My Favorite Wife
Directed by Garson Kanin
Written by Bella Spewak, Sam Spewak, and Leo McCarey
1940/USA
RKO Radio Pictures
First viewing/Netflix rental
[box] Nick Arden: Something’s come up. My wife.[/box]
If William Powell and Myrna Loy had the best chemistry in classic Hollywood, Cary Grant and Irene Dunne were not far behind. This screwball comedy produced by Leo McCarey who directed 1937’s sublime The Awful Truth delivers the laughs beautifully.
As the story begins lawyer Nick (Grant) seeks to have a judge (Granville Bates) declare his wife – who has been missing, presumed drowned for seven years – declared legally dead so that he can marry Bianca (Gail Patrick). Naturally, immediately after the wedding long-lost Ellen (Dunne) shows up at home to introduce herself to the children. When her mother-in-law tells her about the wedding, Ellen rushes to the honeymoon hotel. Nick is thrilled to see her but afraid to tell his new wife the news. Misunderstandings and hilarity abound. With Randolph Scott as the Adonis who was stranded on the desert island with Ellen.
This is a ton of fun and not to be missed by anyone who loved this couple in The Awful Truth. The scenes with the judge are genius.
Trailer
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