. . . compulsive liar "Edwina Corday" misdirects New York's finest toward the end of IT'S A WONDERFUL WORLD. She knows that "Half-Penny" has no diary in Cabin #3--or anywhere else. Some viewers may find this alleged "screwball comedy" a little misogynistic. Jimmy Stewart's "Guy Johnson" character, for instance, say's "I've never me a dame yet who wasn't a Dimwit or a Lunkhead." Later Guy groans, "Lady, you're full of prunes!" before observing that "I think all women end at the neck." After complaining that Edwina has been sticking closer to him than a tattoo, Guy reiterates that "I never knew a dame that wasn't dead from the neck up." Guy socks Edwina unconscious at least once (though this may be an undercount on my part), and forcibly kidnaps her a couple of times. Edwina's pet dog sort of disappears (maybe Guy roasted it for his supper). Since IT'S A WONDERFUL WORLD was released during the 1930s, when America's movie censors where bending over backward to protect "The Fair Sex" and U.S. Motherhood, they probably curtailed many other examples of woman-bashing written into the original script.

Private detective Jimmy Stewart is sentenced to prison for helping a client accused of murder. On the train ride to the slammer, Stewart escapes. He takes poetess Claudette Colbert hostage as he tries to follow a lead that may exonerate his client. She's resistant at first but quickly becomes excited by the adventure and decides to help him.Fun screwball comedy with stars in top form and backed up by wonderful cast. Jimmy Stewart is great and has nice chemistry with Claudette Colbert, who's in her element in this type of movie. Good comedic support from Guy Kibbee, Nat Pendleton, and Edgar Kennedy. Frances Drake and Sidney Blackmer play the villains. The bit where Stewart poses as a scout leader is a hilarious highlight. An underrated gem.

Private detective James Stewart (as Guy Johnson) tries to prove a boozy New York millionaire client is not guilty of murder, but finds himself implicated. While serving time for harboring a fugitive, Mr. Stewart happens upon a clue to the real killer's identity. Stewart escapes and kidnaps lady poet Claudette Colbert (as Edwina Corday). She begins to wonder if Stewart could be telling the truth about his attempt to solve the crime. They form an unlikely partnership and Ms. Colbert begins to consider Stewart a romantic prospect. Stewart the sleuth does well posing as a chauffeur, spectacled Boy Scout and actor who wavers from English to "African". Colbert is charming, as usual; possibly, she takes advantage of director W.S. Van Dyke's "one take" reputation by skipping the make-up session which would have given her the bruised face mentioned in the script (by Ben Hecht). Nat Pendleton is very funny as a likable sergeant who can't seem to keep Stewart under arrest, and the dependable Guy Kibbee is fine as Stewart's detective friend.****** It's a Wonderful World (5/19/39) W.S. Van Dyke ~ James Stewart, Claudette Colbert, Guy Kibbee, Nat Pendleton

I am with the critical reviewers here -- this doesn't have the right feel. We are all so accustomed to seeing Jimmy Stewart as a wonderful actor, but in this, his role doesn't work. The fault lies either with the screenwriter or with Stewart himself, but for a screwball comedy to work, the lead characters have to have a kind of happy zest, a playfulness, even if it is underneath some more obvious motive like getting money or getting one-up on someone who's put you down, and his character just doesn't have it. Claudette Colbert, by contrast, is wonderful -- just what is needed. The plot, the setting, the other characters, all are excellent for screwball comedy. The problem is Jimmy Stewart -- earnest, annoyed with just about everyone, and no hint of playfulness.