Nothing Sacred 1937

New York newspaper reporter Wally Cook (Fredric March) finds himself in hot water after misreporting the story of Harlem bootblack Ernest Walker, whom he mistakenly refers to as a nobleman from the East hosting a charity affair. Faced with the fallout, Cook claims ignorance but is promptly demoted to the dreary task of writing obituaries. Desperate for redemption, he pleads with his boss Oliver Stone (Walter Connolly) for another chance, pointing to a compelling story about Hazel Flagg, a woman believed to be suffering from radium poisoning.

This leads Wally to the fictional town of Warsaw, Vermont, where he finally finds Hazel (Carole Lombard). To his surprise, she is not so much on the verge of dying as she is upset by the news that her doctor has delivered: she is, in fact, not terminally ill and realizes she might be stuck in Vermont forever. Unfazed by her tears, Wally extends an invitation for Hazel and her doctor to visit New York as honored guests of the Morning Star newspaper.

Hazel’s inspiring story becomes a sensational hit, boosting the newspaper’s circulation significantly. She is showered with accolades, receiving a ticker-tape parade and the key to the city, becoming a beacon of hope for many. As the romance blossoms between Wally and Hazel, he, under the impression that she is dying, proposes to her. After a thorough examination by three independent doctors unveils that Hazel is indeed not on the brink of death, city officials, along with Stone, decide it’s best to avoid the ensuing embarrassment—they concoct a story that she has left to die “like an elephant.” In a twist of fate, Hazel and Wally tie the knot and set sail for a new life in the tropics, filled with love and optimism.