Dream Wife (1953)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Sidney Sheldon

Writers:

Sidney Sheldon (writer) and
Herbert Baker (writer) ...

Release Date:

19 June 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

M-G-M's HILARIOUS HIT! (original print ad - mostly caps)

Plot:

Clemson Reade, a business tycoon with marriage on his mind, and Effie, a U.S. diplomat, are a modern couple...

Plot Keywords:

Princess | Diplomat | Marriage | Royalty | Diplomacy

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Cary Grant	...	Clemson Reade
Deborah Kerr	...	Effie
Walter Pidgeon	...	Walter McBride
Betta St. John	...	Tarji
Eduard Franz	...	Khan
Buddy Baer	...	Vizier
Les Tremayne	...	Ken Landwell
Donald Randolph	...	Ali
Bruce Bennett	...	Charlie Elkwood
Richard Anderson	...	Henry Malvine
Dan Tobin	...	Mr. Brown
Movita	...	Rima
Gloria Holden	...	Mrs. Landwell
June Clayworth	...	Mrs. Elkwood
Dean Miller	...	George

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (PCA #16307)

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Goofs:

Continuity: In the opening sequence, from shot to shot, there is complete lack of consistency as to which leg Cary Grant has crossed over the other.

Quotes:

Clemson Reade: [as they walk toward the altar for their wedding] What can you expect from a woman? You're weak, helpless, and nothing but trouble. And that goes for all of you. Harriet Beecher Stowe. She wrote about slaves, didn't she? Well, it sure takes one to know one.
Tarji: She great woman. She write Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Clemson Reade: Susan B. Anthony...
Tarji: Susan B. Anthony fight for woman's vote. And that not all. Carry Country...
Clemson Reade: Carry Nation!
Tarji: Carry Nation.

Soundtrack:

Ghi Ti, Ghi Ti, Ghi Ti

Grant and Kerr shine in lacklustre comedy

This is where Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr first displayed the chemistry that worked so memorably in the classic AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER. This plot, however, is silly - Grant dumps workaholic Kerr for simplistic, adoring, "old fashioned" type of wife imported from the orient. However, before the wedding Kerr starts to educate the meek one. This is all Grant and Kerr - they are marvelous to watch. The trappings are mediocre. The film received an Oscar nom for the elaborate oriental costuming and Kerr's constantly changing fashion statements.