Schlitz Playhouse (TV Series) No Second Helping (1957) User Reviews

"I don't enjoy playing the corny role of the jealous wife."

[mark.waltz · 9/10 · 18 January 2022]

Of course, if my husband compared me to a Gibson Girl in 1957 (a title that was popular in 1910), I might feel slightly insecure too. That's the story for the timeless beauty Myrna Loy, as gorgeous in 1957 as she was in 1934 when she made "The Thin Man". Husband Tom Helmore balks over her jealousy when she finds a letter to him from a younger woman, the daughter of an old friend. Loy insists that he invite the young lady over, ready for a showdown. She recalls the story of an older man who, in her words: "He needed the old wife for intellectual companionship as a young girl for fuel." Jill St. John comes over for the showdown which results in some truly hysterical banter where Loy gets to unsheath the jungle red claws. This oft told conflict of older woman vs. Younger woman has some great twists, turning in directions I didn't see coming. It's nice to see two beautiful women from different generations going head-to-head, and of course, Loy steals every moment she is on stream which is basically the entire show. It's too bad she never did a sitcom in a leading role. He would have been as equally popular today as Lucy. She is dynamite. Helmore's terrific, reminding me of a very American version of Ronald Colman. This classic Anthology TV episode is a delight from start to finish and will have the viewer smiling broadly for its sophistication and wit.

A delightful episode of Scxhlitz Playhouse with Myrna Loy in top form

[jameseabawden · 10/10 · 31 July 2008]

A delightful episode, it was written originally as the TV debut of William Powell who was to be reunited with his old Thin Man co-star Myrna Loy. Powell eventually bowed out pleading ill health and slipped into permanent retirement. Loy continued as the understanding middle aged wife of Tom Helmore who almost has a fling with the young and delightful Jill St. John. Loy was never as warm and wonderful as here. Miss Loy has written in her autobiography that she initially was displeased with the drop dead gorgeous St. John but eventually appreciated her qualities as a comedienne. Helmore was starring in TV episodes at this time while making movies in which he had small roles. In Vertiogo he excelled as Jimmy Stewart's college pal and in Advise And Consent he was the British ambassador.

Very good episode

[tforbes-2 · 10/10 · 13 May 2016]

Had things worked out as planned, this episode would have reunited Myrna Loy and William Powell. It was not meant to be, because the latter sustained health problems while making "Mr. Roberts" in 1954.

But it didn't matter here, because the episode works well. Though it may seem like an ever-so-slight outing, "No Second Helping" is actually an exploration of middle age and youth, of a fling that never takes place.

As a fan of Jill St. John, this episode is a cool chronicle of her time as a Universal starlet. She had already worked as a child actress, and then had a brief break before beginning her more-adult career in full force in 1957. Both she and Myrna Loy are incredibly lovely to look at (yes, 52-year-old Myrna Loy!), and all the performers do very well.

For those who like vintage TV, fun watching!