More Than a Secretary 1936

Carol Baldwin, played by Jean Arthur, and her friend Helen Davis, portrayed by Ruth Donnelly, are the dedicated owners and instructors at the Supreme Secretarial School, a place where aspiring secretaries learn the skills needed for their careers. Despite their expertise, they become concerned about one of their students, Maizie, played by [Dorothea Kent], who struggles with basic skills such as spelling, taking dictation, and typing. When asked about her purpose at the school, Maizie humorously responds, “I’m here for the same reason that every other smart girl’s here - to, uh, get a chance to meet nice men,” which causes the instructors to dismiss her skill level temporarily.

Maizie, who seems somewhat lacking in ability, is unexpectedly hired by a former student who drops by with her own new protege. This new opportunity arises even after Carol hints to her employer that Maizie might be too inexperienced for the job. Despite her lack of experience, Maizie’s cheerful persistence and the encouragement of her new contacts make her a surprising hire, prompting Carol to start questioning whether unconventional qualities might sometimes be just as valuable as traditional skills.

Meanwhile, George Brent plays Fred Gilbert, the charismatic and health-conscious editor of Body and Brain magazine. Gilbert calls Carol after learning about her from an anonymous source and later mistakes her for a new secretary when they meet in person. Intrigued and charmed, Carol doesn’t correct him and quickly develops feelings for him, which she keeps to herself. Gilbert is a devoted fitness fanatic who leads his staff in daily exercises at 11 o’clock, emphasizing health and well-being. He is also very particular about nutrition, offering his team a simple but nutritious lunch, which he believes is vital for productivity.

Gilbert’s boss, Mr. Charles Halton, who is the publisher of the magazine, observes Gilbert’s unorthodox methods with suspicion, especially when Gilbert’s approach influences the circulation of Body and Brain. Despite doubts from Mr. Crosby, written by Lionel Stander, Gilbert’s initiatives begin to pay off, leading to some humorous and endearing moments.

One evening, Gilbert invites Carol to dinner. She chooses a steak, but finds it tastes terrible because it’s made of vegetables and nuts—something Gilbert had prepared for her. At home, Carol vents her complaints about the meal to Helen but then relishes a real steak later. Gilbert, meanwhile, endeavors to improve his magazine’s content and suggests adding “cheesecake” photos of scantily clad women to boost sales. Gilbert flatly refuses her suggestions, focusing instead on fixing the magazine’s circulation issues. When Gilbert catches a cold, Carol takes the initiative to implement her ideas without his approval, which results in her being fired. However, Gilbert, recognizing her value, apologizes, and she is rehired as the magazine’s associate editor, promising to soften his strict office rules, which causes their relationship to develop a more romantic tone.

As Gilbert’s feelings deepen, his close friend, Reginald Denny, who plays Bill Houston, asks for a favor. Bill’s wife is returning from Europe, and he wants to dismiss his attractive blonde secretary, Maizie. Though Gilbert initially refuses to hire Maizie, he ends up promoting Carol and replacing her with Maizie, much to Carol’s disappointment. Gilbert begins to spend increasingly more nights out with Maizie, neglecting his work and causing frustration for Carol, who finds herself doing much of Gilbert’s work while he is away in Atlantic City with Maizie. Finally, feeling disillusioned, Carol decides to leave him.

Realizing he truly loves Carol, Gilbert tries to fix their relationship. When Maizie refuses to leave her job, Gilbert persuades Mr. Crosby to hire her, which he does after meeting her personally. But when Gilbert attempts to contact Carol, he discovers she has moved away with Helen. Determined to reconnect, Gilbert writes a heartfelt letter through his magazine, which irritates Carol at first. However, this act eventually prompts her to return. Seeing her again, Gilbert finally musters the courage to ask her to marry him, and she accepts, bringing their story to a hopeful and romantic conclusion.