SimonJack "Nothing Sacred" is screwball comedy at its best. It's a wild mix of barbs, witty lines, crazy antics and uproariously funny scenes. It's also a wonderful farce about the press and politics. Its satire mocks the high society of New York, the "hicks" of small town New England, and the false sentimentality of the public.The four lead roles are superb. Carole Lombard is Hazel Flagg and Fredric March is Wally Cook. They play marvelously off one another as the comedy shifts into high gear. Charles Winninger plays small own Dr. Enoch Downer who carries a 20-year grudge against the big city newspaper for cheating him out of a quiz prize. Walter Connolly, another staple of Hollywood's golden age of comedy, is Oliver Stone, publisher of the New York Morning Star newspaper. The supporting cast of more than 90 has many actors who have one to several lines -- all very funny. Some snippets that may seem to have little to do with the story are hilarious. One scene shows a construction worker sitting on a steel girder 60 stories up and reading a newspaper on his lunch break. Another scene of a newspaper front page segues into the street food market, and a vendor wraps a big fish in the paper. Another is a close-up of a chalkboard sign at the market, "Miss Hazel Flagg lunched here to-day." The camera pans out and the sign below the produce reads, "All kinds of cheese and bologna our specialty." Screenwriter Ben Hecht and director William Wellman must have thrown every outlandish thought they had into the film. Some wacky scenarios had me laughing aloud. Wally and Hazel attend a wrestling match in Madison Square Garden. It's the funniest wrestling scene put on film. The wrestlers throw the referee and one another out of the ring, and the ref jumps on one of the wrestlers to help the other guy. It's a riot. Toward the film's end, Wally figures out how to fake Hazel's pneumonia. He has to get her pulse racing and her temperature up, so he eggs her on to fight with him. This hilarious scenario had me in stitches. Carole Lombard shows why she was considered Hollywood's queen of screwball comedy. This is one of the funniest scenes I've ever seen in a movie. The film has more side-splitting scenarios. From start to finish, it is loaded with wackiness. It's one of the best screwball comedies ever made. It's the perfect anecdote to play when one is down or needs to laugh. Here are some samples to wet the whistles of those who haven't yet seen this film. The lines are much funnier with the scenes. Wally, "Well, he's got a different quality of charm. He's sort of a cross between a Ferris wheel and a werewolf. But with a likable streak."Oliver, "Doctor, I want to know the worst. I don't want you to spare our feelings. We go to press in 15 minutes."Hazel, "I don't suppose newspapermen marry, as a rule?" Wally, "Not after they're 14 or 15. That's the dangerous age for the journalist. His ideals are not yet formed and he falls easy prey to elderly waitresses. Once his fine side is born, he waits." Hazel, "For what?" Wally, "For sounds of a fire alarm, Miss Flagg. He waits to go rushing off to the fire." Hazel," What fire's that, Mr. Cook?" Wally, "Love!"Wally, "Stop looking so happy and gallant, will ya? It breaks my heart."Hazel, "Oh, Enoch ... If you were only as honest as you look."Wally, "Oliver thought we could get the president, but he's still fishing. I arranged to have the symphony orchestra there instead."Nightclub emcee, "Show them the finger, babe."Oliver, "I am sitting here, Mr. Cook, trying to figure some way out of the blackest disaster that has ever struck down an innocent man since the days of Judas Iscariot."Oliver, "That's Hazel Flagg. The biggest fake of the century. A lying, faking witch with the soul of an eel and the brain of a tarantula." Wally, "She hasn't' got anything wrong with her at all? Sweet heaven, I can't believe it. It's like some kind of miracle."Oliver, "The whole city is getting ready to laugh at us. A howl that'll be heard around the world. It'll be worse than the French Revolution."Wally, "Oliver's having a catfit. You know, I've been misjudging him. When I told him you were safe and sound, he choked up, and he couldn't talk for a minute."Oliver, "Before I'm finished with that female Dracula, she'll know one thing. That Oliver Stone is worse than radium poisoning." Hazel, "You won't hate me so much if I'm behind bars." Oliver, "Pneumonia? It's a lie, I tell you. Temperature of 106? Dying? Go back and take her temperature again. I don't trust that girl until I get a doctor. No, not Dr. Downer. Tell Mo to throw that Vermont quack out of the room the minute he shows his face."Hazel, "What's the use? Why fight them any longer?" Wally, "Because I love you. Because I'm going to marry you and I don't want to spend my honeymoon hanging around Sing Sing throwing kisses to you in the exercise yard. Oliver, "Pneumonia! It's the finger of God if it's true. It's like a pardon from the gallows."Wally, "Now listen to me, and listen carefully. When you come to …" Hazel, "What do you mean, 'come to?'" Wally, "I mean, when you regain consciousness."Mrs. Cartwright (chief ranger), "Miss Flagg … if you persist in flaunting your recovery in this flagrant manner, the trees of America will be without girlfriends.'Fake disappearance note, "I have gone to face the end alone – like an elephant."

anthonydavid-25706 Nothing Sacred is a satire comedy that mostly focuses on death. It is witty, cynical, a bit race but really and entertaining, part of the screwball comedy genre. Carol Lombard is the lead in the film, and she give a great performance. She is stunning and funny through out. I found this film to be on par with My man Godfrey, but i did not enjoy it as much. In order to get some of the jokes you have to put yourself in a 30's mindset, but the film is funny no matter. The plot is a bit far fetched but its the acting that keeps it all together. I had a great time watching this film and recommend it to anyone interested in a good laugh.

t-murphy-94619 Nothing Sacred isn't just boring, its aggravating to watch. None of the characters are endearing. I don't mean likable because there can be unlikable yet endearing characters. Characters the movie makes you hate but still want to root for them. Nothing Sacred does not do that. Fredric March is supposedly the best reporter in the city who makes one career ruining mistake. Then in an attempt to redeem himself he then immediately makes the exact same mistake. He rushes into another feel good story without doing any research. Hazel Flagg is meant to be seen as a pitiable girl in over her head but acts like a spoiled child. Dr. Enoch Downer can't make up his mind between being a reluctant participant or complete imbecile. And the movie's message is that newspapers always lie to get a story and readers are foolish and selfish to latch onto sob stories. The worst part of it all is that this screwball comedy just isn't funny. Site gags and clever wit are very rarely seen and even more rarely successful. The final joke of the movie is the doctor waking up and thinking the hotel he is in has sunk underwater because he hasn't realized he's on a boat. That joke belongs in a Looney tunes cartoon. Although hats off to Nothing Sacred for being the first color comedy.

joedebritz This is a very heart warming well done film. It will not change your life, or make you realize some kind of grand epiphany, but it will entertain you and make you laugh. As most screwball comedies from this time period, this film is very predictable. You know that Wally and Hazel will end up together, but that isn't why you watch the film. The Journey is fun, and Carole Lombard is excellent as usual. She is one of my favorite actresses of the time period. This film is worth a watch, especially if you are a fan of the modern romantic comedy, it will shed a whole new light on the genre.