Synopsis
One year after the supposed drowning death of Vicky Lowndes' (Arthur) first husband, Bill (MacMurray), and six months after she has married his friend and partner, Henry (Douglas), Bill returns. He was marooned on an uninhabited island. Now, Vicky has two husbands. They are arguing over her. Which one does she want? Separately, neither gave her as much attention as she is getting from each of them now. She cannot choose between them because she prefers having them competing for her. A judge says that she is married to Bill, but Henry does not want to give her up. Vicky is delighted to have them squabble over her. In the end, she continues to encourage both.
Discussion
Too Many Husbands is lightweight, silly fun. The plot and dialogue were written to display Jean Arthur's wonderful comic abilities. Light comedy experts Fred MacMurray and Melvyn Douglas complement her well.
Jean Arthur began her film career in 1923. Her roles in early talkies did not utilize her distinctive personality and comic ability. After twelve years and more than fifty silent and sound films Arthur finally became a major star after director Frank Capra cast her in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936). She also received top billing in Capra's You Can't Take it With You (1938) and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939). Arthur's other notable films include If You Could Only Cook (1935), Howard Hawks' Only Angels Have Wings (1939) and the George Stevens films The Talk of the Town (1942), The More the Merrier (1943) and Shane (1953), her final film appearance. She also appeared in an episode of the television series Gunsmoke in 1965, and starred in her own shortlived series, The Jean Arthur Show, in 1966. She died at age 90 in 1991.