A wary Laraine Day takes dictation from Kirk Douglas. Image: YouTube
There’s some uncomfortable business in the 1948 comedy My Dear Secretary.
It’s a film with plenty of witty lines and delightfully outlandish characters, as portrayed by Kirk Douglas, Laraine Day and a scene-stealing Keenan Wynn.
My Dear Secretary is about a celebrity author named Owen Waterbury (Douglas), who regularly hires secretaries to whom he dictates his books. He’s hired many, many secretaries through the years because he seduces, and is later dumped by, these women.
Our novelist is a busy fellow. Aside from his adventures in romance, a number of people gallop through his day, including his sharp-tongued maid (Irene Ryan), his exasperated landlady (Florence Bates), and his next-door neighbour/best friend (the aforementioned Wynn).
There’s also an ex-secretary (Gale Robbins) who muscles her way through his apartment, demanding the return of personal belongings, including her “Christmas bonus” (a mink coat).
You see, our novelist works from home, and into this chaos arrives Laraine Day, with her crisp business suit and steno pad. She intends to be Productive, and tries not to think about the ramifications of being employed by a notorious womanizer in his own apartment.
Douglas’ former secretary leaves on Bad Terms. Image: Fast Torrent
Day begins her new job with gusto. She admires our novelist and is thrilled to be working with such an acclaimed talent. She’s already half in love with him.
Here’s an overview of her first week:
Day 1: Douglas starts with a sudden, creative brainwave. “WHAT AN IDEA!” he cries. “TAKE THIS DOWN!” (Day scrambles for her steno pad and pencil.) Douglas continues, “Call this: ‘Notes on my New Novel.'” He pauses. “That’s all for now. Ten o’ clock tomorrow.”
Day 2: Douglas has another creative moment, and Day is ready with her pencil. “Chapter One,” Douglas declares, “Introduction of Characters.” Day quickly scribbles as Douglas abruptly leaves the apartment with another woman.
Day 3: Douglas and Wynn announce they’re taking Day to the horse races. When she protests, Douglas asks, incredulous, “Are you complaining about being paid to go to the races?”
Day 4: The trio flies to Las Vegas to recoup losses incurred on Day 3.
Day 5: Douglas takes Day to his beach house and starts to dictate a story, but it’s his (lame) method of seduction. He leans in to kiss her, but she puts him in a hammer lock and flips him upside down. “You’ve got the wrong girl, Mister Waterbury,” she growls. “If I ever see one of your books again, I’ll burn it!”
We revel in the built-in conflict between business-minded Day and the recreationally-inclined Douglas/Wynn duo. Day’s professional aspirations are continually stampeded over by Douglas and Wynn, who barrel through life at top speed.
But.
This brings us to the Uncomfortable Business we mentioned earlier, namely the role of a female secretary. The film seems to define “secretary” as part-time mistress and full-time mother.
It’s really annoying, and female audiences were likely just as annoyed back in 1948.
Day interviews her replacement. Image: mojTV
Sadly for you, Dear Reader, this topic leads us (as in, yours truly) to rant about the portrayal of secretaries in Hollywood movies. Oftentimes, a Proper secretary is attractive, responsive to the boss’ advances and cheerfully completes any task – even laundry. If, however, a secretary is unattractive, unresponsive and unwilling to do the boss’ personal chores, then she’s nothing but a cruel punishment.
For example, when Day is interviewed for her new job, she’s asked if she knows how to cook and do laundry.
Now, you could argue the script exaggerates the secretary-boss relationship for the sake of satire. However, it’s an exaggeration that’s been Done To Death, even before the release of this 1948 film.
It’s too bad. My Dear Secretary could be a great film if it weren’t so obtuse in this area. It makes an attempt to redeem itself later on, when Day hires a male secretary, but by then, it’s Too Little Too Late.
Maybe we’re taking this more seriously than we ought. We’ll leave it to your discretion, Dear Reader: If your interpretation is satire and not sexism, then you’ll enjoy this film very much.
My Dear Secretary: starring Laraine Day, Kirk Douglas, Keenan Wynn. Written & directed by Charles Martin. A United Artists Release, 1948, B&W, 94 mins.
This is part of the WORKPLACE IN FILM & TV Blogathon hosted by Moon in Gemini.
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Sometimes I don’t get too annoyed and sometimes I toss a pillow at the screen. Both reactions I put down to watching this in the wee hours, with commercials, when I should really be asleep.
What do you think of Take a Letter, Darling?
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I’ve not seen it, although the premise looks good – and who doesn’t love Fred MacMurray? What is your take?
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I don’t think it took advantage of all its possibilities, but it is still entertaining. Plus, Roz’s character has a “cottage” that is to die for!
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I think I’d probably have the same reaction as yours. A movie to be skipped pour moi, I think.
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I wish it were a movie a person could whole-heartedly recommend.
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Oh my goodness. I didn’t recognize Laraine Day at all in that first picture thanks to the blonde hair.
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I know – Laraine’s blonde hair took some getting used to.
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I’d watch this for Keenan Wynn as I have a problem with Douglas!
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Keenan Wynn is outrageous and completely fabulous as the next-door neighbour. He has almost all the best lines.
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It’d be interesting to chart how secretaries were portrayed in the cinema from stereotypical roles like this to THE BEST OF EVERYTHING, EXECUTIVE SUITE, and the bizarre SECRETARY.
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That’s a great idea!
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Those boss/secretary movies of old really make me cringe! I have never seen this one. Thanks for taking one for the team and bringing it to the blogathon!
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I know what you mean about these movies making a person cringe. There are some REALLY awkward moments here…
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As much as I love youg Kirk Douglas, you made me think about the secretary role in film… something I’ll try to explore deeper at Cine Suffragette – by the way, your guest post will be up tomorrow! 😀
Thanks for the kind comment!
Kisses!
Le
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Sounds good!
As for your future analysis of the boss-secretary role in this film, via Cine Suffragette, I’m looking forward to reading your thoughts. 🙂
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Thanks for reviewing this film. I’d never seen it. I like when Kirk Douglas ends up in comedies, though Bates, Flynn, and Ryan kind of stole the film. I didn’t mind the plot in context. The sexism I object to is downgrading a woman and being okay with that–clearly he’s the absurd one here and doesn’t get away with it, even at the ending. After all she did love him.
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That’s true – Kirk Douglas’ character is rather absurd and he doesn’t get away with it in the end.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this film. 🙂
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I love your blog so much, and your blogathons. I would join in more often but I am usually lost in the poetry in my head ^_^ have a great weekend
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Thanks! Just wanted to say if you’re ever in the mood to write a poem about one of our Blogathon topics, we’ll happily include it – and it doesn’t even have to be about a certain film, either.
Just sayin’…
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Reblogged this on WILDsound Writing and Film Festival Review.
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