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Crappy film

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

In today's world, imperious butler Basil Rathbone would be slammed immediately with a ton of sexual harassment suits and all sorts of other charges as he demands a take from the salary packets of each of the servants he hires, and can fire at will. When first seen, Rathbone is berating each of the staff for little things he considers unacceptable, whether it be maid Patsy Kelly's hair, or the condition of cook Jane Darwell's condition. Kelly is busy minding the birds when Loretta Young appears at a side door looking for a job. Rathbone, obviously ogling her from the moment he turns around in his office and sees her, offers her a position with a $15 a month cut, then later makes his intentions clear when he saves her from the advances of a lecherous chauffeur. Young is promoted to the ladies' maid for the gracious mistress of the house (Marjorie Gateson) whose son (Robert Taylor) arrives home from college and is immediately enchanted by Young whom he believes is a party guest. After Rathbone gets Young out of a scrape with the law, Young (along with Kelly) accompanies Gateson and Taylor to the country where a romance blossoms between ladies maid and the wealthy son, leading to potential scandal where Rathbone uses Young's legal past against her.A light hearted first half turns a bit cold in the last few reels where Young must declare her innocence of any wrong doing, and I found myself losing interest at that point. Up until then, the film had been a mixture of upstairs/downstairs style drawing room comedy (an American version of "Downton Abbey") with some interesting drama, but then after a scene where the master of the house (Paul Harvey) accuses Young of luring his son into marriage, it becomes an overly chatty courtroom mess where all the humor of the first half turned into gushy soap opera. As horrid as his character is, Basil Rathbone is excellent, an example of somebody abusing his power in every way he can. Gateson, who could play society matrons both snobbish and dizzy, makes her character here extremely likable, an understanding woman of conscience who wants to stand up to imperious husband Harvey and support Young but feels trapped under his thumb. Taylor, like Young, seems too old to be believable as a college age student, but I found them an attractive pairing together. As usual, Patsy Kelly gives a raucous and scene stealing performance, with Joe E. Lewis very funny as her date in one scene, bringing along a shy toothy sailor (actor unknown) who can only say hello, but can give a great punch when an intruder makes a pass at Young in front of him. The sequence involving obvious May Beatty seems like something out of another movie, utilized only as leverage for Rathbone to have something on Young. This has a lot going for it, but some twists in the screenplay prevents it from being as satisfying as it could have been.

This is a lovely 1930s film (1936 so not a pre-Code, despite some elements sneaked past the censors), with one of the most beautifully shot romances of cinema in this era.Both stars - Loretta Young and Robert Taylor - are of course radiant on screen, and the plot is sweet, never getting overly melodramatic. It's also reasonably plausible for film plots of this era (divorce lawyers may have some bones to pick with the court scene, but for a lay audience, it's fine).At the end of the film it turns out that Loretta Young's character is supposed to be 17. That's possibly the least plausible aspect, since she looks and comes across as far more sophisticated - she was 22/23 when she filmed this.The supporting cast are wonderful here too: others have commented on Basil Rathbone's sinister and villainous butler, but Patsy Kelly deserves a mention as the sparky friend.Very enjoyable and lovely to watch.

In a film that was primarily a vehicle for Loretta Young, I'm guessing that Darryl Zanuck did not want to use his favorite leading man Tyrone Power in this remake of Common Clay. Power and Young did do several films together in the Thirties, but they were either equal vehicles or Power predominated. So Zanuck got the services of Robert Taylor who was the MGM equivalent of Power for Private Number.Or it's possible that Power also took a look at the script and realized that the part Basil Rathbone had would be a show stealer. Or that Basil Rathbone would make it one as the villainous and lecherous butler is the kind of role Rathbone could really sink his teeth into.Certainly the part is out of the Snidely Whiplash tradition of villains. Rathbone is the tyrannical butler who rules the house servants with an iron hand including 20% kickbacks on their salaries of which the clueless masters Paul Harvey and Marjorie Gateson know nothing and for reasons I can't figure out no one is telling them or complaining. The only who raises her voice to Rathbone is cook Jane Darwell.When Loretta Young arrives looking for work, Rathbone in true stage villain tradition is willing to forget the kickback for other considerations. But Young catches the eye of Robert Taylor as Harvey's and Gateson's son. They marry in secret and Young keeps her pregnancy a secret for as long as she can.With Rathbone playing Iago as well as Snidely Whiplash to the parents they move for an annulment. It all gets rather messy in court, but of course it all works out for the course of true love.Young is certainly beautiful and who wouldn't fall for her. Only toward the end is Taylor given anything to do that requires any real acting on his part. Patsy Kelly playing Patsy Kelly is also fine as Young's best friend. But the one you will really remember from Private Number is Basil Rathbone.

I caught this film for the very first time,as I can remember,on Fox Movie Channel.The lead actor was listed as Tyronne Power instead of Robert Taylor.I don't know whether the fault lies with TV Guide or the cable channel.Maybe both.I enjoyed watching a young Loretta Young,one of my favorites.The storyline deals with a maid who falls in love,marries and has a baby for her employers son.Basil Rathbone,another one of my favs,plays the wicked butler who cooks up a devilish plot to have her arrested and and discredited in the eyes of her employers and fired.This old black and white charm took me way back to my childhood days watching Ms Young's television show with similar stories.Released way back in the 1930's,it is a jewel of a picture.Can you believe TV Guide even had it listed as a comedy?