MY FAVORITE WIFE
US, 1940,88 minutes, Black and white.
Cary Grant, Irene Dunne, Randolph Scott, Gail Patrick, Ann Shoemaker, Donald MacBride?.
Directed by Garson Kanin.
My Favourite Wife is an entertaining comedy written by the playwright team of Sam and Bella Spewack with director Leo McCarey?. This film was directed by playwright Garson Kanin, who directed a number of films in the late '30s including Bachelor Mother~ Tom Dick and Harry, The Great Man Votes. The; film is an attractive star vehicle for Cary Grant and Irene Dunne who had appeared together a number of times and were to appear in Penny Serenade. Randolph Scott enjoys himself as the musclebound other man. Gail Patrick is rather put upon as the other wife.
The film is familiar material, the wife lost at sea who comes back just after her husband has remarried. What to do? An entertaining blend of comedy and farce. It was remade several times, including Move Over Darling with Doris Day and James Carper (after another version, Something's Gotta Give, with Dean Martin and Marilyn Monroe directed by George Cukor, was abandoned because of difficulties with Marilyn Monroe shortly before she died).
1. Entertaining comedy, screwball comedy and farce of the '30s? Romantic comedy?
2. Black and white photography, studio sets, the affluent style of homes, hotels of the period? Musical score?
3. The title, the amusing focus on marriage, the first marriage? Playing with bigamy?
4. The focus on Cary Grant and his style as Nick: the declaration of his wife as dead, his second marriage, the fussing of the judge? Going on the honeymoon? The irony of his seeing his wife, going down to discuss with her, finding out the truth, neglecting Bianca? The continued phone calls? The dilemma? The puzzle of the desk clerk? Pretending to ring long distance to Bianca and then meeting her? Driving back with her but unable to tell her? Arriving home, Ellen pretending to be a visitor from the south? His love for his children, love for Ellen? Trying to get rid of Bianca? Her getting the doctor? The discovery about Steve (Adam)? His going to see him, seeing him swim and dive? His reaction to Ellen's pretence of the shoe man as Steve? Their dinner together? The finale and Bianca's walking out? His mother's intervention? The visit to Ellen, the car breaking down, dressing as Santa Claus ? and her final giving in? (And the final caption, 'Good night'.)
5. Ellen and her absence, missing at sea, her arrival with her children and their not recognising her, telling her the story? Meeting her mother-in-law, the clothes? The news about Nick? Flying to the hotel, his not taking their honeymoon suite? Sighting him? The room, discussions, the ups and downs, the dilemma, tri, story about the seven years? Her return home, pretending to be from the south, encouraging the children? Her not liking Bianca? Nick's inability to tell the truth? In the court, contempt of court, the tangle of whether she was dead or not? Her going to the valley? The encounters with Nick, leading him on, wanting to know the truth? Irene Dunne's comic style? A blend of screwball comedy and farce?
6. Steve, musclebound, admired by the women, the encounter with Nick, the truth, his wanting to marry Ellen, his propriety, the court, his getting the jokes slowly, his gentlemanly behaviour and agreeing to help Ellen?
7. Bianca, domineering, meeting Nick and marrying him, the honeymoon and her being abandoned, her anger, her justly being worried about Nick, the drive home, her pretending to her mother, her dislike of Ellen, weary with the children? Consulting with the doctor? The court, her angry behaviour? Walking out?
8. The comedy scenes with the absent-minded judge, documents, his advice? At beginning and end of the film? The humour with the desk clerk and his double takes?
9. The children, their not remembering their mother, their abilities, playing and reciting for the visitors? Realising that Ellen was their mother? Accepting it?
10. The farcical elements, enjoyable screwball comedy? impossible but entertainingly so?
