My Dear Secretary is a 1948 American comedy film written and directed by Charles Martin and starring Laraine Day, Kirk Douglas, Keenan Wynn, and Helen Walker. The supporting cast features Rudy Valee, Alan Mowbray and Irene Ryan.

Plot

Successful novelist and playboy Owen Waterbury (Kirk Douglas) hires aspiring writer Stephanie Steve Gaylord (Laraine Day) as his secretary; a dream come true for Steve who admires Owen and his work. Steve soon finds out that the egomaniacal Owen has gone through a series of secretaries who have left when they are fed up with his behaviour. He is constantly in debt and cannot begin to write a contracted novel that will pay his bills including a lucrative advance by his publisher. Steve and Owen end up marrying, and Steve perseveres until the novel, based on the events of Steve s life and that mentions a character based on his publisher shown in an unflattering light, is refused publication.

Owen claims he cannot have a wife and a secretary so fires his wife and goes back to his old ways, hiring an admiring and attractive female to be his secretary. In the meantime Steve takes Owen s rejected manuscript to her former companion, Charles Harris (Rudy Vallee), who is a major publisher. Harris, who now employs Elsie (Helen Walker), Owen s former secretary before Steve, also agrees to read Steve s manuscript.

Harris finds Owen s manuscript interesting but ordinary, but believes Steve s manuscript to be not only worthy of publication but a serious candidate for literary prizes. Steve initially refuses publication due to hurting Owen s fragile ego but soon changes her mind because of the philandering. Steve goes on to be a best-selling author, causing Owen extreme annoyance. She hires an attractive male secretary, after which Owen snaps and insists that he will be her secretary. Steve narrates a book based on their life to Owen. They end up getting back together.

Cast

• Laraine Day as Stephanie Steve Gaylord
• Kirk Douglas as Owen Waterbury
• Keenan Wynn as Ronnie Hastings
• Helen Walker as Elsie
• Rudy Vallee as Charles Harris
• Florence Bates as Horrible Hannah Reeve
• Alan Mowbray as Deveny
• Helene Stanley as Miss Clay Pidgeon
• Irene Ryan as Mary
• Gale Robbins as Dawn O Malley
• Grady Sutton as Sylvan Scott
• Virginia Hewitt as Felicia Adams

Year	1948
ReleaseDate	1948-11-05
RuntimeMins	94
RuntimeStr	1h 34min
Plot	A romance novelist appoints a would-be writer as his secretary. Although she is initially dismayed by his work ethic and playboy attitude, they begin to fall in love.
Directors	Charles Martin
Writers	Charles Martin
Stars	Laraine Day, Kirk Douglas, Keenan Wynn
Produced by	Joseph H. Nadel,Harry M. Popkin,Leo C. Popkin
Music by	Heinz Roemheld
Cinematography by	Joseph F. Biroc
Film Editing by	Arthur H. Nadel
Production Design by	Rudi Feld
Art Direction by	Rudi Feld
Set Decoration by	Jacque Mapes
Makeup Department	Scotty Rackin,Lee Greenway,Harry Ray
Production Management	Del Clouse,Hugh Bennett
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director	Maurie M. Suess
Sound Department	Ben Winkler
Camera and Electrical Department	Henry Maak,Frank Tanner,Lothrop B. Worth
Costume and Wardrobe Department	Maria P. Donovan
Music Department	David Chudnow,Herschel Burke Gilbert
Script and Continuity Department	Cora Palmatier
Additional Crew	Harry M. Popkin
Genres	Comedy, Romance
Companies	Harry Popkin Productions
Countries	USA
Languages	English
ContentRating	Approved
ImDbRating	5.7
ImDbRatingVotes	1055
Keywords	pretty woman,secretary,writer,novel,aspiring writer