Lonely Wives

Rating:
Summary: A fun slice of pre-code Hollywood
Review: Another fun offering from the Roan Group.

"Lonely Wives" is listed as Raon's "Pre-Code Hollywood #4; the Risque Years". The movie is not really all that spicy, certainly from today's standards. But there are lots of rapid-fire quips and innuendo that keep the viewer watching (and laughing!).

Based on a popular stage play, the 1931 picture tells the story of a man who is an uptight, all-business lawyer by day, but who "blooms" once the clock strikes eight. Richard 'Dickie' Smith likes to go out to the clubs and dally with the ladies while his wife is away on vacation. His bossy mother-in-law tries to keep him on the straight and narrow, but he has other plans.

A famous stage impersonator named Felix, "the Great Zero", wants to do a stage act featuring his parody of the famous lawyer. He shows Dickie his make-up, and the two connive to switch places for the evening. When Dickie's wife comes home unexpectedly, havoc ensues! To make matters worse, Dickie is out at The Whoopee Club with a girl who turns out to be Zero's wife!

Edward Everett Horton plays both Dickie and Zero. The split-screen effect is almost flawless when the two are shown together. The dialog between the two characters really sells the act, with no hesitation or delays caused by split-screen editing. Very impressive for 1931.

Horton will be instantly recognizable. Even if you don't know his face, you WILL know his voice. Most famous for narrating the "Fractured Fairy Tales" segment of "The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show", Horton worked as a character actor for years in radio and television. He starred in such famous films as "Arsenic and Old Lace", "Pocketful of Miracles", "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World", "Sex and the Single Girl", and "Springtime in the Rockies". He also starred in "Shall We Dance?", "The Gay Divorcee", and "Top Hat", all with Fred Astaire.

While by today's standards "Lonely Wives" isn't anything new, at the time it must have been scandalous fun.

Rating:
Summary: A fun slice of pre-code Hollywood
Review: Another fun offering from the Roan Group.

"Lonely Wives" is listed as Raon's "Pre-Code Hollywood #4; the Risque Years". The movie is not really all that spicy, certainly from today's standards. But there are lots of rapid-fire quips and innuendo that keep the viewer watching (and laughing!).

Based on a popular stage play, the 1931 picture tells the story of a man who is an uptight, all-business lawyer by day, but who "blooms" once the clock strikes eight. Richard 'Dickie' Smith likes to go out to the clubs and dally with the ladies while his wife is away on vacation. His bossy mother-in-law tries to keep him on the straight and narrow, but he has other plans.

A famous stage impersonator named Felix, "the Great Zero", wants to do a stage act featuring his parody of the famous lawyer. He shows Dickie his make-up, and the two connive to switch places for the evening. When Dickie's wife comes home unexpectedly, havoc ensues! To make matters worse, Dickie is out at The Whoopee Club with a girl who turns out to be Zero's wife!

Edward Everett Horton plays both Dickie and Zero. The split-screen effect is almost flawless when the two are shown together. The dialog between the two characters really sells the act, with no hesitation or delays caused by split-screen editing. Very impressive for 1931.

Horton will be instantly recognizable. Even if you don't know his face, you WILL know his voice. Most famous for narrating the "Fractured Fairy Tales" segment of "The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show", Horton worked as a character actor for years in radio and television. He starred in such famous films as "Arsenic and Old Lace", "Pocketful of Miracles", "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World", "Sex and the Single Girl", and "Springtime in the Rockies". He also starred in "Shall We Dance?", "The Gay Divorcee", and "Top Hat", all with Fred Astaire.

While by today's standards "Lonely Wives" isn't anything new, at the time it must have been scandalous fun.