"Libeled Lady" (1936) is a sparkling romantic comedy of errors. When commitment shy newspaper editor, Warren Haggerty (Spencer Tracy) finds that his newspaper is being sued for alleging that a socialite, Connie Allenbury (Myrna Loy) is a home-wrecker he delays plans to marry his fiancée Gladys (Jean Harlow) yet again, by placing her in the midst of elegant playboy, Bill Chandler (William Powell). The idea is to have Gladys and Bill marry so that Connie will then be fooling around with a married man - hence Warren's paper will be off the hook for printing the initial story. But the plot goes hopelessly and predictably awry when Gladys starts to have genuine feelings for Bill and he for her. So what's a struggling foursome to do? Director, Jack Conway fleshes out this thimble of a plot with a series of hilarious vignettes and some really stellar acting from the cheap seats, including cameos by Charles Grapewin, Arthur Connelly and Cora Witherspoon - all instantly recognizable war horses from MGM's ever expanding stable of second string talent. "Libeled Lady" may be light and fluffy, but it certainly packed a wallop at the box office.
Warner's DVD treatment is below par. The black and white image has been mastered from very grainy, dirty and softly focused elements. Contrast levels are barely adequate, though at times weak. There's a hint of edge enhancement and some fine detail shimmering. Fine details are sometimes nicely realized. Film grain is intense. Age related artifacts are present throughout. An audio only radio broadcast is the only extra included.
Warner's DVD treatment is below par. The black and white image has been mastered from very grainy, dirty and softly focused elements. Contrast levels are barely adequate, though at times weak. There's a hint of edge enhancement and some fine detail shimmering. Fine details are sometimes nicely realized. Film grain is intense. Age related artifacts are present throughout. An audio only radio broadcast is the only extra included.