The cast for this 1936 MGM movies is first rate. The leads are top names of the day. Clark Gabe is Van, Jean Harlow is his secretary, Whitey, and Myrna Loy is his wife, Linda. The supporting cast is tops as well. May Robson is Mimi, George Barbier is Underwood, and Tom Dugan is Finney. And, James Stewart has a supporting role in only his second year and fourth feature film. He already had one film as the male lead, and he would have two more before this year (1936) was over. The plot of "Wife versus Secretary" is a female love triangle (two females in love with the same man, whereas the usual is two mien competing of h same woman). Only, in this case, one of the women doesn't make a move for the man. Harlow plays straight, not wanting to break up a marriage in which her boss clearly loves his wife. But Loy's Linda begins to become jealous and suspicious. Van has to work late many nights. This is an age-old scenario in appearance. Even in the day this film was made, marriages went on the rocks over such situations. Most often they actually happened – a boss with his secretary or another woman. But in this story, Linda knows that Van loves her. His affection toward his wife is obvious always. But her suspicion lies with Whitey. She doesn't doubt the working times they have to spend together, but she begins to think that Whitey may be using those as a way slowly to pry her husband away for herself. This is a different twist on a common story, including one for the movies. And the ending is different and very good. The performance all are very good and the direction and technical work are very good. While it's interesting, and somewhat novel, there also isn't much excitement in the story to earn it more even stars. Most adults should enjoy it for the cast, but younger audiences today will likely find it dull.

My grandmother use to say this was a beautiful film and I think she is just right. It tells the story of a happily married couple Van (Clark Gable) and Linda (Myrna Loy) and husband's beautiful secretary Whitey (great Jean Harlow) and how she gets into her life and almost destroy their marriage but, on the contrary of most miss Harlow films, she does not play an unscrupulous woman but a sincere and honest one: she is in love with her boss but she acts honestly by advising his wife not to let him go after they have an argument. Film begins as a delightful comedy to turn later in to a drama but always convinces, especially because of an excellent actors' work and a good script including well written lines for almost everyone. Even Van's mother Mimi (May Robson) has great lines although her little time appearance on the screen. A great film.

Van Stanhope (Clark Gable) is a successful magazine publisher with a perfect marriage to lovely wife Linda (Myrna Loy). The two are blissfully happy. That is until Van's mother, Mimi (May Robson), starts putting doubts in Linda's ear about his relationship with his devoted secretary, Whitey (Jean Harlow). Linda trusts in her husband and ignores the warning but slowly becomes more and more suspicious of Whitey and all the time Van spends with her. Complicating matters further is that Whitey really does have feelings for Van, which is fracturing her relationship with fiancé Dave (Jimmy Stewart).I'm not sure why this is listed everywhere as a comedy when it's a romantic drama. There's very little humor in it, except for some throwaway lines from supporting characters. It's an enjoyable film, helped by a great cast of likable stars. 'Dracula's daughter' Gloria Holden has fun in one scene as a catty partygoer. Some of the views in this are dated and will no doubt ruffle modern viewer's feathers, especially when the story begins to lend credence to them. It reminds me a little of The Women, which also had an icky one-sided view of infidelity. By the way, I believe the title has a subtle double meaning. 'VS' is also Clark Gabe's character's initials and nickname.

Van (Clark Gable) is the boss of a magazine and wants to expand his circulation by buying out a rival. He travels abroad to seal the deal and spends most of his time with his secretary Whitey (Jean Harlow). There are several misunderstandings that leave his wife Linda (Myrna Loy) feeling neglected and betrayed and she files for divorce....There is not much of a plot to this film and the story takes it's time to develop. Apart from the stupid names in this film - Van and Whitey....?? - the cast are good with special mention going to the women. There are interesting sets to look at and memorable scenes include the bedroom scene between Gable and Harlow in Cuba, the confrontation between Harlow and Loy, and the ending. As Harlow seems to be in most of the memorable scenes, I think she comes off best in the film, despite not being the "blonde bombshell" that she is famous for being. She's not that blonde! The film drags and then, all of a sudden, it gets good towards the end with Harlow in all the good scenes.As regards the story, it's waifer-thin but I have to mention May Robson's role as Van's mother, "Mimi". What a bitch! She pulls her son's wife aside and poisons her mind with ideas of a fictional affair between him and his secretary. Bloody cow! Despite the film taking ages to get to the confrontational scenes that we are waiting for, it gets there in the end and you are left feeling that the film has been worth it.