Wife, Husband and Friend *** (1939, Loretta Young, Warner Baxter, Binnie Barnes, Cesar Romero) – Classic Movie Review 11,938

Director Gregory Ratoff’s likeably performed and entertainingly written 1939 romantic triangle comedy film Wife, Husband and Friend stars Loretta Young, Warner Baxter and Binnie Barnes in the three title roles. Warner Baxter plays Borland, Loretta Young plays his wife Doris, and Binnie Barnes plays opera singer Cecil Carver.

Nunnally Johnson’s screenplay is based on the story Two Can Sing by James M Cain, noted for his mystery novels. He was paid $8,000 for the film rights.

It tells the story of a building contractor (Baxter) and his wife (Young), and how their musical ambitions result in marital tensions and a romantic triangle with a professional opera singer (Barnes). Cesar Romero also stars as the voice teacher Hugo, who is training Doris for a career in singing, though Borland thinks she has no talent, but it turns out ironically that he does have a great operatic voice.

Emery D’Arcy is the voice double for Warner Baxter, Nina Koshetz for Binnie Barnes and Tamara Shavrova for Loretta Young, all uncredited.

It is a follow-up to Wife, Doctor and Nurse (1937) with Loretta Young and Warner Baxter.

The film is remade as Everybody Does It (1949), starring Paul Douglas as the contractor, Celeste Holm as his wife, and Linda Darnell as the singer.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 11,938

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