This Man Is Mine (1934)

Yes, this movie is a bore. And I say that as a movie fan who almost always enjoys the work of Irene Dunne and Ralph Bellamy. But frankly, this movie is little more than stuffy high class pap. Unfortunately, that seemed to be a common trait with quite a few movies in the early years of the Depression -- an obsession with the wealthy.The story here is pretty simple -- Tony (Dunne) and Jim (Bellamy) Dunlap are happily married. But, dependable old Jim had once been in love with another woman who comes back to haunt everyone. So the old love steals Jim away from Dunne (yawn) and the question is -- will she keep him and will Dunne fight back. It's all rather trite and not at all clever.There's not a single performance in the film that I could admire. Certainly the worst film of either Dunne or Bellamy that I've ever seen.

The idle rich have little to occupy their time but playing cards and seducing each other's spouses. At least that is what the characters in "This Man is Mine" suggest. This short tired tale of marital infidelity, adapted from a play, retains its staginess and does not merit the presence of Irene Dunne in the central role. Despite her talent and beauty and voice, Dunne as Tony Dunlap fails to convince viewers that her character would try to save a worthless marriage to Jim Dunlap, played by Ralph Bellamy. Bellamy evidently has retained suppressed feelings for a former flame throughout his marriage to Dunne, with whom he has had a young son. When the former girlfriend arrives on the scene to rekindle her romance with Bellamy, the film's fragile grip on credibility crumbles. Although Constance Cummings as Francesca is an amusing conniving tart, the transparency of her character and motives makes Bellamy look like an utter idiot when he returns her advances. Viewers may be forgiven for shouting "you blithering fool" and throwing tomatoes at the screen when Bellamy falls for Cummings's tricks, especially when the other characters on screen easily see through her. Bellamy's character must have inherited wealth, because there was no way this gullible dimwit could make his way in the business world. As a father, he is ready to toss away his child for a shallow man hunter. He does not deserve Irene Dunne's attention, let alone her hand and devotion. By the final frame, "This Man is Mine" has descended into completely incredible nonsense. Only the performances of Dunne and Cummings and the handsome presence of future western star Charles Starrett offer any reason to see this annoying trifle.

IRENE DUNNE may have had a blossoming film career that led to much better things in the '40s, but her early '30s films were potboilers and this sophisticated comedy among the idle rich is one of them.It's a thin comedy about a catty woman who threatens the happiness of IRENE DUNNE and RALPH BELLAMY, coming between them to the point where Dunne is all ready to sue for divorce until the woman (CONSTANCE CUMMINGS) turns to SIDNEY BLACKMER for her marriage partner. The script is full of catty one-liners but none of it is worthy of Dunne's presence. She did much better with screwball comedy material that came later.A serious waste of time with a weak first half-hour that only picks up steam when Constance Cummings enters the scene. Ralph Bellamy is a bore as a bumbling husband in one of his rare leading man roles.Summing up: Only for serious Irene Dunne fans.

This has a great cast. Ralph Bellamy is always good and here he is not an object of ridicule. Of course, I watched it for Irene Dunne. And she is the fulcrum of the piece, looking mousy but acting like a tigress. Sidney Blackmer, who became a distinguished stage actor, is convincing and quite attractive as a rich bad boy.The two standouts are Kay Johnson as Dunne's sister-in-law and the fine actress, also a marvelous stage performer many years later, Constance Cummings.The Cummings character is the best developed and most interesting. Just back from a divorce and ready for trouble, she is like a character from "The Women." Her role is a bit more well rounded than the characters in that movie.