Craig's Wife (1936) :
Brief Review -
"Those who live for themselves, are left to themselves." Craig's hateful wife is a lovable affair and redefines underrated cinema. 1936 has to be a year of hateful wives, I guess (jokes apart). William Wyler's classic "Dodsworth" (1936) revolved around a wife who is left alone at the end. Craig's Wife is also left alone similarly, but the circumstances are different here. I liked Dodsworth because it gave a perfect punishment to a disloyal wife, and at that time Hollywood was making many disgraceful films about a love triangle or quartet. Craig's Wife is quite similar, but it doesn't involve any extramarital affairs or infidel stuff. It's a simple story of a greedy woman. A woman who wants reputation and money rather than love. Harriet is a domineering woman who wants nobody in her life or home, not even her husband, whom she is supposed to love. The film transits into 24 hour life, where you witness a few events that clear many secret agendas. Walter loves his wife despite a warning from his aunt, but he soon comes to know the truth behind the gorgeous face of his wife. The quote I mentioned in the headline will stay with you, and it's so true. Rosalind Russell plays a hateful wife, but you can't resist loving her as an actor. She has done a fantastic job in the film, and it won't be an exaggeration to say that the film stands on her shoulders. The ever-so-perfect husband is played by John Boles and what a great performance he has given. He looks like that goddam naive fella, man. "I can't stay here anymore," he says, and I was hooting as male pride and dignity were saved from falling there. The screenplay is pacy, the camera work is nice, and Dorothy Arzner's direction is skilful. Notice how he uses mirrors to testify to the cruelty behind a beautiful face. Overall, a film to look out for as a study case on how to view an underrated cinema and love it more than expected. The message is clear, clean, and subtle too.
RATING - 7.5/10*
By - #samthebestest.
"Those who live for themselves, are left to themselves." Craig's hateful wife is a lovable affair and redefines underrated cinema. 1936 has to be a year of hateful wives, I guess (jokes apart). William Wyler's classic "Dodsworth" (1936) revolved around a wife who is left alone at the end. Craig's Wife is also left alone similarly, but the circumstances are different here. I liked Dodsworth because it gave a perfect punishment to a disloyal wife, and at that time Hollywood was making many disgraceful films about a love triangle or quartet. Craig's Wife is quite similar, but it doesn't involve any extramarital affairs or infidel stuff. It's a simple story of a greedy woman. A woman who wants reputation and money rather than love. Harriet is a domineering woman who wants nobody in her life or home, not even her husband, whom she is supposed to love. The film transits into 24 hour life, where you witness a few events that clear many secret agendas. Walter loves his wife despite a warning from his aunt, but he soon comes to know the truth behind the gorgeous face of his wife. The quote I mentioned in the headline will stay with you, and it's so true. Rosalind Russell plays a hateful wife, but you can't resist loving her as an actor. She has done a fantastic job in the film, and it won't be an exaggeration to say that the film stands on her shoulders. The ever-so-perfect husband is played by John Boles and what a great performance he has given. He looks like that goddam naive fella, man. "I can't stay here anymore," he says, and I was hooting as male pride and dignity were saved from falling there. The screenplay is pacy, the camera work is nice, and Dorothy Arzner's direction is skilful. Notice how he uses mirrors to testify to the cruelty behind a beautiful face. Overall, a film to look out for as a study case on how to view an underrated cinema and love it more than expected. The message is clear, clean, and subtle too.
RATING - 7.5/10*
By - #samthebestest.