He Couldn’t Say No 1938

Frank McHugh stars as Lambert T. Hunkins, a mild-mannered linoleum-company worker whose quiet routine is upended by a small raise from $30 to $40 a month. The news comes with a side of family pressure, because Lambert’s fiancée, Jane Wyman as Violet Coney, and her practical mother, Mrs. Coney (Cora Witherspoon), decide it’s time for a wedding. Lambert is too gentle to argue, and the prospect of a stable home life begins to feel almost within reach—until a single impulsive decision changes everything.

At a bustling auction, Lambert’s eyes, and his heart, are drawn to a statue that bears an uncanny resemblance to Iris Mabby, the elegant socialite Lambert has admired from afar. Iris Mabby, played by Diana Lewis, holds a place in his imagination that real life can hardly satisfy. Yet the statue’s owner isn’t a shy admirer waiting for the right moment; it’s Lambert himself, who finds himself unable to walk away from the art, even as Iris’s father, Senator Mabby, portrayed by Berton Churchill, looms in the background with political trouble simmering in the air. The Senator has a public anti-nudity crusade to uphold, and the very piece that resembles his daughter threatens to embarrass him. Lambert’s refusal to sell, at any price, becomes a catalyst that turns a private romance into a sensational headline.

The encounter draws a street reporter into the story as well, with John Ridgely turning Lambert’s stubborn stance into a national curiosity. Iris, meanwhile, isn’t bound by her father’s politics and is curious about the ordinary man who won’t bow to pressure. She discovers that Lambert is more than a target of headlines; he is a person of unexpected depth. Iris’s visit is complemented by the sculptor Julia Becker, played by Rita Gould, who arrives with the idea of providing two companion statues inspired by Iris, hinting at a future that could bridge Lambert’s world with Iris’s glamorous sphere.

But the situation takes a darker turn when Hymie Atlas, played by [Raymond Hatton], enters the scene with his two rough-and-tumble henchmen—Slug, portrayed by [William Haade], and Dimples, portrayed by [Tom Kennedy]. They crash Lambert’s apartment with a plan to coerce a staggering price from him: $150,000. The tension rocks Lambert’s already fragile courage, as the Senator Mabby and Iris come and go, and Dimples is left to watch Lambert with a wary eye. The group’s presence magnifies the danger, and Iris’s confidence in Lambert wavers as the stakes rise.

When a telegram reveals a possible alternative—the Iowa museum’s bid of $5,000—Lambert seizes a moment of audacity. He knocks Dimples out and steals a linoleum truck, intending to transport the artwork to the museum’s representatives. The plan is bold, almost reckless, and it demonstrates a cunning that few would suspect from a man of Lambert’s demeanor. Yet the crooks return with a vengeance, and a tense pursuit ensues. In a pivotal chase, Hymie and Slug drive toward the buyers, while Lambert, cleverly hidden in plain sight, has to outmaneuver them. The criminals, convinced they are delivering the statue to a paying buyer, discover too late that the “statue” is actually Dimples—unconscious and left in their path, a twist that underscores Lambert’s resourceful improvisation.

Parsons, Lambert’s boss, arrives with the police, and the gang is finally captured. The triumph isn’t merely about recovering the artwork; it’s about recognizing Lambert’s growing resolve and odd ingenuity. Parsons is impressed enough to offer Lambert his job back, a gesture that acknowledges the transformation from a timid clerk to a capable problem-solver who can navigate danger with a blend of wit and calm. The public spectacle of the affair has yielded more than money; it has revealed a man capable of choosing honesty and courage over comfort and conformity.

As the dust settles, Violet and Mrs. Coney appear, expecting an apology or perhaps a wedding announcement. Instead of bowing to old expectations, Lambert makes a startling choice: he reveals his intention to pass on Violet and commit to Iris Mabby. With the $5,000 check in hand and the romance between Lambert and Iris clearly blossoming, their future looks bright enough to defy the doubts that once surrounded them. Iris’s response is a warm, open embrace—an ending that feels earned after a journey shaped by awkward beginnings, comedic capers, and a quiet, steadfast determination to do what’s right.

Notes on cast appearances are woven into the narrative through first mentions of each actor’s character:

• Frank McHugh as Lambert T. Hunkins

• Jane Wyman as Violet Coney

• Cora Witherspoon as Mrs. Coney

• Diana Lewis as Iris Mabby

• Berton Churchill as Senator Mabby

• John Ridgely as the street reporter

• Rita Gould as Julia Becker

• Raymond Hatton as Hymie Atlas

• William Haade as Slug

• Tom Kennedy as Dimples

• Ferris Taylor as Oxnard O. Parsons

• Sol Gorss as Mike, the Linoleum Truck Driver

• John Ridgely as the street reporter

• [Dave this and that]