History Film / HandsAcrossTheTable

* {{Chiaroscuro}}: During the roof scenes (and nighttime ones), the lighting is very like what would later be used for FilmNoir, so much so that taking these shots isolated from the entire movie, they look like they could’ve come straight out of a noir. However, for the tone of the film, it creates more of a romantic mood.

Meanwhile, Regi literally bumps into Theodore Drew III (Fred [=MacMurray=]), a millionaire worth trying to nab. Luckily, she gets a date with him. However, Regi finds out that he’s engaged to the pineapple heiress, Vivien Snowden (Astrid Allwyn), and the [[TheGreatDepression Crash]] affected the Drew’s cash flow. But he’s [[CantHoldHisLiquor so drunk]] after their date, she has to keep him in her apartment for the night. When Regi gets back from work, it turns out that Ted missed his boat to Bermuda, and asks Regi to let him stay so his soon-to-be father-in-law and fiancée don’t find out.

--->'''Regi''': Well, I'm not *that* unconventional.

--->'''Regi''': Honest? [meant as, “really”?]

* TheOperatorsMustBeCrazy: On the phoney call from “Bermuda,” Regi pretends to be the operator, and keeps interrupting Ted’s conversation with Vivian.

Working at a barbershop, she comes across lonely millionaire, Allen Macklyn (Creator/RalphBellamy), a recluse former flyer who, after an aviation accident, now uses a wheelchair. He doesn’t want people to feel sorry for him, so he never goes out. Regi’s visits make him less grumpy and have a better outlook on life. He laughs at her cynical nature towards love, knowing that she’s probably a closeted romantic.

Meanwhile, Regi literally bumps into Theodore Drew III (Fred [=MacMurray=]), a millionaire worth trying to nab. Luckily, she gets a date with him. However, Regi finds out that he’s engaged to the pineapple heiress, Vivien Snowden (Astrid Allwyn), and the [[TheGreatDepression Crash]] affected the Drew’s cash flow. But he’s so [[CannotHoldHisLiquor drunk]] after their date, she has to keep him in her apartment for the night. When Regi gets back from work, it turns out that Ted missed his boat to Bermuda, and asks Regi to let him stay so his soon-to-be father-in-law and fiancée don’t find out.

Working at a barbershop, she comes across lonely millionaire, Allen Macklyn (Creator/RalphBellamy), a recluse former flyer who, after an aviation accident, now uses a wheelchair. He doesn’t want people to feel sorry for him, so he never goes out. Regi’s visits make him less grumpy, and have a better outlook on life. He laughs at her cynical nature towards love, knowing that she’s probably a closeted romantic.

Meanwhile, Regi literally bumps into Theodore Drew III (Fred [=MacMurray=]), a millionaire worth trying to nab. Luckily, she gets a date with him. However,Regi finds out that he’s engaged to the pineapple heiress, Vivien Snowden (Astrid Allwyn), and the Crash effected the Drew’s cash flow. But he’s so completely drunk after their date, she had to keep him in her apartment for the night. When Regi gets back from work, it turns out that Ted missed his boat to Bermuda, and asks Regi to let him stay so his soon-to-be father-in-law and fiancée don’t find out.

They both realize that they’re after the same thing: money. Love is something that can’t exist to them, so become friends, but staying friends proves to be the hard part.

Meanwhile, Regi literally bumps into Theodore Drew III (Fred [=MacMurray=]), a millionaire worth trying to nab. Luckily, gets a date with him, but sadly finds out he’s engaged to the pineapple heiress, Vivien Snowden (Astrid Allwyn), and the Crash effected the Drew’s cash flow. However, he’s so completely drunk after their date, she keeps him in her apartment for the night. When Regi gets back from work, it turns out that Ted missed his boat to Bermuda, and asks Regi to let him stay so his soon-to-be father-in-law and fiancée don’t find out.

''Hands Across the Table'' (1935) is a Creator/ParamountPictures ScrewballComedy about Regi Allen (Creator/CaroleLombard), a gold-digging manicurist thinks love is for suckers and doesn’t want anything to do with it.

* HiccupHijinks: To get rid of Regi’s hiccups, Ted tells her that she needs to stand over her glass of water, and sip from the other side. It works [[spoiler: until her hiccups come back seconds later.]]

* HeadsTailsEdge: Ted tells Regi that he’ll get a job (something he doesn’t want) if the coin lands on an edge. [[spoiler: They’re on a bus, and Regi flips it and it falls onto the street, and the block up traffic trying to find the coin, and it turns up in its edge, because it landed in on of the crevices of a manhole.]]

* GreenEyedMonster: Vivian’s response to Ted being around Regi. Interestingly enough, once she realizes he’s in love, she understands and lets him do what he wants.

* ShirtlessScene: Ted needs to pretend that he was in Bermuda, so Regi gets a tanning lamp from the barbershop. He’s then shirtless for a long period. Regi doesn’t seem to mind.

* SceneryCensor: While pressing his pants, Ted walks around in his underwear for a while, but when he bends down, there’s a strategically placed plant to stop any peeping eyes. It's surprising how much films got away with after the HaysCode crackdown.

* SceneryCensor: While pressing his pants, Ted walks around in his underwear for a while, but when he bends down, there’s a strategically placed plant to stop any peeping eyes. Surprising, as this film was made after the HaysCode crackdown.

* SceneryCensor: While pressing his pants, Ted walks around in his underwear for a while, but when he bends down, there’s a strategically placed plant to stop any peeping eyes.

* LiteralMinded: Oh Ted:

Meanwhile, Regi literally bumps into Theodore Drew III ([=FredMacMurray=]), a millionaire worth trying to nab. Luckily, gets a date with him, but sadly finds out he’s engaged to the pineapple heiress, Vivien Snowden (Astrid Allwyn), and the Crash effected the Drew’s cash flow. However, he’s so completely drunk after their date, she keeps him in her apartment for the night. When Regi gets back from work, it turns out that Ted missed his boat to Bermuda, and asks Regi to let him stay so his soon-to-be father-in-law and fiancée don’t find out.

* BriefAccentImitation: A very of-its-time joke when Ted pretends to be Regi’s “Japanese boy” (servant).

* FlowersOfRomance: Allen sends Regi daffodils. She doesn’t realize he is in love with her.

Directed by Mitchell Leisen, this is a stand-out screwball comedy that not only added to Lombard’s stardom, but made Fred [=MacMurray=] her frequent co-star: they appeared in [[ThoseTwoActors 4 films together]].

* {{Chiaroscuro}}: During the roof scenes (and nighttime ones), the lighting is very like what would be later used for FilmNoir, so much so that taking these shots isolated from the entire movie, they look like they could’ve come out straight from a noir. However, for the tone of the film, it plays more for the romantic mood of the film.

[[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]

''Hands Across the Table'' (1935) is a Creator/Paramount ScrewballComedy about Regi Allen (Creator/CaroleLombard), a gold-digging manicurist thinks love is for suckers and doesn’t want anything to do with it.

**

-->'''Regi''': Well, I'm not *that* unconventional.
-->'''Ted''': Aw, don't be old-fashioned. What are conventions anyway? Just a bunch of salesmen sitting around and telling stories.

-->'''Ted''': Mother says I'm a throwback to my great-grandfather. He was a pirate.
-->'''Regi''': Honest? [meant as, “really”?]
-->'''Ted''': No, a pirate.

** -->'''Ted''': Oh, father's living abroad. He has an amazing ability for borrowing money from practically total strangers. Unfortunately, that ability isn't hereditary.

** -->'''Regi''': Well, I'm not *that* unconventional.

** -->'''Ted''': Mother says I'm a throwback to my great-grandfather. He was a pirate.

!!Hands Across the Table shows the following tropes:

* ColourCodedForYourConvienience: Regi wears light coloured clothing whereas Vivian tends to wear darker, less becoming clothing.

**
-->'''Ted''': Oh, father's living abroad. He has an amazing ability for borrowing money from practically total strangers. Unfortunately, that ability isn't hereditary.

* HeadsTailEdge: Ted tells Regi that he’ll get a job (something he doesn’t want) if the coin lands on an edge. [[spoiler: They’re on a bus, and Regi flips it and it falls onto the street, and the block up traffic trying to find the coin, and it turns up in its edge, because it landed in on of the crevices of a manhole.]]

**
-->'''Regi''': Well, I'm not *that* unconventional.

**
-->'''Ted''': Mother says I'm a throwback to my great-grandfather. He was a pirate.

* SmokingIsGlamourous: The {{chiaroscuro}} lighting in the rooftop scene makes their smoking look good.

* {{Chiascuro}}: During the roof scenes (and nighttime ones), the lighting is very like what would be later used for FilmNoir, so much so that taking these shots isolated from the entire movie, they look like they could’ve come out straight from a noir. However, for the tone of the film, it plays more for the romantic mood of the film.

* ColorCodedForYourConvienience: Regi wears light coloured clothing whereas Vivian tends to wear darker, less becoming clothing.