If You Could Only Cook (1935)

In the heart of the bustling 1930s motor industry, James Buchanan, a wealthy magnate and creativemind behind the Buchanan Motor Car Company, finds himself yearning for the vivacious spirit of his youth. Despite his wealth and influence, Buchanan is ensnared in a life of quiet desperation, grappling with a board of directors who dismiss his innovative designs and a looming marriage to Evelyn Fletcher, a socialite who offers him more social respectability than romantic joy. One day, in the midst of his existential turmoil, Buchanan finds himself on a park bench beside the spirited, down-on-her-luck Joan Hawthorne. As she scans the want ads for a job, Buchanan, mistaken for a fellow job seeker, is presented with an intriguing proposal. Hawthorne suggests they pose as a married couple to secure an unusual ‘couple’ butler/cook job advertised for the household of ex-bootlegger turned gourmet, Mike Rossini. Intrigued by the prospect of a life less ordinary, Buchanan, under the guise of Jim Burns, embarks on this whimsical adventure, leaving behind his industrial empire and his loyal butler to maintain the facade of his ordinary life. Their new employment, however, comes with its own set of complications. Rossini's gangster background lurks beneath the surface, his right-hand thug, Flash, grows suspicious of Buchanan and Joan, and most unexpectedly, Rossini begins to fall for the supposedly married Joan. Amid these predicaments, Buchanan finds himself profoundly smitten by Joan, fostering a desire for a future with her rather than his affluent yet loveless life with Evelyn. As the tale unfurls, Buchanan is left to navigate the turbulent waters of this complex charade, a world away from his corporate battles, leading him towards an inevitable day of reckoning. This charming tale of mistaken identities, unanticipated romances, and the quest for authentic happiness encapsulates the essence of 'If You Could Only Cook.'

If You Could Only Cook is a comedy movie featuring Herbert Marshall.

If You Could Only Cook is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.