My Favorite Wife

 (1940)
Directed by Garson Kanin
Written by Bella Spewack, Ben Spewack
Starring Irene Dunne, Cary Grant, Randolph Scott, Gail Patrick, Scotty Beckett, Granville Johnson
IMDB Entry

Irene Dunne may be the most obscure of the big name 30s movie stars. She was one of the best actresses in screwball comedy and was nominated for five Oscars for comedies and for dramas.  But none of her films, though good, were rated as classics and unless you're a big movie buff, you probably haven't heard of her.  My Favorite Wife is considered one of her best.

It is a remake of Tennyson's "Enoch Arden" poem. Nick Arden's (Cary Grant) wife Ellen (Irene Dunne) has been lost in a shipwreck for seven years. He has her declared legally dead in order to marry Bianca Bates (Gail Patrick*). But Ellen shows up on his doorstep.  Her two children don't remember her, but Nick's mother, who is taking care of the kids, does, and tells her the situation. Ellen flies to their honeymoon destination and Nick spots her. He finds out her story and dithers about what to do. Just as he is about to tell Bianca the situation, he is interrupted to learn that Ellen wasn't alone on the island, sharing it with Stephen Burkett (Randolph Scott); the two of them even referred to each other as "Adam and Eve."  Nick becomes jealous when he sees Burkett and discovers he's more fit  and handsome then he is, complicating an already complicated situation.

The story, alas, didn't work well for me because of the contrived way Nick is kept from telling Bianca the truth. Dunne, however, is wonderful. She had a radiant charm and playfulness that few can match.

The performance that also stuck in my mind was that of Gail Patrick as Bianca. Patrick specialized in the slightly snotty woman who was a rival with the lead actress for the attentions of the lead actor, and, of course, never getting him. Her role here is more dramatic than comic as she is hurt and frustrated by Nick leaving her on weak excuses to talk to Ellen. You really feel sorry for  her. Patrick suggested that she and Stephen end up as romantic partners, but the director turned her down.

The movie was produced under the Production Code and it's telling to see that Nick and Bianca never consummate their marriage, probably to avoid outright bigamy or divorce.

Director Garson Kanin was a solid writer (with his wife, Ruth Gordon), responsible for many Tracy/Hepburn films and the play and movie Born Yesterday. This was one of his most most successful.

Sam and Bella Spewack were a successful Broadway writing team, best known for Kiss Me Kate.

Of note was that the movie was revamped after previews showed the second half didn't work. Kanin had the inspiration to bring back the character of Judge Bryson (Granville Bates) to help fix the plot problems. Gail Patrick, a former law student, help with the legal terminology, though the Spewacks were not happy they changed their script.

Of note in the cast was Scotty Beckett, one of my favorite members of the Our Gang comedies.

_______________________________________________________________

*Patrick's biggest role in Hollywood was, as Gail Patrick Jackson, the executive producer of Perry Mason, responsible for casting all the major actors and guiding the show.