The Magnificent Rogue
Cast & Crew
Albert S. Rogell
Lynne Roberts
Warren Douglas
Gerald Mohr
Stephanie Bachelor
Adele Mara
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
While her husband, Steve Morgan, is in the service, Pat Brown has been running his advertising agency with designers Vera Lane and George Sheffield. Having just lost the agency's largest contract, Pat is determined to win Mark Townley's Smoothie Cigarettes account before Steve's return. On the day that Pat arranges to discuss the account with Townley over lunch, Steve makes a surprise early return. When Steve tracks Pat to the restaurant, she pretends they are not married as she knows the wolfish Townley would lose interest in discussing business if he thought her attached. Back at the office, Steve complains about Pat using by her single name and refusing to give up on securing the Townley account, but Vera persuades Steve that Pat is essential to the campaign. The next day Steve tells Pat he does not want her working anymore, but she insists on going into the office. When their argument carries on there, Vera suggests they have a contest, to see whether Pat or Steve will get Townley to sign with the agency. If Pat loses, she promises to give up the business for good and stay home. Vera assures Pat she will give her all her assistance, then privately tells Steve that Pat's poor business sense is what lost the firm their major account. She then promises to help him regain his former business success, agreeing that Pat will be happier at home. Both Pat and Steve then work with Vera designing their individual campaigns. After Townley sees Steve's billboards, which use all male figures, he rejects them. Townley is more impressed by the romantic style of Pat's campaign, but, to Pat's frustration, Steve talks him out of using them. When Townley decides that one identifying model would be best for Smoothies, Steve shows him an old sketch of Pat and Townley demands she be the Smoothie model. Although the billboards featuring Pat are a success, Townley, who still believes Pat is unmarried, avoids signing a contract so he can continue wooing her. Steve visits Townley and gives him a distorted version of the contest, guaranteeing Townley that if he does not sign with Pat, he will fire her, making her free of career obligations so she might marry. When Pat learns about Steve's idea, she angrily agrees to a date with Townley. Steve soon regrets his decision, and when Townley brings Pat home, he almost reveals their marriage. Vera, who lives with the Morgans due to war shortages, intervenes, pretending to be Steve's wife. Because of a bad storm, Townley is forced to spend the night at the Morgans', which arouses jealousy in his girl friend, burlesque queen Sugar Lee. Townley has a reputation for breaking engagements and Sugar threatens him with a breach of promise suit. Townley pleads with Steve to dissuade her, threatening not to sign the contract if he fails. Steve asks Vera for her advice and she encourages him for the sake of the business. That evening Pat has another date with Townley, who plans to propose, and Steve meets Sugar. Vera phones Sugar anonymously to tell her about Townley's date with Pat. The couples meet at a nightclub, but Townley talks up Steve as a wealthy businessman, which distracts Sugar. Pat, shocked and hurt to see Steve with Sugar, quits the firm and leaves with Townley, but not before he delivers the signed contract to Steve. When Townley proposes to Pat, she tearfully tells him about her marriage, but announces she intends to divorce Steve because of his infidelity. Later, Pat tells Vera about discovering Steve with Sugar, and Vera informs her that they have been involved for a long time. After the two women move to an all-women hotel, Steve, frantic to get Pat back, asks Sugar for help. Steve and Sugar stage a ruse to get into the hotel, which only lands them in jail. Completely disheartened, Steve tears up Townley's contract and decides to go to California. That evening at Sugar's nightclub, Vera turns up looking for Steve. Sugar realizes Vera made the anonymous phone call and goes to inform Pat, while showing her the tattered contract. Pat sends Sugar back to Townley, and rushes to the train station, where Vera has talked her way into accompanying Steve on his trip. Pat pretends to be in accord with their departure, but once Vera has boarded the train, she pulls Steve aside. Pat promises to quit working and as the train departs, she and Steve are reconciled.