Third Finger, Left Hand

Third finger, left hand. That’s where unmarried fashion-magazine editor Margot Sherwood Merrick (Myrna Loy) parks a wedding ring, hoping to deter male colleagues who have more than business on their minds. Then a smitten artist (Melvyn Douglas) learns Margot’s secret and begins a charade of his own by passing himself off as her beloved hubby. Loy and Douglas, expert romantic farceurs who sparkled in some of Hollywood’s best romantic comedies (including Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House) are splendidly sophisticated and delightfully goofy in their first film together. “I adored him,” Loy said of the man who became her longtime friend off screen. Their camaraderie rings some funny on-screen wedding bells.