfounded. He brings out the best (in acting) of his brother, Claude, in this role.
One aspect of Taylor's being adept at comedy that shows here is his bringing out the best of the comedy in other characters. Barnett Parker plays a pompous highbrow by the name of Arthur 'Trevy' Trevelyan. His nose is so high in the air, that he just mumbles his name to Raymond who is playing the butler, Ferguson. Ferguson announces him as closely as possible, and everyone knows who he is right away. It's hilarious to see Taylor announce him: "Fooh fu Fo Fon Fu."
Crystal and Raymond are romantically on and off toward each other, with some very funny lines. As she's going upstairs to find the butler's uniform, Crystal says, "And while we're on the subject, just what did they send you to jail for?" Raymond, "Murder!" Crystal, "Well, I wish it had been suicide."
This is a fine comedy romance that I think the whole family will enjoy. There are just enough antics to amuse young children and keep them interested as well. Of course, we older children can enjoy it for all the comedy, romance, family jousting and many good performances. This is a nice addition to my comedy film library.
Among the many pluses of this film, the dialog is superb. The film is filled with witty and funny lines, especially between the leads. Harlow, as Crystal Wetherby, and Taylor, as Raymond Dabney and Ferguson, have wonderful chemistry. Then there are the antics and hilarious situations. The dinner scenario is one of the funniest such segments in filmdom. Finally, the supporting cast is first-rate with superb performances.
Reginald Owen, as Raymond's brother, Claude Dabney, is the master of "balderdash" on the silver screen. No other actor could puff himself up so absurdly to play the snooty, self-bloated and insulted English snob. Owen is at his best at that in his role here. Forrester Harvey is a delight as Bailiff Herbert Jenkins. And, a perennial favorite as a maid in so many movies of Hollywood's golden age, Una O'Connor adds to the humor. The rest of the cast, with some very eccentric characters, add to the humor and quality of this film.
I must take exception to the comments of a couple of regular IMDb reviewers whom I especially appreciate and respect. I think Robert Taylor is perfectly cast as Raymond Dabney in this film. And, that "Personal Property" is a wonderful comedy and excellent film for Jean Harlow as Cyrstal Wetherby. Here, she is as good as in any other of her comedy films. Just three months after this film's release, Harlow died of blood poisoning caused by kidney failure.
This film clearly shows that Taylor had a flair for comedy. It surprised me some, as it must have many other movie buffs of that time and since then, because we have been so accustomed to seeing Taylor in serious roles -- dramas, love stories, war films and Westerns. Most of these were later in his career. In some roles, I thought he was serious to the point of being droll (i.e., "Waterloo Bridge" in 1940 and D-Day the Sixth of June" in 1956).
Taylor's first comedy/romance was a year earlier before this in "Small Town Girl" with Janet Gaynor. But he had made a name for himself already in some smashing dramatic films, including "Magnificent Obsession" of 1935 and "Camille" of 1936. So, I'm not surprised, as some reviewers are, that Taylor would get the comedy lead in "Personal Property," where it otherwise would seem to be a role made for Franchot Tone, Ray Milland, or even Melvyn Douglas or Fred MacMurray. No doubt, Louis B. Mayer was trying his rising leading male actor in different venues to see how high his star might rise. And, it continued to rise with this film.
Still, Taylor made only a few comedy films after this. "Lucky Night" in 1939 with Myrna Loy was a drama-comedy. Neither it, nor "Remember?" of that same year scored as well. So MGM may have decided to keep their handsome male lead in dramas, romances, war, mystery and Western films - all of which he did quite well. The only other comedy Taylor would make that would have some success was "Many Rivers to Cross" in 1955 with Eleanor Powell. But a number of great dramas would follow ("Quo Vadis" in 1951, "Ivanhoe" and "Above and Beyond" in 1952, "Saddle the Wind" of 1958, "Miracle of the White Stallions" of 1963 and others).
This film has some hilarious scenes. In a couple, Taylor serves as a sheriff's assistant for a bailiff with a big bill for Mrs. Wetherby. In another couple, he is the Wetherby butler to the dismay of his family who are dumbfounded. He brings out the best (in acting) of his brother, Claude, in this role.
One aspect of Taylor's being adept at comedy that shows here is his bringing out the best of the comedy in other characters. Barnett Parker plays a pompous highbrow by the name of Arthur 'Trevy' Trevelyan. His nose is so high in the air, that he just mumbles his name to Raymond who is playing the butler, Ferguson. Ferguson announces him as closely as possible, and everyone knows who he is right away. It's hilarious to see Taylor announce him: "Fooh fu Fo Fon Fu."
Crystal and Raymond are romantically on and off toward each other, with some very funny lines. As she's going upstairs to find the butler's uniform, Crystal says, "And while we're on the subject, just what did they send you to jail for?" Raymond, "Murder!" Crystal, "Well, I wish it had been suicide."
This is a fine comedy romance that I think the whole family will enjoy. There are just enough antics to amuse young children and keep them interested as well. Of course, we older children can enjoy it for all the comedy, romance, family jousting and many good performances. This is a nice addition to my comedy film library.