Hired Wife

Stephen Dexter (Brian Aherne) owns a big company and has never paid his very competent personal secretary, Kendal (Rosalind Russell), a moment's notice. Instead, he is suddenly interested in a blonde, Phyllis (Virginia Bruce) and Kendal is not happy. But instead of saying anything, she tries to sabotage the relationship. This SHOULD have convinced Stephen that Kendal had the hots for him when he discovers this, but despite being good in business, he is an idiot when it comes to women.

A bit later, the idiot Stephen learns that his company is vulnerable to a possible hostile takeover. So, to save his butt, he realizes he could hide many of his assets if he gets married and proposed a very business-like arrangement with Kendal--marry him but it will be in name only. Not exactly Mr. Romance, huh? Well, Kendal agrees...but also has plans of her own and they DON'T involve just getting married for his convenience...and he realizes this when she suddenly refuses to grant him a divorce! And, in those days, that meant he was in serious trouble!

While I liked this film, I did not love it and have seen similar sorts of movies from the era that worked better. What is the big problem? Well, the ending (which is a foregone conclusion) comes way too abruptly. It seemed almost like the director realized the film was running on long enough and just decided to wrap it up and call it a day! Enjoyable...but nothing more.

Haven't even watched the whole thing yet, but there are a few ways I know I will like it. One, it's a movie made in the Golden age of Hollywood - and even the so-called bad movies from that. Are good compared to some movies of today. There really was no such thing as a truly bad movie from that time. Two, it's a romance, and romance is always good. And three, it's Rosalind Russell! Anything starring Rosalind Russell usually hits the spot with me.

So, I'm looking forward to enjoying this - because I know I will!

Update: I was right! I really like this! It's such a simple movie, that you need to be in a simple mindset and in a lazy mood to really enjoy it. But this is a good, lazy afternoon or late night getting ready for bed movie. It just puts you in a easy going, worry free mood, because you just know that everyone is going to be okay in the end. And this is the feeling that you come away with, when watching a light movie like this. Thank God for them! This movie had a way of making me believe in love more as well. Anything that can do that is a good thing!

And Rosalind Russell does her best Mae West voice in this movie a lot of the time. She is so fun to watch on screen, and her voice is a character all in its own! No wonder she's one of my favorites - all at once sophisticated, and comical. One of the best!

Rosalind Russell (Kendal) stars as the secretary who has to marry her boss, Brian Ahearne (Stephen), in order to prevent a takeover of his company. The problem is that Ahearne is completely besotted with model Virginia Bruce (Phyllis) and has no time for Russell. He sees the marriage purely as a business proposal and it will be ended just as soon as his rivals back off. John Carroll (Jose) joins in the fun as an ally of Russell's and between them they make it difficult for Ahearne and Bruce to spend time together.

The film is funny, aided by a good cast, especially Russell in the lead role. John Carroll's Spanish playboy is totally unconvincing but he does get a lot of mileage out of the role. As regards the story, you can tell what is going to happen but just go with it on its journey.

It's a strange fact that this film immediately proceeds Rosalind Russel's perhaps most noteworthy film, "His Girl Friday," yet this one doesn't even have a Wikipedia link, and so far only has one review on this website. After all, she gave an impressive performance in that notorious film, and I am completely vexed as to how that role didn't grant her massive attention from the masses, though it seems this film was made by Universal, which wasn't exactly a top-drawer as far as I understand.

Nevertheless, if you happen to have come across this film or have divulged any interest in watching it, I would encourage your desire and eagerly anticipate your enjoyment. After all, this film really is quite swell, even if it isn't particularly a classic in any way. Its plot is screwball, to be sure, with aspects of the Comedy of Remarriage thrown in for good measure, such is the widespread appeal of that genre at this time. While I cannot attest to the picture quality being excellent-- naturally this film lacked the MGM sheen, or even the crispness of some Paramount or Columbia features-- that doesn't detract from any pleasure you might find herein. Naturally I assume that given Rosalind Russel's starring in this film it would most appeal to her fans, and if you are caught in her own particular spell you will no doubt appreciate her character here, which is embodied by the typical qualities which this actress is so renown at invoking, such as her being a strong, coordinated, wise-cracking woman of competence yet who retains an essential romantic, traditionalized passion underneath it all; to be sure, this is a typical Roz role.

Even further surprising is the fact that at least two of the other actors herein are recognizable as appearing in several other films, by which I understand Virginia Bruce and Robert Benchley to be those. All in all, this film is typical of its time, certainly being the type of story that only could have ever been produced before the horrors of the war about to be fought, and if you enjoy such a circumstance; such a setting; such a plot; such characters-- then I cannot understand why you should not watch this film, or join me in wondering why it wasn't successful, or given more attention.

"Hired Wife" is a very funny 1940 comedy romance with a sterling cast. But, with this cast and the plot, it should and could have been a great comedy. The front and back parts have some hilarious dialog. The problem with the middle section is too much time devoted to Stephen wining and dining Phyllis Walden, with very little humor. That could have been greatly condensed and then have a couple of instances toward the beginning with Kendal helping get Stephen out of some gold-digger relationships. One can just imagine the humorous dialog there could be here with Kendal. But for that slow middle section, this could have been among the very best comedy films.

Rosalind Russell is Kendal, the private secretary and behind-the-scenes manager who keeps the Dexter Cement company afloat. Her bachelor boss isn't inept, but isn't very good at handling things when he lapses into one of his overboard infatuations. Kendal bides her time until the day she hopes he'll open his eyes and fall for her. Brian Aherne's Stephen Dexter isn't a wolf or playboy, but a guy who romanticizes about romance. He's looking for the right girl, and every so often he falls for some damsel, who turns out to be a gold-digger. So, Kendal gets him out of the jam. That's the setting when this film opens, and the boss has just returned from a trip.

Robert Benchley is Roger Van Horn, the Dexter Company attorney. And John Carroll is José de Briganza, a long-time acquaintance of Kendal's. They contribute a lot of the humor. Since Kendal mostly runs the business, when Stephen flips over his latest heart-throb, she hires José to run interference - in the form of luring Phyllis away from Stephen. Benchley is a hoot as Van Horn. One of scenes that had me laughing so hard had the three leads together when Roger sends Kendal to go packing her bags. Stephen asks where she's going, and she says to his house. Stephen says, "My house, my house?" And Roger comes back with a reply about "Your house, house" and more. Because Benchley was a humorist, including writing for magazines and newspapers columns, I wondered if this wasn't an ad lib on his part in the film, and it was so funny that Universal kept it in.

Aherne and Russell were in three other comedies together. While they were all very good, they weren't among the best of the comedies for either one. Two of Brian Aherne's films are among the best comedies of all time, and seven of Roz Russell's comedies area among the best of all time.

Here are some favorite lines from this film.

Stephen Dexter, "Mac. I want a new campaign. And it must be warm, and it must be human." Kendal Browning, "The cement you love to touch." Stephen, "Yes, uh, the cem... you love... no, no, no. I mean we must make our cement stand out - give it personality."

Kendal Browning, "I'll tell you what you could do - you could perfume it."

Kendal Browning, "I think you've got something there - Little Annie Cement, that'd be kinda cute."

Stephen Dexter, looking at the billboard on the building opposite his office window, "Kendal, uh, who is that girl?" Kendal Browning, "Well, I don't know her name, but her face in on the canned tomatoes I use."

Stephen Dexter, "Get ahold of her. I'll see her myself." Kendall Browning, going out the door, "Wouldn't it be easier and quicker to pay her off right now?"

Kendal Browning, "If you're sure this is the real thing, my blessings, Stephen. I won't try and stop you. I'm through." Stephen Dexter, "What? Y, yo, you're not going to leave me with all this work...."

Kendal Browning, "I'm not through working for you. I'm just through caring what you do outside office hours." Stephen Dexter, "Mmm, well that's better." Kendal, "For me, not for you."

Roger van Horn, "All you've got to do is marry someone. It doesn't make any difference who she is or what she is. Of course, it would be better if she was a girl you could trust. But all she's really got to do is say, 'I do.'" They both look at Kendal. Stephen Dexter, "Kendall, whatta you say?" Kendal Browning, "I do."

Kendall Browning, "I wish I could afford to strangle you."

Roger Van Horn, "Well, Kendal, you better go home and start parking." Stephen Dexter, "You going away?" Kendall Browning, "Oh, heh, your attorney advised me to move." Stephen, "Move? Where?" Kendal, "Your house." Stephen, "My house? My house!" Roger, "Naturally your house, your house. Would Kendal move into my house, my house?" Stephen, "She's capable of anything."

Stephen Dexter, "What are you doing to me now?" Kendal Browning, "Not to you - for you."

Kendal Browning, "What's this item, one cockatoo?" José de Briganza, waving one hand behind his head, "You know, cockatoo?" Kendal, "Yeah, I know what they are, but what I wanna know is how do you use them in making love?" Jose, "Phyllis want one for the pet, so I give her the bird." Kendal, "Oh, that's all right by me. But, uh, José, $75 for one bird." Joseé, "It talks." Kendal, "For that amount of money it ought a read, write and vote."

Roger Van Horn, after Kendal makes a racket to wake him up, "Hey, cut that out. I'm asleep." Kendal Browning, to Stephen, "Ask grandma - he was in the house all night." Roger, "Oh, go to bed."

Stephen Dexter, "Roger, get me a divorce." Roger Van Horn, "You mind waiting until morning?" Stephen, "How soon can I get one?" Roger, "Well, is Kendal willing?" Kendal Browning, "Uh, no." Roger, "Well, if she fights..." Kendal, "She will." Roger, "Then it'll take years." Stephen, "Years?" Roger, "Five years. You're best chance is to disappear and be given up for dead. Course, it's just a curbstone opinion."