Editing Ray Milland (section)

===As leading man 1937–1939===
After taking a break in Europe, Milland was cast as [[Bulldog Drummond|Captain Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond]] in ''[[Bulldog Drummond Escapes]]'' (1937).

Milland was then in ''[[Wings over Honolulu]]'' (1937) with Wendy Barrie, and then in ''[[Easy Living (1937 film)|Easy Living]]'' (1937), a classic comedy with [[Jean Arthur]] directed by [[Mitchell Leisen]].

Milland did ''[[Ebb Tide (1937 film)|Ebb Tide]]'' (1937) with [[Frances Farmer]] and was then loaned to RKO for ''[[Wise Girl (film)|Wise Girl]]'' (1937) with [[Miriam Hopkins]].<ref>Ray Milland Signs For Hopkins Film
The Washington Post 30 August 1937: 14.</ref>

Back at Paramount, Milland was reunited with Lamour in ''[[Her Jungle Love]]'' (1938) and ''[[Tropic Holiday]]'' (1938). He then did a military drama for [[William Wellman]], ''[[Men with Wings]]'' (1938), co-starring [[Fred MacMurray]].

Milland did a comedy, ''[[Say It in French]]'' (1938), and then ''[[Hotel Imperial (1939 film)|Hotel Imperial]]'' (1939) with [[Marlene Dietrich]], during the production of which Milland suffered a near-fatal accident on the set. One scene called for him to lead a cavalry charge through a small village. An accomplished horseman, Milland insisted upon doing this scene himself. As he was making a scripted jump on the horse, his saddle came loose, sending him flying straight into a pile of broken masonry. Milland awoke in hospital, where he remained for a week with a badly damaged left hand, a three-inch gash to his head, and a concussion.<ref>Milland (1974), p.189</ref>

After recovering, he appeared as John Geste in ''[[Beau Geste (1939 film)|Beau Geste]]'' (1939), alongside [[Gary Cooper]] and [[Robert Preston (actor)|Robert Preston]] and directed by Wellman. The film was a huge hit. [[20th Century Fox]] then borrowed him for ''[[Everything Happens at Night]]'' (1939) opposite [[Sonja Henie]].

According to Milland, a second injury to his left hand occurred in 1939. As well as horse-riding, Milland enjoyed piloting aircraft and in his early career would lease single-seater planes.<ref>Milland (1974), pp.170–72</ref> As a contracted starring actor, Paramount had insisted he give up this hobby.<ref name="Milland192">Milland (1974), p.192</ref> Instead, Milland took up woodworking and outfitted a machine shop at the back of his newly built house. While operating a circular saw, he slipped, catching one of his hands on the saw. The injury resulted in Milland losing a part of his thumb and severely damaging his tendons.<ref name="Milland192"/>

Milland believed that the injury left him with only 50% usage of his hand, but within weeks of the incident, he flew to Britain to star in ''[[French Without Tears (film)|French Without Tears]]''.<ref>Milland (1974), p.193</ref> By the time he returned to America, [[World War II|war was declared in Europe]]. The year finished with the news that Muriel was pregnant with their son Daniel.