gkeith_1 Spoilers. Observations. Opinions. Jack's being in it gives it a 4 for me. Otherwise, it looked pretty lackluster. I couldn't watch all of this. The Nazi element started kicking in, and I lost it. These people unsmiling, speaking German in the room with Walter during the time period of World War Two, were really scary and offputting. I realize that they were supposed to be actors for Walter's use, but at that point I stopped watching. Bosley Crowther was right, in his 1940s critique of this film, in that there is not much to redeem it. I did like Jane Wyman's hair, hat and other costuming in the earlier scenes. Of course, I always like Jack. If not for Jack, I would have given this film a 2 or 3 — I think my lowest of any of the around 374-ish number of films I have reviewed on this site since 2002. I did like seeing Irene Manning, Fay Templeton from Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942, two years earlier). I always enjoy seeing Alan Hale, Sr. I hate the black and white!Jack, I still love you. I am a degreed historian from the university, actress, dancer, singer, makeup artist, film critic and movie reviewer.

blanche-2 Jack Carson and Jane Wyman star in "Make Your Own Bed," from 1944, also starring Alan Hale and Ricardo Cortez.Carson plays Jerry, a private detective, who is in jail for arresting the DA. In jail, he meets Walter (Hale) there on a minor matter. Walter is desperate for a cook and butler. In order to get Jerry to work for him, he says that his life is in danger, a neighbor is after his wife, and Nazi spies abound. He also wants a cook, so Jerry talks his fiancée Susan (Wyman) to go along with him.Walter does all he can to keep Jerry "on the case." He sends threatening letters to himself and hires radio actors to play spies.Walter can't buttle, and Susan can't cook but they keep trying; despite there being no case originally, it turns out there is one after all.Cute but dated, with Jerry presenting Susan as his wife and then being stuck in a room with her that has a double bed. It's a very slight movie, with decent acting. Carson was always pleasant and Wyman very talented and pretty, Hale appropriately uppity - all are good, there's just not much to the movie.

JohnHowardReid A very amusing comedy, directed with an occasional flourish by Peter Godfrey (e.g. Jack Carson's frantic chase after Jane Wyman through the sidewalk crowds), and cleverly photographed by Robert Burks. Two of my favorite people, namely Ricardo Cortez and Tala Birell, have only minor roles, alas, but Jack Carson is in his element as a would-be detective and there's a most unusual interpretation by Robert Shayne of Carson's Ralph Bellamy-style boss! Jane Wyman makes an effective stooge. Her cooking scene is very neatly timed. In fact, the whole episode with the dinner is really hilarious, each gag being neatly topped by another, and thus building to a really rib-tickling finale. Alan Hale makes an excellent foil, while Irene Manning and George Tobias provide many chuckles with their well-timed comedy support. True, the movie is not all clear sailing. There are a couple of slow patches – chiefly two or three dialogue exchanges between Carson and Wyman which sharper film editing should have trimmed away. (Clarence Kolster must have been asleep at his bench). Nevertheless, the pace generally is brisk and seeing the movie on TV does not have the same ambiance as viewing it in a theatre. The situations are lively and amusing, while production values might certainly be described as lavish. In fact, photography, sets, costumes and music scoring could all justly be labeled "top-drawer".

LIND77777-1 Exhibit A that the screwball comedy was still alive in 1944. Maybe not exactly well, but energetically kicking. Jack Carter's dynamism and Jane Wyman's comic versatility keep one involved in this fast-paced romp, even though the plot is nearly incoherent. The framing device is a wealthy December-May couple, delightfully played by Alan Hale & Irene Manning, desperate to obtain household help for their country estate. Throw in Jack Carter as an incompetent & feckless would-be detective, stringing along his quizzical fiancée Jane Wyman.Carter & Wyman's bumbling as butler and cook are hilarious, underscored by Manning as their ditzy boss. A comical, but not exactly comical development involving Nazi spies--or are they?--gets hopelessly garbled. A strange plot device in 1944. Yet the charm of the principal actors makes for an entertaining time.