The Doctor Takes a Wife (1940): Cast & Plot
The Doctor Takes a Wife is a 1940 romantic comedy directed by Alexander Hall, starring Loretta Young as June Cameron, Ray Milland and Edmund Gwenn. It runs 1 hour 28 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 28m (88 min)
- Director
- Alexander Hall
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Columbia Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Doctor Takes a Wife About?
The premise of The Doctor Takes a Wife without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
When a best‑selling author of women’s issues meets a scholarly medical academic, they discover that pretending to be a married couple serves both of their interests. Their fabricated marriage sparks a contagiously romantic and comedic series of misunderstandings, as the two navigate growing attraction while keeping up the charade.
The Doctor Takes a Wife Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- housewife
- screwball comedy
- doctor
- childbirth
- reprisal
- retribution
- damsel in distress
- deception
- desperation
- confusion
- frustration
- remorse
+38 more Show fewer
- fiance fiancee relationship
- milland and young
- romantic comedy
- female author
- candlestick telephone
- passed out drunk
- bumming a ride
- picture on the front page of a newspaper
- just married sign
- bouquet
- the morning express newspaper headline
- greenwich village new york city
- acapella harmony
- autographing a book
- celebrity
- two in a phone booth
- lakewood lodge
- chocolate malt
- pretending to be married
- promoted to professor
- anatomical chart
- publisher
- stubbornness
- spinster
- husband wife relationship
- greenwich connecticut
- investigative reporter
- editor
- motorcycle cop
- gas station
- knitting
- engagement
- tickling
- singing telegram
- scotsman
- migraine
- professor
- farce
The Doctor Takes a Wife Cast & Characters
Loretta Young leads the cast as June Cameron, with Ray Milland as Dr. Timothy Sterling and Edmund Gwenn as Dr. Lionel Sterling. Directed by Alexander Hall; 56 actors are credited in all.
- Director Alexander Hall
-
Loretta Young as June Cameron -
Ray Milland as Dr. Timothy Sterling -
Edmund Gwenn as Dr. Lionel Sterling - Gail Patrick as Marilyn Thomas
Also Starring in The Doctor Takes a Wife
· 52 more- Irving Bacon Sam Appleby (uncredited)
- Charles Halton Dr. Streeter
- Olin Howland Clerk at Lakewood Lodge (uncredited)
- Charles Lane Reporter (uncredited)
- Vernon Dent Man Outside Phone Booth (uncredited)
- Edgar Dearing Motorcycle Cop (uncredited)
- Edward Gargan George, the Doorman (uncredited)
- Spencer Charters Henry Quinn (uncredited)
- Chester Clute Johnson
- Don Beddoe Morning Express Reporter (uncredited)
- Edward Earle Party Guest (uncredited)
- Frank Orth New York Editor (uncredited)
- Frank Sully Slapcovitch
- Erville Alderson Harrison, the Printer (uncredited)
- Hal K. Dawson Charlie
- William Newell Soda Jerk (uncredited)
Show all 56 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Harry C. Bradley Dapper Salesman (uncredited)
- Claire Du Brey Party Guest (uncredited)
- Frances Morris University Registration Desk Clerk (uncredited)
- Gordon Jones O'Brien
- John Wray Joe, the Farmer (uncredited)
- Virginia Sale School Teacher (uncredited)
- Edward Van Sloan Burkhardt
- Reginald Gardiner John Pierce
- Eddie Laughton Photographer (uncredited)
- Gertrude Astor
- Renie Riano Telegraph Operator (uncredited)
- Larry Wheat Party Guest (uncredited)
- Jane Keckley Mrs. Quinn (uncredited)
- Dorothy Appleby Woman in Book Store (uncredited)
- Sumner Getchell Wedding Celebrant (uncredited)
- William Lally Deck Steward (uncredited)
- Gertrude Sutton Mabel (voice) (uncredited)
- Emma Tansey Old Woman Sitting Outside of Lakewood Lodge (uncredited)
- Ian Maclaren Professor (uncredited)
- Bobby Larson Boy (uncredited)
- Henry Blair Boy (uncredited)
- Paul McAllister Dean Lawton
- Myra Marsh Lydia Johnson (uncredited)
- Georges Metaxa Jean Rovere
- Carol Tevis Whiney Woman in Bookstore (uncredited)
- Wesley Giraud Western Union Boy (uncredited)
- Charlotte Treadway Woman in Book Store (uncredited)
- Helen Ainsworth Amazon in Book Store (uncredited)
- Helen Davis Woman in Book Store (uncredited)
- Joseph Eggenton Dr. Nielson
- Ann Lee Maid (uncredited)
- Dix Davis Boy (uncredited)
- Catherine Courtney Woman in Book Store (uncredited)
- Jane Goude Mrs. Nielson (uncredited)
- Vera Steadman
- Dorothy Anne Seese Child (uncredited)
More from Alexander Hall
More films directed by Alexander Hall, best-rated first: Little Miss Marker, Forever, Darling, Let’s Do It Again and Because You’re Mine.
The Doctor Takes a Wife Plot Summary
What happens in The Doctor Takes a Wife from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
June Cameron, Loretta Young, is the celebrated writer of a feminist book, while medical instructor Dr. Timothy Sterling, Ray Milland, is a cynic with a touch of misogyny. After she badgers him into giving her a lift from the isolated Connecticut hotel where they are staying, a misunderstanding sparks headlines declaring that she has turned her back on her beliefs and married him. Both want to deny it, but her publisher and fiancé convince her that her former stance is ruined and that she must now write a pro-marriage book. Before long, the plan is presented that she can travel to Reno to secure a divorce.
Full summary
The whole story of The Doctor Takes a Wife, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The Doctor Takes a Wife?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What does June Cameron do for a living?
The Doctor Takes a Wife Also Known As
2 alternative titles: “El doctor se casa” and “Женитьба врача”.
- Also known as
-
- El doctor se casa
- Женитьба врача
Seen The Doctor Takes a Wife?
Movies Like The Doctor Takes a Wife
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Doctors’ Wives, Doctors’ Wives and Be My Husband.
The Doctor Takes a Wife FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Doctor Takes a Wife, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Doctor Takes a Wife?
The Doctor Takes a Wife runs 1 hour 28 minutes (88 minutes).
When was The Doctor Takes a Wife released?
The Doctor Takes a Wife was released on April 25, 1940.
Who directed The Doctor Takes a Wife?
The Doctor Takes a Wife was directed by Alexander Hall.
More films by Alexander Hall Who is in the cast of The Doctor Takes a Wife?
The Doctor Takes a Wife stars Loretta Young as June Cameron, Ray Milland as Dr. Timothy Sterling and Edmund Gwenn as Dr. Lionel Sterling, among 56 credited actors.
Does The Doctor Takes a Wife have a post-credit scene?
No. The Doctor Takes a Wife has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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