Craig’s Wife *** (1936, Rosalind Russell, John Boles, Billie Burke, Jane Darwell) – Classic Movie Review 7582

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 film Craig’s Wife, an amusing screen version of George Kelly’s New York City stage hit of the 20s. 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 Boles, Billie Burke as the kindly, fluttery neighbour and Jane Darwell as the housekeeper.

Director Arzner gives the interesting material ambiguity and edge, with the help of the 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.

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

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

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7582

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