Austrian refugee (Hedy Lamarr) asks a penniless writer (James Stewart) to marry her so she won't be deported. Needing money badly, he agrees. Soon he finds himself in love with her (who can blame him?) and wants the marriage to be real. The problem is she's already in a relationship -- with a married man (Ian Hunter).This was a pleasant surprise. A sweet, likable romantic movie. This would be called a chick flick today. What's perhaps most surprising about it is that it's pretty non-judgmental for a movie made under the Hays Code involving things like skirting immigration laws and committing adultery. It's all handled with tact and understanding. The only 'bad' character in the movie is Ian Hunter's and even he's played mostly for laughs. Jimmy and Hedy do a fantastic job and have a real, believable chemistry. Adeline de Walt Reynolds steals the show as Jimmy's dear old grandmother. A lovely, heart-warming type of film that will surely leave a smile on your face.

Wealthy Manhattan publisher Ian Hunter (as Barton "Bart" Kendrick) has an "open marriage" with attractive blonde wife Verree Teasdale (as Diana) and loves beautiful brunette mistress Hedy Lamarr (as Johanna "Johnny" Janns). The extra-marital bliss is threatened when Ms. Lamarr's visa expires and she is visited by an immigration officer. If more illegal aliens looked like Hedy Lamarr, the support for leniency and amnesty would grow. Because she is pretty, Lamarr is given one week to find an American husband...To avoid being deported, Lamarr offers struggling writer James Stewart (as William "Bill" Smith) a deal. She will pay him $17.80 per week to be her husband. Then, Mr. Stewart can continue writing and Lamarr can continue her affair with Mr. Hunter. Of course, things don't go according to plan... Stewart is very good. Lamarr is lovely. As the Grandma, 78-year-old Adeline de Walt Reynolds begins an impressive 20 year acting career. The most valuable player, producer/director Clarence Brown works wonders with this material.****** Come Live with Me (1/29/41) Clarence Brown ~ James Stewart, Hedy Lamarr, Ian Hunter, Adeline de Walt Reynolds

Vienna refugee Hedy Lamarr, living in a swank apartment in Manhattan, finds herself in a spot: her visa has run out and immigration is giving her one week to marry an American or be deported. Since her married lover can't get a divorce that quickly, Lamarr proposes to down-on-his-luck writer James Stewart; she'll pay his expenses while keeping her own address, he'll work on his new story, which is extremely autobiographical! Pleasant, airy comedy with the leads doing first-class work. Stewart overdoes the loud yammering shtick, but he also has some funny bits (especially one with a cigarette) and a sweet moment near the end where he recites Hedy a poem. The plot is pure formula, however some of the commentary on the country's economy is surprisingly relevant, as is Stewart's scene on a park bench with a homeless man. A very nice vehicle for a good cast, and Lamarr is, of course, stunning to look at. **1/2 from ****

I loved every frame of this 1941 light romantic comedy when Hedy Lamarr is paired with Jimmy Stewart.It has been said so many times before but Hedy had such beauty both in body and spirit that it is almost worth seeing a film with her in it just to gape in awe at her.I am gradually building up my collection of Hedy's films which include Exctacy (1933), Algiers (1938), Her Highness and the Bellboy (1945) and Dishonored Lady (1947).We must not forget that she also had intelligence and invented in 1942, at the height of her Hollywood career, a frequency-switching system for torpedo guidance that was two decades ahead of its time which with a colleague, she patented.In this film Hedy has overstayed her visitor's visa and the immigration officials are on to her.This is unfortunate for her in war time as she would have to return to her native Vienna.Of course as the good natured immigration official suggests, if she could find a husband within the week he decides to turn a blind eye, she could stay in America.Cue Jimmy Stuart failed writer who has the rejection slips and pawn tickets piling up in his flat.Can he meet this week's rent?Hedy has an idea.She requests he writes down his weekly expenditure and she will pay him regular amounts based on this budget in consideration of a civil marriage of convenience, thus avoiding deportation.Jimmy Stewart will regard as an accumulating loan until such time as his novel is sold to the publisher's and he will have enough money to pay off the debt.The coincidence is that his publisher (Ian Hunter) is simultaneously having an affair with Hedy.She only visits him at his flat to pay him his regular instalment, so despite being husband and wife, at least in the eyes of the law, they never really have got to know one another.As time goes by Jimmy is starting to care for Hedy and he invites her to visit his grandmother in the country where passions deepen.Hedy is still unsure at this stage and uses a ruse to phone her married sugar daddy Ian Hunter giving him directions where she is.It is night and Hedy and Jimmy both must go to their respective bedrooms but Jimmy keeps making excuses to stay in her bedroom before reluctantly leaving.Their bedrooms have a partial wall over which light can be seen so they can converse with one another when both in their beds.The Grandmother has a hobby of embroidering sayings all around her home some of which humorously fit the action on the screen.When Ian Hunter arrives at the address to fetch his mistress, guess who Hedy selects? What I find fascinating about Hedy in her film roles (apart from her obvious physical beauty) is her genuine Viennese accent, her honesty, integrity, and intelligence and she is every inch the lady.In 2013 I wrote a general amendment to this and other user comments which also applies to those actresses whose films I have already commented on IMDb.com in recent years.My love goddess/film actresses are Margaret Lockwood, Jennifer Jones, Vivien Leigh, Hedy Lamarr & Ava Gardner.Perhaps you will notice they were all dark brunette 1940s (& 50s) stars.It occurred to me that there should be one defining film which perfectly encapsulates for me their intrinsic personality, talent glamour & intellect.These are my choices after years of deliberation: Margaret Lockwood - "The Wicked Lady" (1945), Jennifer Jones - "Portrait Of Jennie" (1948), Vivien Leigh - "That Hamilton Woman" (1941, Hedy Lamarr - H.M.Pulman esq (1945, Ava Gardner "One Touch of Venus" (1948).