My Favorite Wife
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| My Favorite Wife | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Garson Kanin |
| Produced by | Leo McCarey |
| Written by | Leo McCarey Samuel and Bella Spewack |
| Starring | Irene Dunne Cary Grant Randolph Scott Gail Patrick |
| Music by | Roy Webb |
| Cinematography | Rudolph Maté |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures |
| Release date(s) | May 17, 1940 |
| Running time | 88 min. |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
My Favorite Wife (released in the U.K. as My Favourite Wife) is a 1940 screwball comedy that tells the story of a woman returning home to her husband and children after being shipwrecked on a tropical island for seven years. It is a reworking of Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem "Enoch Arden"; in tribute, the main characters' last name is Arden. Garson Kanin directed.
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[edit] Synopsis
After being shipwrecked on an island for seven years, Ellen Arden (Irene Dunne) returns home on the very day that her husband Nick (Cary Grant) has had her declared dead so that he can marry Bianca Bates (Gail Patrick). After learning that Nicky has left on his honeymoon, Ellen flies off to find him.
When Nick sees Ellen, he cannot believe his eyes. After his initial elation however, he is confronted by the realization that he now has two wives. He cannot bring himself to tell Bianca the awkward news, coming up with a variety of excuses why he must leave their honeymoon suite and not consummate their marriage. Bianca is certain that there is something wrong mentally with Nick.
Ellen decides to torment him by masquerading as a friend of the family from the South. Further complications arise when Nick learns from an insurance investigator representing the company which paid Ellen's life insurance policy that Ellen was not alone in her seven year ordeal. There was a Stephen Burkett (Randolph Scott) on the island with her. Nick also learns that Stephen called Ellen "Eve" and she called him "Adam."
When Nick confronts Ellen about Stephen, she dismisses Stephen as a harmless old man. Nick tracks Stephen down at a Y.M.C.A., and is dismayed to find an athletic, handsome Adonis. In an attempt to head off Nick's jealousy, Ellen persuades a mousy shoe salesman to pretend to be Stephen. Nick plays along for a while, then exposes the masquerade. Meanwhile, Bianca sends for a psychiatrist to examine her husband covertly. She finally learns the truth when the police arrest Nick for bigamy.
In court, Nick, Bianca, Ellen and Stephen try to explain the complicated details to the judge (Granville Bates). He finally grants Bianca an annulment; she punches Nicky before leaving. The judge then takes the matter of declaring Ellen legally alive under advisement. With the bigamy charge dropped, Nick declares that he needs time to think, irking Ellen. Stephen asks her to marry him and return to the island, but she declines.
Finally, Nicky drives Ellen and their two children to their old mountain cabin. He plans to leave, but the roads are closed and he is forced to spend the night. Nick's mother telephones Ellen with the news the judge has declared her legally alive and that she is still legally married to Nick. Despite this, Ellen sends Nick to sleep in the attic. He makes several abortive attempts to enter to her bedroom, to her increasing amusement. Finally, when he appears dressed in a Santa Claus suit and wishes her a Merry Christmas, she forgives him for his indecision.
[edit] Cast
- Irene Dunne as Ellen Wagstaff Arden
- Cary Grant as Nick Arden
- Randolph Scott as Stephen Burkett
- Gail Patrick as Bianca Bates
- Ann Shoemaker as Ma
- Scotty Beckett as Tim
- Mary Lou Harrington as Chinch
- Donald MacBride as Hotel clerk
- Hugh O'Connell as Johnson
- Granville Bates as Judge
- Pedro de Cordoba as Dr. Kohlmar
[edit] Remake
20th Century Fox began filming a 1962 remake starring Marilyn Monroe, Dean Martin, and Cyd Charisse under the working title of Something's Got to Give, which was to be directed by George Cukor. There were problems from the beginning, mostly due to Monroe's failure to show up on time for work. Monroe was fired and Martin backed out when the studio attempted to recast Monroe's role with Lee Remick. Following Monroe's death in August 1962, Doris Day and James Garner were cast, and the new version was released by Fox as Move Over, Darling (1963).
[edit] See also
- Too Many Husbands, a film with a very similar plot (with the sexes reversed) that was released less than two months earlier.
