Personal Maid's Secret (1935) watch online HD

Not a bad little film with the fabulous Ruth Donnelly in the title role of the maid. One has to suspend a sense of realism to think that even those people living in a small apartment had maid service!! I mean, to look at the apartment of Margaret Lindsay and Warren Hull, you would think that they don't have two nickles to rub together--let alone afford a maid!! But if you can overlook that fact, then this is a nice little movie that keeps your attention throughout. Also, it is another treat to watch Margaret Lindsay--one of the best actresses ever. But it is the great Ruth Donnelly that keeps the film going--she is another character actress never given her due and it is so nice to see her headline a film on her own. Like a certain IMDBer has said "Pass the popcorn"--you will enjoy this film a lot, I think.

In the 1930s and 40s, thousands and thousands of B-movies were made in Hollywood. These films were meant to be the lesser film on a double feature---a lower budgeted film that was churned out very quickly. Not surprisingly, these films also featured lesser-named actors. Now many of them were rather poor BUT many were actually as good or better than the accompanying feature! So, B didn't necessarily mean bad or inferior. A great example of this is "Personal Maid's Secret". Despite only clocking in at 58 minutes (and most Bs were between 55 and 65 minutes), it's a dandy film for many reasons. To me, the biggest reason was that it starred Ruth Donnelly. Donnelly was a wonderful actress but was never a starring actress--mostly because she was not beautiful and was usually cast as a supporting player. She was fine in these roles, but "Personal Maid's Secret" showed she COULD carry a film--though, oddly, she did not receive top billing. This was given to Margaret Lindsay--who clearly was NOT the lead in the film. The other reason is that the film was well written from start to finish--and especially good near the end of the film, where it took some nice twists. All in all, a very satisfying B--one you should see if you have a chance.

By the way, some might blanch at the comments the little boy makes in the film about 'colored people', though I think he was adorable and the comments UNUSUAL, not racist. See the film and see what I mean.

I love this movie! The opening music is up tempo and very 30's. There are great character actors and the scenes of Park Avenue and double decker buses are wonderful. Another reviewer said the story was a stretch because the couples' first apartment was not so nice and if they lived there how could they afford a maid. I think that the story is believable because the furniture was correct for the time and their status and the fact that they had so many rooms - living room, dining room, at least 3 bedrooms, kitchen and maid's quarters - definitely put them in a class that could have supported a maid and the salary mentioned. If you enjoy looking at the architecture, furnishings, etc this is a real period piece. I am just old enough to remember some of those buildings on Park Avenue and it is a good glimpse of old NY.

The actors are a treat too. The casting seems perfect to me. Even the young boy does a good job.

It is a very upbeat story so just sit back and enjoy it as the audiences of the time must have. Goodness prevails and the maid's secret is safely in the happiest of endings.

Although Margaret Lindsay, Warren Hull and Anita Louise are billed above her, the true star of this 1935 feature film is the incomparable actress Ruth Donnelly as 'Lizzie' the Personal Maid with a big secret. Some reviewers do not believe people living in Manhattan in the mid 1930's in modest apartments had maids. Well, my folks were wealthy, we owned apartment buildings in Greenwich Village and an estate in The Hamptons. We had a butler, cook, parlor maid, valet and a ladies maid. Only Dad's valet who doubled as chauffeur lived with us. But many of the family friends had lost most of their wealth in The Depression. They did not live in large apartments, but all had at least a full-time maid and often also a cook. To me the apartments shown were far more realistic in size and furnishings than in most 1935 films.

Arthur Treacher plays a butler as he did frequently. Anita Louise plays Diana, a mad-cap 17 or 18 year-old running around with married men, much to her mother's disapproval. Since the Production Code was fully-enforced in 1935, we only see hints of just what Diana does with those married men and she does drink, but in New York then the legal drinking age was 18 and not strictly enforced.

The nominal stars are Margaret Lindsay and Warren Hull as 'Joan' and 'Jimmy' Smith who hire 'Lizzie' although then they cannot afford her. By magic and good connections, Lizzie charms the rich folks of the Upper East Side so that the fortune of the Smith's vastly increase during the film. Frank Albertson plays Joan's brother 'Kent Fletcher' who is successful designing carburetors and falls in love with Diana.

I found all of these performers excellent, but Ruth Donnelly as Lizzie gets most of the best lines.

Please note that one of my favorite character actors, Claude King, plays 'Mr. B. Abercrombie' grandfather of Diana. Maude Turner Gordon plays 'Mrs. Abercrombie'. These performers do not get much screen time, but they are outstanding, as both of them were in countless movies.

The only sad thing is that the TCM print of the movie needs preservation and restoration. Possibly TCM has restored it to the extent possible, but now that WB has improved restoration software, it would be great if they gave "Personal Maid's Secret" another restoration pass!

I just saw this movie on TCM for the first time. If you want a movie with so many miraculous doings, all wishes come true and the ending is sweet, this one pretty much covers it. About 25 minutes into the movie you learn the maid's secret. The scene is poignant and could have been the beginning of a lovely movie. However, it misses that opportunity for sake of happy feelings.

Apparently this maid is also full of magic. The regular guy comes home to find his wife has hired a maid at $75 a month and they can't afford it. Quicker than you can smile, the maid suggests they move to a more expensive place and they're there. Another suggestion gets them to a 14-room mansion with tennis court and pool. Plus other servants and a Governess. This all happens in rapid succession without explanation or time to figure out how one person can become wealthy so quickly. Their little boy doesn't age a bit or grow in height, so it's a maid's miracle!

The beauty of the film is not what happens to this family but what happens between the maid and another person, who she also tries to rescue.

The beautiful Anita Louise is so radiant and stunning. All the actors are good, despite a choppy script.

This movie is not played for seriousness or tears. If you stop to ask questions, you'll dismiss it as ridiculous. Movies like this were made to uplift folks who wanted to believe in a dream during the Great Depression. With a minor bit about an adulterous married man, you can tell it's also before the Code of Decency kicked in.