Robert Taylor plays a guy who is a bit goofy. He's infatuated with a stupid lady (Norma Shearer) and seems willing to do about anything to win her. Because both characters are awfully flawed (too flawed, actually) the film does lose a bit of its appeal--though it is still quite enjoyable.Taylor has a strong case of infatuation. While he has never spoken with her, he keeps coming back to the casino night after night just to see a mysterious lady (Shearer). But he hasn't the courage to do anything more than just be near her. Coincidentally, she is in trouble and looks for the first guy she meets for help--and it just happens to be Taylor. Finally, she notices him and he thinks his prayers have been answered. Why she wants him, however, is because she wants him to pretend to be her lover. That's because she has been in a very sick relationship with an ambivalent man (George Sanders)--a guy who treats her great one moment and ignores or mistreats her the next. Because she apparently is brainless and has no will of her own, she can only resist returning to Sanders IF Taylor stays with her all the time and pretends to love her. Why Taylor would want such a stupid woman is beyond me, but this IS a Hollywood film! This brings me to the major problem with the film. While you might chalk up much of Taylor's actions to youthful infatuation, what about Shearer?! She plays an extremely well-coiffed and well-dressed person with zero self-esteem. I personally felt a lot of disgust by her--particularly when she worked so hard to get Sanders back. I also was disgusted with her requesting that Taylor feel free to hit her in order to keep her away from Sanders!!! Wow, talk about a liberated woman!! She came off like one of the low-lifes on "The Jerry Springer Show" who was willing to fight for her degenerate boyfriend and as a result, I lost a lot of interest in her and wanted Taylor to find someone so much more worthy of his childish devotion. Taylor was a bit annoying--Shearer was contemptible.If you are somehow able to look past the annoying qualities of the characters and ignore the regressive female role model, perhaps you will like the film. After all, the acting and gloss are pure MGM--high quality and top-notch all the way. And, in a way, it's all fun and enjoyable. As for me, however, this is not a romantic comedy I want to see again and it's sad that Miss Shearer's career ended with such a mediocre (at best) film.By the way, this film is in some ways quite evil with its messages. Not only is Shearer a bad person and Taylor very pathetic as well, but the film gives credence to such ideas as a woman says NO when she she really means YES, it's okay to smack a woman around and if a man cheats on you that you should accept this! I would be horrified if either of my daughters internalized any of these vile ideas.

As I watched this movie, I was trying to visualize Hedy Lamarr in the role played by Norma. Thank God she turned it down as the first choice. She wanted to work with Cukor, a woman's director, but not in this one. It was also suppose to star a newcomer Robert Sterling, in a major star role. Hedy was sometimes criticized for turning downing "Gaslight" and "Dragon Seed" and wanted no part of this mish mash, so score one for Hedy, for turning it down. Also, Robert Taylor wanted to turn it down cause at that time Hedy was suppose to have made a remark that he really didn't know how to kiss...which was a blow to his ego. So he told MGM he would not make another movie with her. They made one film together "Lady of the Tropics". At that time he was always advertise as one of the screens best romantic lover. Plus the fact that his masculinity was up to conjecture.

This is the second attempt to bring Jacques Deval's play to the screen. The first one was a vehicle for Marion Davies and Nils Asther, directed by Robert Z. Leonard. This new version bears George Cukor's signature as the director. The film is interesting for two reasons: it marked the last time its star, Norma Shearer, appeared on a film, and it also has Robert Taylor doing comedy, something he wasn't seen in often."Her Cardboard Lover" is a sophisticated comedy that capitalizes on the strength of its stars. The screen play by Valerie Wyngate has some ups and downs in it that even the great Cukor wasn't able to solve. First, there is a marked age difference between the stars, not because Ms. Shearer looks older, on the contrary, she is in excellent form, but Mr. Taylor appears to be much younger.The film has some good moments for everyone. The best thing Mr. Cukor was able to do was to give the suave George Sanders the part of Tony Barling, the playboy who comes back to claim the love of Consuelo Croyden. They have parted in a bad way, but there's still something between the former lovers. By hiring Terry Trindale as the "fake" lover, in order to make Tony Barling jealous, a new dynamic enters into play.There are two extraordinary sequences toward the end of the film. The first one is the fight between Tony and Terry in the hotel's pantry when dishes, vases, and all kinds of porcelain gets smashed against walls. The second one is in the court that is presided by judge Sam, brilliantly portrayed by Chill Wills. The acting is first rate by this marvelous cast. In minor roles Frank McHugh and Elizabeth Patterson shine.The film is a light comedy that is a delight to watch.

I'm amazed at the difference of opinion on this one. I watched it and thought it so good that I checked Yahoo to get more info and was plain flabbergasted to see one star. It's better than Adams Rib as far as I am concerned. The comedic timing is letter perfect and Shearer, Taylor and Sanders are nothing short of brilliant and in that order. The lines are witty and the insanity of love is well and tartly limned and it knew exactly when to end and how to. Cukor knew how to handle this wonderful material and kudos for him. Now I have to find out who is responsible for the clever script. Less Shakespeare (Taming of the Shew or a Midsummer Nights Dream) it's the best light comedy I can remember seeing in a while.