The Doctor Takes a Wife (1940)

A best-selling author of women's issues and a medical academic find it is to their mutual advantage to falsely claim that they are married.

Director:

Alexander Hall

Writers:

George Seaton (screenplay), Ken Englund (screenplay),

Stars:

Loretta Young, Ray Milland, Reginald Gardiner

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Loretta Young	...	June Cameron
Ray Milland	...	Dr. Timothy Sterling
Reginald Gardiner	...	John R. Pierce
Gail Patrick	...	Marilyn Thomas
Edmund Gwenn	...	Dr. Lionel Sterling
Frank Sully	...	Louie Slapcovitch
Gordon Jones	...	O'Brien
Georges Metaxa	...	Jean Rovere
Charles Halton	...	Dr. Streeter
Joseph Eggenton	...	Dr. Nielson
Paul McAllister	...	Dean Lawton
Chester Clute	...	Johnson
Hal K. Dawson	...	Charlie
Edward Van Sloan	...	Burkhardt

Storyline

June Cameron has written a best seller about spinsters: women are men's equals and don't need them for fulfillment. Through a series of errors and misunderstandings, the press believes she's married Tim Sterling, a university instructor she's just met. Her publisher wants to let the mistake go uncorrected for a few weeks so she can write a best seller about being married; Tim cooperates because, in hidebound academia, being married may help with a promotion. The flies in the ointment are June and Tim's instant enmity, Tim's stubbornness, and his girlfriend Marilyn, who may not let the charade play out. There's no way everyone can get what they want.

---

Plot Keywords:

publisher | best selling author | author | stubbornness | spinster | 

---

Taglines:

The Romance Is Contagious! The Fun Is Catching!

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 February 1941 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Docteur ... marions-nous

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min 88 min (TCM print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Several people are in studio records/casting call lists as cast members, but they did not appear or were not identifiable in the movie. These were (with their character names): Edgar Buchanan (Doorman), Walter Sande (Charlie's Photographer), Frank Darien (Greenwich Editor), William Austin (Hotel Manager), Nell Roy (Telegraph Operator) and Mary Gordon (Scrub Woman).

---

Goofs

The "Himmelweiss" portrait--straight when Tim first hangs it over the dresser--is suddenly askew in the following shot, and again straight in the shot after that.

---

Quotes

John R. Pierce: [to Timothy] You're a very lucky man. You've made money while you were asleep.

---

Crazy Credits

Credits are written in chalk on the sidewalk as pedestrians walk over them.

---

Soundtracks

"Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride)"
(1850) (uncredited)
from "Lohengrin"
Written by Richard Wagner
Played for a church wedding in Greenwich, Connecticut
Later sung by an unidentifed singing telegram boy quartet with modified lyrics

User Reviews

Cute screwball

Loretta Young and Ray Milland star in "The Doctor Takes a Wife," a 1940 comedy that also features Edmund Gwenn, Gail Patrick, and Reginald Gardner. Young plays June Cameron, a 1940 version of a feminist who writes on the joys of being a bachelorette. When her editor/boyfriend (Reginald Gardner) summons her back to New York from her vacation, she hitches a ride with Dr. Timothy Sterling (Milland). Through a series of unfortunate events, the press reports that they're married, which will ruin June's current the status of her current best seller, Spinsters Aren't Spinach. Her publisher wants to keep the mistake going because June can now write about being married; and Dr. Sterling's newly married status wins him a big promotion. The fly in the ointment is Sterling's fiancée (Gail Patrick).

Completely predictable, of course, and dated, but still fun because of the terrific cast and good direction by Alexander Hall. Both the stars are very good. Young is beautiful in her tailored suits and gives her material the needed light touch. Milland always had a flair for comedy and does a good job as the stubborn doctor. Amusing, and a look back at the old days when this kind of film was popular.