Wife, Husband and Friend (1939): Cast & Plot
Wife, Husband and Friend is a 1939 comedy directed by Gregory Ratoff, starring Warner Baxter as Leonard Borland aka Logan Bennett, Loretta Young and Cesar Romero. It runs 1 hour 15 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 15m (75 min)
- Director
- Gregory Ratoff
- Genre
- Comedy
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- 20th Century Fox
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Wife, Husband and Friend About?
The premise of Wife, Husband and Friend without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A fresh take on a gay romantic triangle follows a woman dreaming of a singing career, pushed by her scheming vocal coach. After she leaves her husband, a seductive professional singer urges him to try opera, but he also fails. The film mixes humor and heartfelt moments, emphasizing the tangled emotions of the three characters.
Wife, Husband and Friend Themes & Keywords
· 21 tags- this 1939 film was never rated r
- song
- duet
- singing
- rich wife
- construction business
- cigarette smoking
- farce
- opera music
- opera singer
- jealousy
- concert manager
+9 more Show fewer
- hotel manager
- dubbed singing
- seamtress
- screwball comedy
- singer
- theatre critic
- husband versus wife's career
- high society
- based on novel
Wife, Husband and Friend Cast & Characters
Warner Baxter leads the cast as Leonard Borland aka Logan Bennett, with Loretta Young as Doris Borland and Cesar Romero as Hugo. Directed by Gregory Ratoff; 46 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Gregory Ratoff
- Warner Baxter as Leonard Borland aka Logan Bennett
-
Loretta Young as Doris Borland -
Cesar Romero as Hugo - Binnie Barnes as Cecil Carver
Also Starring in Wife, Husband and Friend
· 42 more- Bess Flowers Doris' Friend
- George Irving Doctor
- Bert Moorhouse Party Guest
- Gino Corrado Irate Opera Company Actor
- Ralph Brooks Opera Patron
- Harry Hayden Hotel Manager
- Eugene Pallette Mike Craig
- Howard Hickman Concert Manager
- Charles Williams Jaffee
- Fern Emmett Maid
- Robert Lowery Intern
- Tom Quinn Party Guest
- David Newell Party Guest
- George Barbier Major Blair
- Lawrence Grant Rudolph Hertz
- Ruth Clifford Seamstress
Show all 46 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Helen Brown Nurse
- Renie Riano Mrs. Craig
- Cecil Weston Dresser
- J. Edward Bromberg Rossi
- Helen Westley Mrs. Blair
- Lowden Adams Butler
- Arthur Rankin Intern
- Jack Luden Party Guest
- Edward Cooper Butler
- Robert Kellard Bank Teller
- Dave Morris Stagehand
- Ruth Terry Carol
- Harry Rosenthal Bill Wilkins - Pianist
- Leo Mostovoy Minor Role
- Gwendolyn Logan Mrs. Herts
- Dorothy Dearing Mrs. Price
- Julie Carter Maid
- Tudor Williams Wotan
- Iva Stewart Miss Carver's Secretary
- Helen Ericson Mrs. Spalding
- Alice Armand Sally Bostwick
- Tom Carroll Call Boy
- Mary Lou Dix Maid
- Kay Griffith Nancy Sprague
- Zeni Vatori Opera Singer
- Ludovico Tomarchio Maurico
Wife, Husband and Friend Plot Summary
What happens in Wife, Husband and Friend from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The opera season has opened in New York City, and Leonard Borland, a building contractor from a working‑class background, finds himself navigating the musical ambitions of his wife Doris Borland, a woman from a socially prominent family. Doris is under the tutelage of Hugo, an eager voice teacher who believes there could be more to her singing than mere social display. Leonard supports Doris’s recital with quiet hope that the whole pursuit might burn itself out, while he clings to the practical steadiness of their life together.
Full summary
The whole story of Wife, Husband and Friend, scene by scene
Seen Wife, Husband and Friend?
Movies Like Wife, Husband and Friend
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Wife vs. Secretary, My Wife’s Relations and My Wife’s Best Friend.
Wife, Husband and Friend FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Wife, Husband and Friend, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Wife, Husband and Friend?
Wife, Husband and Friend runs 1 hour 15 minutes (75 minutes).
When was Wife, Husband and Friend released?
Wife, Husband and Friend was released on March 3, 1939.
Who directed Wife, Husband and Friend?
Wife, Husband and Friend was directed by Gregory Ratoff.
More films by Gregory Ratoff Who is in the cast of Wife, Husband and Friend?
Wife, Husband and Friend stars Warner Baxter as Leonard Borland aka Logan Bennett, Loretta Young as Doris Borland and Cesar Romero as Hugo, among 46 credited actors.
Does Wife, Husband and Friend have a post-credit scene?
No. Wife, Husband and Friend has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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