Craig’s Wife *** (1936, Rosalind Russell, John Boles, Billie Burke, Jane Darwell) – Classic Movie Review 7,582

Rosalind Russell stars as domineering housewife Harriet Craig, who marries for money and values her home more than her rich husband Walter (John Boles), in director Dorothy Arzner’s 1936 drama film Craig’s Wife.

Rosalind Russell stars as domineering, control-freak, middle-class, middle-aged housewife Harriet Craig, who marries for money and values her home more than her rich husband Walter (John Boles), in director Dorothy Arzner’s 1936 American drama film Craig’s Wife.

Columbia Pictures’ 1936 film Craig’s Wife is an amusing screen version of the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1925 Broadway play by George Kelly, the uncle of Grace Kelly. Craig’s Wife is a remake of Craig’s Wife (1928), directed by William C de Mille and starring Irene Rich.

At just 28, Russell is too young for the role, but she hits the target with one of the long line of bossy ladies she made her own, and there is reliable work from the rest of the cast, especially the loyal John Boles, Billie Burke as the kindly, fluttery neighbour, and Jane Darwell as the housekeeper.

Director Arzner gives the interesting, involving, offbeat material ambiguity and edge, with the help of the literate screenplay by Mary C McCall Jr.

Also in the cast are Dorothy Wilson, Alma Kruger, Thomas Mitchell, Elizabeth Risdon, Raymond Walburn, Robert Allen, Nydia Westman, Kathleen Burke and Frankie Vann.

Release date: September 25, 1936.

Runtime: 74 minutes.

It was remade, rewritten and updated as Harriet Craig in 1950, starring Joan Crawford.  

Former MGM star William Haines (Joan Crawford’s pal) is the production designer on Craig’s Wife.

The Broadway play Craig’s Wife opened on 12 October 1925 at the Morosco Theater, and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1926.

The cast

The cast are Rosalind Russell as Harriet Craig, John Boles as Walter Craig, Billie Burke as Mrs. Frazier, Jane Darwell as Mrs Harold, Dorothy Wilson as Ethel Landreth, Alma Kruger as Ellen Austen, Thomas Mitchell as Fergus Passmore, Raymond Walburn as Billy Birkmire, Elisabeth Risdon as Mrs Landreth, Robert Allen as Gene Fredericks, Nydia Westman as Mazie, Kathleen Burke as Adelaide Passmore, George Offerman Jr as Tom, Wallis Clark as Mr Burton.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7,582

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