It's obvious that butler Dan Duryea has been waiting for an opportunity like this to enter society while his employers are on vacation in Florida. Duryea has the elegance of a thousand Jeeves and impresses the clients of his boss in making the perfect martini. Everybody in the household depends on him, so how will they deal while he's not around? The boss's daughter (Nita Hunter) has a crush on him, and the son (Scotty Beckett) depends on him for common sense. He knows where everything is, and without him, there's no way that can get along, especially mother Barbara Brown who can never find her glasses. So what's a butler to do while his employers are away? Search for his own entrance into society and that occurs with the pretty Ella Raines who is involved with a stuffed shirt whom Duryea easily supplants. Duryea aides her in aiding her sister (a minor character) who has a gambling addiction.
Despite the presence of Duryea, Raines and William Bendix and a title that insinuates film noir, this is actually a light romantic comedy where the humor is too sophisticated for laughs yet completely amusing simply based on its situations. Duryea charms everyone he meets which helps him fool everyone from his employers, coworkers, other members of society and even members of the criminal element (lead by Bendix as a tough talking gambler who is really a big teddy bear, longing to be more sophisticated rather than the big lug he is). It's a nice change of pace for Duryea who is completely subtle. The highlight comes when he makes his confession to Raines about his true identity and she thinks that he is playacting. The finale confrontation is very funny but there is no real conclusion in regards to the Latimer teenage children who obviously adore him.
Despite the presence of Duryea, Raines and William Bendix and a title that insinuates film noir, this is actually a light romantic comedy where the humor is too sophisticated for laughs yet completely amusing simply based on its situations. Duryea charms everyone he meets which helps him fool everyone from his employers, coworkers, other members of society and even members of the criminal element (lead by Bendix as a tough talking gambler who is really a big teddy bear, longing to be more sophisticated rather than the big lug he is). It's a nice change of pace for Duryea who is completely subtle. The highlight comes when he makes his confession to Raines about his true identity and she thinks that he is playacting. The finale confrontation is very funny but there is no real conclusion in regards to the Latimer teenage children who obviously adore him.