The Wife Takes a Flyer (1942): Cast & Plot
The Wife Takes a Flyer is a 1942 romantic comedy directed by Richard Wallace, starring Franchot Tone as Christopher Reynolds, Allyn Joslyn and Lloyd Bridges. It runs 1 hour 26 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 26m (86 min)
- Director
- Richard Wallace
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Columbia Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Wife Takes a Flyer About?
The premise of The Wife Takes a Flyer without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Shot down over occupied Holland, American RAF pilot Christopher Reynolds is hidden by a Dutch family. He pretends to be the insane husband of Anita Wolverman, convincing Major Zellfritz to grant her divorce. Anita, now running a home for retired ladies, is urged to spy for him. When her real husband escapes an asylum, Reynolds is blamed, but with Anita’s help he steals a German plane and returns to England.
The Wife Takes a Flyer Themes & Keywords
· 7 tags- wartime
- pants pulled down
- man wears boxer shorts
- netherlands
- twin sister
- pilot
- impersonator
The Wife Takes a Flyer Cast & Characters
Franchot Tone leads the cast as Christopher Reynolds, with Allyn Joslyn as Major Zellfritz and Lloyd Bridges as German Sergeant. Directed by Richard Wallace; 70 actors are credited in all.
- Director Richard Wallace
- Franchot Tone as Christopher Reynolds
- Allyn Joslyn as Major Zellfritz
- Lloyd Bridges as German Sergeant
- Frank Alten as German Orderly
Also Starring in The Wife Takes a Flyer
· 66 more- Joan Bennett Anita Woverman
- Lloyd Corrigan Thomas Woverman
- Barbara Brown Maria Woverman
- Erskine Sanford Jan
- Georgia Caine Mrs. Woverman
- Gertrude Hoffmann Mrs. Gruyson
- Curtis Railing Mrs. Brandt
- Hans Conried Hendrik Woverman
- William Edmunds Gustav
- Roger Clark Keith
- Erik Rolf Gestapo Leader
- Carl Ekberg Adolf Hitler
- Cecil Cunningham Countess Oldenburg
- Steven Geray Gestapo Agent
- Chuck Hamilton German Officer
- Max Wagner Sergeant
Show all 70 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Chester Clute Adolphe Bietjelboer
- Bert Roach Guldschreschts
- James Millican Gestapo Agent
- Cy Kendall Gestapo Agent
- Nora Cecil Miss Updike
- Wheaton Chambers Chaplain
- John Merton German Soldier
- Hugh Beaumont Officer
- David Newell German Officer
- Marie Blake Frieda
- Aubrey Mather Chief Justice
- Leslie Denison English Officer
- Arno Frey German Officer
- Lloyd Whitlock Head Waiter
- Lyle Latell Muller
- Henry Victor Col. Bosch
- Margaret Seddon The Twin
- Max Hoffman Jr. Sergeant
- Joe McGuinn Lieutenant
- Kurt Katch Capt. Schmutnick
- George Turner German Officer
- William Yetter Sr. German Officer
- Romaine Callender Zanten
- Gordon Richards Maj. Wilson
- Vernon Downing English Officer
- Mary Young Old Lady
- John Vosper German Sergeant
- Pat Lane German Officer
- John S. Peters German Officer
- Hallene Hill Old Lady
- Kate MacKenna The Twin
- Manart Kippen Gestapo Agent
- Agnes Steele Woman
- Henry Zynda Officer
- Gohr Van Vleck Court Attendant
- Stella LeSaint Woman
- Minnie Steele Woman
- Walter Stiritz German Officer
- Nellie Farrell Woman
- Chris Franke German Officer
- Lucille Lisle Woman
- Eleanor Wood Woman
- Josephine Allen Woman
- Mary Bertrand Woman
- Elsie Bishop Woman
- Colin Blair Man
- Fredric Bolton Cpl. Heinde
- Belle Johnstone Woman
- Phoebe Rudd Woman
- Marie Spingold Woman
The Wife Takes a Flyer Plot Summary
What happens in The Wife Takes a Flyer from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
At Nazi headquarters in occupied Holland, Major Zellfritz is tasked with locating a downed British pilot, but his professional mission quickly twists into a personal pursuit when he becomes sidetracked by the enigmatic Anita Woverman. He insists that she and her household billet him and his men, pulling them into a tense dual with the home’s residents. Upstairs, the loyal butler, Jan, hides the escaped pilot, Reynolds, while the surrounding danger grows louder and closer. The scene sets a fragile balance inside the Woverman residence, where appearances mask a web of deceit, loyalty, and survival.
Full summary
The whole story of The Wife Takes a Flyer, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The Wife Takes a Flyer?
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
Which Nazi officer is tasked with locating the downed British pilot?
Seen The Wife Takes a Flyer?
Movies Like The Wife Takes a Flyer
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Not With My Wife, You Don’t!, The Aviator’s Wife and Hanover Street.
The Wife Takes a Flyer FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Wife Takes a Flyer, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Wife Takes a Flyer?
The Wife Takes a Flyer runs 1 hour 26 minutes (86 minutes).
When was The Wife Takes a Flyer released?
The Wife Takes a Flyer was released on April 28, 1942.
Who directed The Wife Takes a Flyer?
The Wife Takes a Flyer was directed by Richard Wallace.
More films by Richard Wallace Who is in the cast of The Wife Takes a Flyer?
The Wife Takes a Flyer stars Franchot Tone as Christopher Reynolds, Allyn Joslyn as Major Zellfritz and Lloyd Bridges as German Sergeant, among 70 credited actors.
Does The Wife Takes a Flyer have a post-credit scene?
No. The Wife Takes a Flyer has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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