Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

Virtuous Husband

  • 19311931
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 15m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
28
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Jean Arthur, Betty Compson, Tully Marshall, Elliott Nugent, J.C. Nugent, and Alison Skipworth in Virtuous Husband (1931)
  • Comedy
  • Romance
When a rich young man marries, he lets the books and letters left him by his dead mother guide his life.When a rich young man marries, he lets the books and letters left him by his dead mother guide his life.When a rich young man marries, he lets the books and letters left him by his dead mother guide his life.
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
28
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Vin Moore
  • Writers
    • Dorrance Davis(play "Apron Strings")
    • Edward Ludwig(adaptation)
    • Jerry Horwin(adaptation)
  • Stars
    • Elliott Nugent
    • Betty Compson
    • Jean Arthur
Top credits
  • Director
    • Vin Moore
  • Writers
    • Dorrance Davis(play "Apron Strings")
    • Edward Ludwig(adaptation)
    • Jerry Horwin(adaptation)
  • Stars
    • Elliott Nugent
    • Betty Compson
    • Jean Arthur
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1User review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos7

    Jean Arthur and Elliott Nugent in Virtuous Husband (1931)
    Betty Compson, Elliott Nugent, J.C. Nugent, and Alison Skipworth in Virtuous Husband (1931)
    Jean Arthur and Elliott Nugent in Virtuous Husband (1931)
    Virtuous Husband (1931)
    Jean Arthur and Elliott Nugent in Virtuous Husband (1931)
    Jean Arthur and Elliott Nugent in Virtuous Husband (1931)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Elliott Nugent
    Elliott Nugent
    • Daniel Curtisas Daniel Curtis
    Betty Compson
    Betty Compson
    • Inez Wakefieldas Inez Wakefield
    Jean Arthur
    Jean Arthur
    • Barbara Olwellas Barbara Olwell
    Tully Marshall
    Tully Marshall
    • Ezra Hunniwellas Ezra Hunniwell
    J.C. Nugent
    J.C. Nugent
    • Mr. Olwellas Mr. Olwell
    Alison Skipworth
    Alison Skipworth
    • Mrs. Olwellas Mrs. Olwell
    Eva McKenzie
    • Hesteras Hester
    Willie Best
    Willie Best
    • Luftusas Luftus
    • Director
      • Vin Moore
    • Writers
      • Dorrance Davis(play "Apron Strings")
      • Edward Ludwig(adaptation)
      • Jerry Horwin(adaptation)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    The Past of Mary Holmes
    6.4
    The Past of Mary Holmes
    The Silver Horde
    5.9
    The Silver Horde
    The Whole Town's Talking
    7.3
    The Whole Town's Talking
    Diamond Jim
    6.8
    Diamond Jim
    Party Wire
    6.7
    Party Wire
    Whirlpool
    6.6
    Whirlpool
    If You Could Only Cook
    7.0
    If You Could Only Cook
    The Plainsman
    6.8
    The Plainsman
    History Is Made at Night
    7.4
    History Is Made at Night
    The Public Menace
    6.4
    The Public Menace
    The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
    7.0
    The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
    Easy Living
    7.6
    Easy Living

    Storyline

    Edit
    Daniel Curtis (Elliott Nugent), a meek,unimaginative young man is bequeathed, by his late author/mother, a stack of written instructions on how he should conduct the rest of his life. His fiancee, Barbara Orwell (Jean Arthur) , is more-than-somewhat irritated by her prospective husband's dogged and faithful reliance on his late mother's "advice" and walks out on him. —Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>
    • pre code film
    • mother's boy
    • hanging on to the apron strings
    • puritan
    • written advice from the grave
    • 14 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS! WHAT WOULD YOU DO if your husband was as cold as an icicle and twice as dumb? (original print ad)
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • Passed
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      (1930). Stage Play: Apron Strings. Comedy. Written by Dorrance Davis. Directed by Earle Boothe. Bijou Theatre: 17 Feb 1930- Sep 1930 (closing date unknown/224 performances). Cast: Audray Dale (as "Barbara Olwell"), Jefferson De Angelis (as "Ezra Hunniwell"), Ethel Intropidi (as "Inez Wakefield"), Josie Intropodi (as "Hester"), Frank Monroe (as "John Olwell"), Roger Pryor (as "Daniel Curtis"), Maidel Turner (as "Mrs. Olwell"). Produced by Forrest C. Haring. Note: Filmed by Universal Pictures as Virtuous Husband (1931).
    • Connections
      Referenced in Back to the Future: The Game (2010)

    User reviews1

    Review
    Top review
    Comedy of Manners a la Noel Coward
    Here is one the clueless folks at Universal could dust off and market, if they weren't content to let their movie vault turn to dust. "The Virtuous Husband" is a very funny comedy in a very subtle sort of way. It was adapted to the screen by its playwright after a successful Broadway run. It stars Jean Arthur and Elliot Nugent as a betrothed couple - he a mama's boy and she a free swinger. It gets funnier as the film progresses, especially after he meets her parents, played by J.C. Nugent and the delightful Allison Skipworth. Willie Best is on hand in one of his shuffling, pop-eyed butler roles, which set race relations back about 50 years.

    This movie is so old Walter Brennan plays a bellhop! But age shouldn't deter anyone from watching this picture. Even after 80 years the dialogue still sparkles and the premise is still hilarious. If it ever comes available do yourself a favor and watch it or rent it - unless you're into digital special effects-type entertainment. You have to pay attention to this one or you will miss the full humorous effects of the script.

    It could be some time before - or even if - it is available. I caught it on a 35mm master restored by the Library of Congress and shown at Capitolfest in Rome, N.Y., 8/10.
    helpful•11
    0
    • GManfred
    • Aug 15, 2010

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 12, 1931 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Apron Strings
    • Filming locations
      • Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 15 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.20 : 1

    Related news

    Cummings' Ten-Year Death Anniversary: From Minor Lloyd Leading Lady to Tony Award Winner (Revised and Expanded)
    Nov 4Alt Film Guide

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Jean Arthur, Betty Compson, Tully Marshall, Elliott Nugent, J.C. Nugent, and Alison Skipworth in Virtuous Husband (1931)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Virtuous Husband (1931) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    2022 TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.