On Broadway "Craig's Wife" ran for 360 performances and won playwright George Kelly a Pulitzer Prize. It had already reached the cinema as a vehicle for Irene Rich and Warner Baxter in 1928. Columbia's boss Harry Cohn entrusted the direction of the remake to Dorothy Arzner and with women in charge of both script (Mary C. McCall Jnr.) and editing (Viola Lawrence) - the film had a feminine point of view. Arzner's reason for choosing Russell was that she "did not want an actress the audience loved" - I don't think audiences knew much about her in 1936. Rosalind Russell, at the time, was an MGM contract player, who had come to notice playing some intelligent "other woman" roles in films such as "China Seas" (1935) and "Reckless" (1935). Even though she was a bit young for the part, her regal bearing and natural sophistication made her very convincing as a woman of maturity and she dominated the part.
Even though Harriet is not at home, she makes her presence felt, whether it is housemaids in a flurry about replacing ornaments in just the right place after dusting, to Walter's (John Boles) feeling of guilt at sneaking off to a poker game. He spends the night consoling Fergus (Thomas Mitchell) - people are now avoiding his poker nights, his sober moods brings people down and he is worried his wife is gallivanting around. On the train ride home from visiting her sick aunt, Harriet is giving her impressionable niece a few lessons on love. Ethel (Dorothy Wilson) is shocked to hear that Harriet has married for security, power and independence - not for love. Arriving home she is determined to find out everything Walter has been doing while she was away - even phoning the exchange to find out what numbers were dialed etc. Her home is a temple and she will not allow any person who she does not approve, to cross her threshold - especially her lovable, dizzy neighbour, Mrs. Frazier (Billie Burke). Aunt Ellen (Alma Kruegar) has had enough and finally decides to leave, but not without telling Walter a few home truths about his "precious" wife.
When Fergus and his wife are found dead, police become interested in the Craig residence (after Harriet's interference with the phone numbers, which she, of course, denies). At the end Harriet is left in her sterile home - everyone has left her and she has just received word that her aunt has died. Mrs. Frazier is the only one who reaches out to her. Rosalind Russell is just magnificent in this scene, without speaking a word her face shows all the emotions, from coldness and pride to realizing she is now quite alone. The ambiguity in the last shot as her face lightens through tears -is she pleased that no one will ever disturb her "perfect" home or is she going to change - "tomorrow is another day".
Dorothy Wilson didn't have much to do as Ethel, in fact she seemed to disappear from the movie after she arrived at the Craigs. This was one of Wilson's last movies. Kathleen Burke played faithless wife, Adelaide Passmore (the name is bigger than her part!!) - a part she could have played in her sleep. John Boles (boring Boles) definitely seemed less wooden than usual but the film belonged to Rosalind Russell, who showed that she was an actress who could handle parts with much depth. Her next role would be in "Night Must Fall".
Highly Recommended.
Even though Harriet is not at home, she makes her presence felt, whether it is housemaids in a flurry about replacing ornaments in just the right place after dusting, to Walter's (John Boles) feeling of guilt at sneaking off to a poker game. He spends the night consoling Fergus (Thomas Mitchell) - people are now avoiding his poker nights, his sober moods brings people down and he is worried his wife is gallivanting around. On the train ride home from visiting her sick aunt, Harriet is giving her impressionable niece a few lessons on love. Ethel (Dorothy Wilson) is shocked to hear that Harriet has married for security, power and independence - not for love. Arriving home she is determined to find out everything Walter has been doing while she was away - even phoning the exchange to find out what numbers were dialed etc. Her home is a temple and she will not allow any person who she does not approve, to cross her threshold - especially her lovable, dizzy neighbour, Mrs. Frazier (Billie Burke). Aunt Ellen (Alma Kruegar) has had enough and finally decides to leave, but not without telling Walter a few home truths about his "precious" wife.
When Fergus and his wife are found dead, police become interested in the Craig residence (after Harriet's interference with the phone numbers, which she, of course, denies). At the end Harriet is left in her sterile home - everyone has left her and she has just received word that her aunt has died. Mrs. Frazier is the only one who reaches out to her. Rosalind Russell is just magnificent in this scene, without speaking a word her face shows all the emotions, from coldness and pride to realizing she is now quite alone. The ambiguity in the last shot as her face lightens through tears -is she pleased that no one will ever disturb her "perfect" home or is she going to change - "tomorrow is another day".
Dorothy Wilson didn't have much to do as Ethel, in fact she seemed to disappear from the movie after she arrived at the Craigs. This was one of Wilson's last movies. Kathleen Burke played faithless wife, Adelaide Passmore (the name is bigger than her part!!) - a part she could have played in her sleep. John Boles (boring Boles) definitely seemed less wooden than usual but the film belonged to Rosalind Russell, who showed that she was an actress who could handle parts with much depth. Her next role would be in "Night Must Fall".
Highly Recommended.