A married couple (Montgomery & Lombard) suddenly find out they're not legally married, and thanks to hubby's reckless remark, the wife decides not to make it legal. Now hubby has to work at winning her back, despite his best friend and her new independence. Fairly amusing comedy. For me, the storyline was a little too talky, especially several later extended scenes that appear to grant actor Raymond's character more screen time. What's needed, I think, is more spark, the kind provided by Jack Carson's steam room Lothario or the lively nightclub scene that's a real hoot. Otherwise, Lombard shows her comedic skills in a rather difficult role, while Montgomery mugs it up in unMontgomery fashion. However, pity poor Gene Raymond who's stuck with a boring role that appears out of sync for a comedy with the exception of his one well-done drunk scene. Overall, this sophisticated farce is a little too smooth and polished to really impress. And, despite scripter Krasna's many crafty innuendos, likely over-written, as well. Nonetheless, many amusing moments do remain. It's just not front-rank or what we might expect from an all-time great like Hitchcock. Rather, Hitch excelled at amusing moments, but as this effort shows, comedy as a format was not his world-class strength.

Alfred Hitchcock directed this comedy(unusual for him) that stars Robert Montgomery and Carole Lombard as David & Ann Smith, who have been happily married for three years until they one day have an argument about their marriage, then(by one of those standard movie coincidences) learn that day that, because of a dispute between local and state jurisdictions, their marriage license is invalid, meaning they are no longer legally married! This causes them to separate for a time, dating other people, until they realize the obvious about each other... Despite the cast and director, this is a contrived and predictable film, and not especially funny, though well made. A trifle.

David and Ann Smith live in New York and have a tempestuous but loving marriage. When the registrar of the remote county they were married in reveals to David that their union is not technically legal, he must decide whether he wants to marry Ann again ...This RKO screwball comedy is an interesting curio in Hitchcock's back catalogue if only because it's probably his one out-and-out comedy. Almost all of his films contain humour and some (like The Trouble With Harry) are overtly comic, but they all retain macabre or thriller elements. This on the other hand is in the classic style of the time - you can almost see Hepburn and Tracy in the roles - and as such it seems a little contrived in Hitchcock's hands. It's a lot of fun though, with good dialogue, and fine performances from all three leads; Montgomery (the father of Bewitched TV star Elizabeth) is agreeably resigned to his life's complications, Lombard is terrific as always as the needy, sulky, over-analysing shrew, and Raymond is wonderfully patient and strait-laced as the third point of an extremely grating love triangle. There are plenty of funny moments to keep it going, like the dialogue about the cat or the scene in the bathroom with the noisy plumbing, but it doesn't have the tension or objective sweep we are accustomed to with Hitch's films. All in all, a pleasant flick to catch on a slow evening but not the kind of movie we'd expect from the master of suspense. Written by Norman Krasna and not to be confused with the unrelated 2005 Angelina Jolie / Brad Pitt thriller with the same name.

Wealthy lawyer Robert Montgomery (as David Smith) and beautiful Carole Lombard (as Ann "Annie" Krausheimer) frequently battle, but are nonetheless happily married. Then, due to some mistake concerning county ordinances, they are informed their marriage wasn't legal. Initially, this is taken as a chance to become newlyweds again - but misunderstandings lead to bickering and the couple wonder if they should really be "Mr. & Mrs. Smith". Ms. Lombard dates his law partner Gene Raymond (Jefferson "Jeff" Custer) and Mr. Montgomery jealously follows them to Lake Placid...While not listed as a re-make of anything in particular, this is an old plot. With Lombard and Montgomery co-starring, you would expect much more. Having Alfred Hitchcock direct Montgomery giving himself a nosebleed wasn't exactly good comedy. Betty Compson (as Gertie) has a funny cameo, though, and the "crossed ski" end clicks. Thankfully, Mr. Hitchcock decided to concentrate on suspense thrillers. This was Lombard's penultimate performance; she manages to stay above the material here, and gets another fine film done before leaving this world in a plane crash.***** Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1/31/41) Alfred Hitchcock ~ Carole Lombard, Robert Montgomery, Gene Raymond, Betty Compson