William Randolph Hearst preferred to see mistress Marion Davies in magnolia-scented romances, but comedy was her forte, and she gets a nice chance to show off in this screwball romance, her last movie. She's a capable secretary who's sick of being pawed by her bosses and disguises herself as a frump. The trouble is that even a brunette-wig Marion with unbecoming glasses isn't THAT hideous, and the plot machinations stemming from her deception thus seem a little under-motivated. Further, it's something of a B supporting cast--what's Louise Fazenda doing in a role with Edna May Oliver written all over it, and why isn't Gail Patrick playing Marion's nemesis instead of this nobody? Bob Montgomery is just fine playing the light-leading-man sort of role he did dozens of times, and Patsy Kelly and Allen Jenkins are very reliable in this sort of thing. It doesn't sparkle, but as others have noted, it makes its serious points about women in the workplace who aren't appreciated for their talents, and Marion looks like she's having fun getting to be something other than a boring beauty.

For a film that starts off so promising, "Ever Since Eve" ends up very disappointing. For the first third, it's quite funny, this story of office sexual harassment where the victim can't go to HR. She simply makes herself into a plain Jane to avoid amorous bosses to whom overtime doesn't include office work. Marian Davies (quite lovely, as Louella would always say!) does what Ginger Rogers did two years ago in "In Person", for different reasons, however. This is confusing for her rowdy roommate (Patsy Kelly) and her boyfriend (Allen Jenkins) and for her new boss, an author of movie stories (Robert Montgomery) who has a really obnoxious socialite fiancée (Marcia Ralston). So far, so good. Montgomery at first finds the plain version of Davies too demanding of him (because of his boss, Louise Fazenda), but when she quits because of accusations made by Ralston, he goes to her apartment where he meets the pretty version of Davies. Thus, he falls instantly in love, but she pretends to leave town so he'll finish his deadline. Montgomery follows her to the place she really didn't intend to go, so Davies must rush there, both as her pretty and plain versions. Confused??? This is where the film goes off the rack, having a sudden group of thieves interrupt, including one woman who looks exactly like Davies and is wearing the exact same costume.As I said, the first 2/3 are really entertaining, not in a "My Man Godfrey" classic sort of way, but still enjoyable. Everyone is doing their best to provide laughs in a ridiculous but still fun plot line. But once they get to the inn, it just gets too much. Poor Ralston, who resembles Merle Oberon, but doesn't get to be as ladylike here, suffers all sorts of indignities with her obnoxious character. Frank McHugh too is around as Montgomery's pal who escorts Ralston when her fiancée is not available. Today, this sort of plot line could never be filmed because of its obvious use of sexual harassment and the way that is handled in the workplace. But in the 30's, the "How to Succeed in Business" song "A Secretary is Not a Toy" hadn't been written yet and as any 30's movie viewer knows, a secretary made many a hard-working businessman very happy. This is one of those films to take with a grain of salt and enjoy mostly for its fine character performances and sometimes witty banter.

Very entertaining romantic comedy starring Marion Davies as Marge, a gal who keeps quitting or getting fired from her secretarial jobs because she's too attractive to keep her bosses from chasing her, asking her to stay for "night work", etc. At the employment agency she hears about a job at a publishing company that only hires "homely" secretaries, so she makes herself over to look plain - complete with thick round eyeglasses, short dark wig, over-sized suit, sensible shoes, and funny-looking hat (de rigueur for this kind of deception, it seems) - and gets herself the job. She's soon put to work as secretary for handsome ladies man Freddy Matthews (played by Robert Montgomery) who is writing a book with a firm due date at the publishers - problem is, he just can't keep his mind on the job. So - he thinks she has a "face that would stop a clock" (hmmm - he met her as herself in an earlier scene and thought she was a beauty, just a pair of glasses makes that much difference?!) so has no interest in her, she takes it upon herself to press him into completing his book and keep him away from distractions like his jealous, extremely hot-headed girlfriend.Well, this film is a lot of fun - the story is very enjoyable and funny, with well done performances by all. Marion Davies is fun to watch switching back and forth between blonde beauty and plain jane, Robert Montgomery is his handsome, charming, usual self, Patsy Kelly adds some humor to the mix playing Davies wisecracking roommate/gal pal and Frank McHugh is amusing as a man who writes books for young girls under a female pseudonym. The plot of this film has an element that you just must except (like many other similar films with this sort of disguise) - the fact that our man is completely unable to recognize, either visually or by her voice, Davies character when she has on the glasses and wig. He actually meets Marge at one point in the film, dressed as herself, and they go out and begin to fall in love - and he doesn't have a clue that she and his secretary are one and the same person! All in all, I found this film to be a pleasant watch, well worth seeing.

In this harmless bit of fluff, MARION DAVIES plays a secretary who is so pressured by men making passes at her that she decides to make herself into a frump in order to get a secretarial job that she can hold based on skill alone. Naturally, she falls in love with her boss (a youthful looking ROBERT MONTGOMERY), and the fun develops in seeing how the relationship between Davies and Montgomery will fare once she becomes his dowdy secretary.Davies is just a little too mature for the role of a fledgling secretary more suitable for a much younger actress. But she's a good sport about donning a "homely" disguise in order to get the secretarial position with the firm interested only in hiring unattractive girls.There's plenty of comedy relief although it's not all that funny. Warner filled the cast with contract players like FRANK McHUGH, PATSY KELLY and ALLEN JENKINS--but the picture's central plot depends on whether you enjoy the repartee between Montgomery and Davies once she turns up as his unlikely secretary.Unfortunately, it soon becomes obvious that the screwball aspect (which had possibilities) is stifled by some absurd dialog and foolish situations that are not only incredible but unfunny as played by Davies especially. Montgomery has the more believable role as the playboy boss and does it with his customary professionalism in light comedy.There's an antique flavor to the script when you hear Allen Jenkins come up with a line like, "Did you know gasoline has gone up to 3 cents a gallon?" Unfortunately, none of the comedy seems spontaneous enough or really works, so it's just as well that Miss Davies made a graceful exit from the screen around this time. Any more films like this and her career would have been over anyway.Neither PATSY KELLY nor ALLEN JENKINS is doing anything more than wasting their time in this silly effort. Montgomery comes off best, but it's certainly not a shining hour for anyone.