Alec Walker (Cary Grant) is horseback riding when he comes across a young woman, Julie Eden (Carole Lombard), fishing on the bank of a stream. They talk, eventually spending the afternoon together. They make arrangements to meet again the next day, and the relationship takes off. But there is another woman--Maida Walker (Kay Francis), the wife of Alec. In name only. They have a loveless marriage. The only thing that holds them together is Maida's refusal to give Alec a divorce.Eventually, Julie discovers Alec is married and he has to convince her that their relationship is more valid that his empty marriage. Maida plays the villain; she does not care for Alec but she hangs on in hopes of eventual financial reward.The story condemns marital laws and society, which value the "sanctity of marriage" above all else. Things have changed since the thirties, but this story of love thwarted by conventions still engages the emotions of the viewer.All of the lead actors plays their roles well. Helen Vinson plays the part of Suzanne, Maida's "best friend", who has her own reasons for tormenting the couple.

Cary Grant is trapped in a loveless marriage with viper Kay Francis, who only wants him for his money and status. He meets and falls in love with pretty artist Carole Lombard. He asks Kay for a divorce and she eventually agrees. But it's soon obvious she has no intention of letting him go and will do whatever it takes to keep her sham marriage intact. Grant and Lombard are both great. Kay Francis is excellent as the venomous wife. Helen Vinson plays her bitchy friend. Charles Coburn is disappointingly cast in a serious part as Cary's stuffy father. Enjoyable soaper with a good cast that should please even those who normally don't love these types of films.

I love watching this film because of the love-hate relationship I develop with each of the lead characters. I'm a sucker for true love but I loathe infidelity. My moral compass tells me I should be aligned with wife Maida, but my heart belongs to adultress Julie. Were I in husband Alec's position, I would be compelled towards loyalty and fidelity, but feeling unloved, could I be strong enough not to follow the path my heart wants me to take? Why should Alec not follow his heart? Life is short.The only criticism I really have for this film has to do with Cary Grant. When husband Alec reads, or pretends to read, the newspaper, Cary has this odd, tunnel-vision stare. I don't understand its purpose, if there is one.

"In name only" is a very well acted movie,which smartly combines melodrama and snatches of comedy.One good example is the scene in the restaurant when Lombard and Grant are talking about the menu (and he asks for a big knife) while the spouse (Kay Francis)is saying nasty things to them.The beginning of the movie is as relaxed as it can be:it is by no mean the first scene of a drama:Julie Eden (sic)is fishing in a lake where there's no fish anymore .Although living in a much more wealthier world than Julie,Alec is married to a selfish wife in love with both herself and money.Julie means not only love ,but a life devoid of conventional words or kindness,a life best depicted in the Christmas "surprise surprise" party.The movie,like many melodramas ,reaches its peak in the two extraordinary scenes in the hospital where Julie plays twice the same scene,once as if she were in a play,and the second time when she does not "play" anymore.