Hired Wife (1940) User Reviews

Prototypical Roz

[jjnxn-1 · 8/10 · 13 July 2013]

Very cute comedy that stretches credibility beyond the breaking point but still is loaded with charm due to the breezy performances of all the players.

Best of all and driving the movie is Rosalind Russell in the type of role that became her signature: the fiercely competent, take care gal who also happened to be deeply romantic and fighting to get the guy she's set her sights on. Some of her machinations are outlandish but since she plays them straight she manages to put them across.

She's well matched with the debonair Brian Aherne, not only a suave leading man but because of his 6 ft 3 in height someone the statuesque Rosalind paired up well with visually. Virginia Bruce is wry and knowing as a gold digging model and Robert Benchley funny as Aherne's lawyer. The real standout in support is John Carroll, a secondary leading man for most of his career he's full of goofy charm as a former beau of Roz's character displaying a comic finesse that Hollywood didn't take advantage of.

A cute studio movie that helped its star hone her screen persona following directly after her one-two punch of The Women and His Girl Friday.

Why is this film invisible?

[robert-mulqueen · 7/10 · 13 July 2013]

I saw this film for the first time tonight on Turner Classic Movies. As a fan of films of this period, I had never heard of it. As a fan of Rosalind Russell, I was surprised that I had never seen it mentioned in essays or articles about her career.

Brian Ahearn was OK, but Russell is her comic best here, much as she is, of course, in "His Girl Friday".

Another spark in this comedy is the always reliable Robert Benchley as Brian Ahearn's attorney and friend of many years. He is vintage Benchley, with the droll line uttered with a poker face, a sly double take, and more than one sequence involving snoring and talking in his sleep....the sort of comedic genius which Benchley is remembered for.

Very enjoyable.

Roz's Delightful Followup to "His Girl Friday"

[deltascorch90 · 8/10 · 2 August 2012]

It's a strange fact that this film immediately proceeds Rosalind Russel's perhaps most noteworthy film, "His Girl Friday," yet this one doesn't even have a Wikipedia link, and so far only has one review on this website. After all, she gave an impressive performance in that notorious film, and I am completely vexed as to how that role didn't grant her massive attention from the masses, though it seems this film was made by Universal, which wasn't exactly a top-drawer as far as I understand.

Nevertheless, if you happen to have come across this film or have divulged any interest in watching it, I would encourage your desire and eagerly anticipate your enjoyment. After all, this film really is quite swell, even if it isn't particularly a classic in any way. Its plot is screwball, to be sure, with aspects of the Comedy of Remarriage thrown in for good measure, such is the widespread appeal of that genre at this time. While I cannot attest to the picture quality being excellent-- naturally this film lacked the MGM sheen, or even the crispness of some Paramount or Columbia features-- that doesn't detract from any pleasure you might find herein. Naturally I assume that given Rosalind Russel's starring in this film it would most appeal to her fans, and if you are caught in her own particular spell you will no doubt appreciate her character here, which is embodied by the typical qualities which this actress is so renown at invoking, such as her being a strong, coordinated, wise-cracking woman of competence yet who retains an essential romantic, traditionalized passion underneath it all; to be sure, this is a typical Roz role.

Even further surprising is the fact that at least two of the other actors herein are recognizable as appearing in several other films, by which I understand Virginia Bruce and Robert Benchley to be those. All in all, this film is typical of its time, certainly being the type of story that only could have ever been produced before the horrors of the war about to be fought, and if you enjoy such a circumstance; such a setting; such a plot; such characters-- then I cannot understand why you should not watch this film, or join me in wondering why it wasn't successful, or given more attention.

Hired for life

[AAdaSC · 7/10 · 9 August 2014]

Rosalind Russell (Kendal) stars as the secretary who has to marry her boss, Brian Ahearne (Stephen), in order to prevent a takeover of his company. The problem is that Ahearne is completely besotted with model Virginia Bruce (Phyllis) and has no time for Russell. He sees the marriage purely as a business proposal and it will be ended just as soon as his rivals back off. John Carroll (Jose) joins in the fun as an ally of Russell's and between them they make it difficult for Ahearne and Bruce to spend time together.

The film is funny, aided by a good cast, especially Russell in the lead role. John Carroll's Spanish playboy is totally unconvincing but he does get a lot of mileage out of the role. As regards the story, you can tell what is going to happen but just go with it on its journey.

Oh, so romantic! Well...maybe not!

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 8 September 2016]

Stephen Dexter (Brian Aherne) owns a big company and has never paid his very competent personal secretary, Kendal (Rosalind Russell), a moment's notice. Instead, he is suddenly interested in a blonde, Phyllis (Virginia Bruce) and Kendal is not happy. But instead of saying anything, she tries to sabotage the relationship. This SHOULD have convinced Stephen that Kendal had the hots for him when he discovers this, but despite being good in business, he is an idiot when it comes to women.

A bit later, the idiot Stephen learns that his company is vulnerable to a possible hostile takeover. So, to save his butt, he realizes he could hide many of his assets if he gets married and proposed a very business-like arrangement with Kendal--marry him but it will be in name only. Not exactly Mr. Romance, huh? Well, Kendal agrees...but also has plans of her own and they DON'T involve just getting married for his convenience...and he realizes this when she suddenly refuses to grant him a divorce! And, in those days, that meant he was in serious trouble!

While I liked this film, I did not love it and have seen similar sorts of movies from the era that worked better. What is the big problem? Well, the ending (which is a foregone conclusion) comes way too abruptly. It seemed almost like the director realized the film was running on long enough and just decided to wrap it up and call it a day! Enjoyable...but nothing more.

Above average, but Roz has done better

[xan-the-crawford-fan · 6/10 · 30 September 2021]

This film is your average Roz Russell farce from this era, yet it's something completely different at the same time. Obviously ANY follow-up to His Girl Friday would be significantly weaker, but that isn't a fair comparison, Hired Wife to HGF, because HIS GIRL FRIDAY. COME ON.

Roz does her usual (I mean that in a good way), Brian Aherne is take him or leave him, Virginia Bruce is okay as the other (eventual, of course) woman, and the rest of the cast is okay too. For a comedy, this film doesn't have many laughs, despite starring one of the silver screen's finest deadpan comediennes, our girl Rosalind.

The plot of this one is that business executive Stephen Dexter (Aherne) asks his secretary, whose name is Kendal Browning (with just one L) to marry him, in name only, because he doesn't want to be taken over and lose his finances by a rival company...who want to take over his business and aren't afraid to be hostile about it, either. However, Kendal eventually falls for Stephen, despite the fact that he doesn't love her and is perfectly happy to carry on with another woman named Phyllis (Virginia Bruce). But Kendal, being as Rosalind Russell character, refuses to give up her man and engages in all sorts of schemes to keep him married to her. He decides that she isn't so bad after all.

Brian Aherne is sort of like a poor man's Leslie Howard meets Melvyn Douglas, and he's not making a //huge// effort to break out of that mold here. In fact, even Leslie Howard would have been better in Aherne's role. Virgina Bruce's role isn't as well-developed as I'd have liked it to be, but you can tell that this comedy was sort of thrown together in a rush.

Rosalind Russell makes almost everything better (she couldn't save She Wouldn't Say Yes, Mourning Becomes Electra, or Picnic, but that was just bad writing mostly), and she brings a sort of level-headedness to her role, even if she's given her stock part of "Right hand (wo)man to the big boss who gets enlisted to do some sort of task, and is also fiercely in love with the big boss, but we don't know that until later".

A slight recommendation, but be aware that the pacing stinks and all of the cast have done better- even together. If you liked My Sister Eileen, watch this one, but be aware that it's not as good as MSE.

How to bypass the censor!

[JohnHowardReid · 7/10 · 28 August 2017]

Producer: William A. Seiter.

Copyright 4 September 1940 by Universal Pictures Co., Inc. Presented by Universal Studios. New York release at the Roxy: 13 September 1940. U.S. release: September 1940. Australian release: 25 November 1940. Sydney release at the State: 22 November 1940. In 1948 Universal licensed the film to Realart Pictures who re-released it through Eagle Lion Films (Pathe Industries, Inc.). 10 reels. 96 minutes. 8,640 feet.

SYNOPSIS: Secretary agrees to marry boss for business reasons. Secretary is actually in love with boss, but boss has eyes for a blonde gold-digger!

COMMENT: "Hired Wife" is a good example of the tale that is ballyhooed as beat-the-censor risqué, but is actually as moral as a Puritan on the Sabbath. Just look at the headlines in the ads! (Don't blame me for any spelling mistakes. I am quoting directly from the Pressbook).

"Blonde fiancée by day! Brunette wife by night! Between them both, he didn't know what time it was…! The hilarious hi-jinks of a honeymoon built for three!" — "A bride in his arms… A fiancée on his hands… He's up to his neck in girl trouble!" — "When his blonde fiancée meets his brunette wife… Is his face red!" — "Hilarious hi- jinks! Romantic antics!"

Mrs. Grundy may well have taken umbrage at these catch-lines, but Europe was at war and she had other things on her mind. In any case, the publicity promised far more than the film actually delivered. Looking at it today without benefit of the ballyhoo, the movie emerges as a pleasant enough, even lightly amusing romantic comedy. The players are surprisingly agreeable. We expect Robert Benchley to be amusing (and he is!), but it's nice to find the principals (even normally staid old Brian Aherne) investing their roles with such deft comic touches.

Briskly directed (by Bill Seiter, not always the most reliable of hands), with high production values, "Hired Wife" emerges as a slight but entertaining example of Hollywood adaptability to censorship in the early 1940's.

Giddy, sophisticated comedy

[Oriel · 9/10 · 22 March 1999]

This is comedy in the classic style, starring the incomparable Rosalind Russell in the kind of role she did best: the savvy professional woman. Here she is a wily, sassy secretary, devoted to her cement mogul boss because, she claims, "every good secretary is in love with her boss." But although she manages to snare him in a marriage of convenience, she still has to use her cunning to separate him from the equally determined blonde model he's pursuing. Add a spurious foreign millionaire and a disgruntled chaperone (Robert Benchley, in a hilarious supporting performance) and you have a perfect romantic comedy. Sharp dialogue, an ever-twisting plot, and Russell's deft, headlong performance make this a delight from start to finish.

Tired wife: tired of the circus surrounding her shaky marriage of convenience.

[weezeralfalfa · 7/10 · 13 October 2017]

Formulistic romantic comedy, with Rosalind Russell(Roz), the leading lady, as Kendal Browning, and Virginia Bruce, the 'other woman', as Phillis Walden. Handsome, debonair, Brian Aherne is the leading man, as Stephen Dexter, while John Carroll, as Jose, is the odd man out. He's brought to the attention of Phyllis by Roz, as a possible consolation prize, albeit a trumped up one.... Rosalind had just finished her starring role with Cary Grant, in the popular romantic comedy "His Girl Friday". Virginia Bruce would next play the lead in the popular offbeat comedy "The Invisible Woman". Although Brian did other romantic comedies, I most remember him playing Maximillian, in "Juarez". He was perfect for that role, coming across as a natural pompous aristocrat, as he does in this film. The plot involves the need for Dexter to somehow avoid an injunction slapped on his cement business by his local competitors. Dexter's lawyer, accountant and friend(Robert Benchley) suggests he find an instant wife and transfer his assets to her name, as a means of avoiding such. Dexter jumps on this idea(Sounds potentially catastrophic to me). Instead of the 'obvious' choice of his established single executive secretary("Every secretary is in love with her boss"), he focuses on an advertising model(Phyllis), whom he doesn't know. He sends Roz to check her out and make the offer, but the lady turns him down. Roz volunteers to take her place and is accepted. The assets are signed over to Roz. Then, Roz volunteers that she led Phyllis astray. Dexter is hopping mad at first, but settles down. Nonetheless, he asks for a divorce, which Roz doesn't agree to. Later, it turns out that this is a moot decision. In all this chaos, the importance of Dexter having signed over his assets to Roz is lost. In the finale, we have a switcheroo or two. The ending is cute, if unrealistic and rather contrived.

All the main players were excellent. I don't understand why Dexter latches onto the unknown Phyllis: no more beautiful(and perhaps less, with her pompadour hairdo) than the available and willing Roz with whom he had spent 6 years as his executive secretary. I don't know if his scheme of 'hiding' his assets in his wife's name would have stymied the injunction, but the screenplay assumes it would.

Why Scripts and Directors Matter

[psych-shawn · 4/10 · 3 February 2017]

"Hired Wife" must have seemed like a can't-miss follow-up to "His Girl Friday". Rosalind Russell is cast, once again, as the indispensable right-hand (wo)man to the big boss, with suave Brian Aherne in the Cary Grant role. The plot was reversed, however, with Russell pursuing the boss, instead of vice versa.

There are some good moments in the film -- many of them supplied by Robert Benchley portraying his usual drunken, befuddled sidekick.

Unfortunately, where "His Girl Friday" was crisp and energetic, "Hired Wife" is slow and lethargic -- perhaps it should have been named "Tired Wife." Even worse, where HGF is full of belly laughs, HW only produces occasional smiles.

To those who would blame the result on the replacement of Cary Grant with Brian Aherne, I would point out that Aherne was very good in a similar role in "Merrily We Live" which was a much funnier film. No, I think the key difference was MWL was directed by Norman Z. McLeod who did some of the Marx Brothers' best films and HGF was made by the legendary Howard Hawks. The writer of HGF was Charles Lederer who also wrote gems like "I Love You Again," "Love Crazy," and "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes."

It's not terrible, but it has been done so much better in films like "More Than a Secretary," "Wife vs. Secretary," and "She Married Her Boss" among others.

Hired Wife is Employable ***1/2

[edwagreen · 9/10 · 21 July 2013]

Great screwball comedy featuring the talents of Brian Aherne and Rosalind Russell. Russell is the faithful secretary to Aherne's cement business.

It soon becomes advantageous for Aherne to marry for business purposes. After the wedding occurs, they soon find that they're not compatible. Of course, I omitted that Russell had lied to his girlfriend so that she could marry him.

The line of the marriage papers not being filled correctly also is again used in this picture as well. Did Hollywood always see that type of situation as a way out?

Wonderful support is given by others in this film.

Lousy script, dull cast--but Roz makes it worthwhile

[roslein-674-874556 · 5/10 · 14 August 2016]

Hard to say what could be a spoiler here, as the title gives away the entire plot to anyone who has watched one or two classic comedies-- and the first five minutes give it away to someone who hasn't. The two leads enter, for business reasons, into an in-name- only marriage that turns into a real one. It also doesn't take Albert Einstein to figure out what becomes of the two supporting players.

A sparkling script could have compensated for the predictability of the story, but this one just lumbers on from one lame incident to another to drag out the phony marriage in a way that obeys the Production Code. The one that breaks it is a cliché that has itself been the basis of several other movies, and is no less plausible for that. Brian Aherne--the poor man's David Niven--has no sex appeal, or at least no chemistry with Rosalind Russell, and Virginia Bruce isn't half as good-looking as the other characters claim she is, at least not in her hideous pompadour hairstyle. Robert Benchley has no funny lines, is asleep through part of the movie, and looks as if he is trying to sleep through the rest.

But then there's Roz. Rosalind Russell was a fabulous comedian of the glossy, unflappable school, a superwoman who never (at least, so far as I can remember) gave up meaningful work to be the little wifey baking cookies (although, annoyingly, the movie does show her taking some kind of "delicious" baked goods out of the oven in her career-woman kitchen. What funny lines the picture does have are given to her--indeed, most are created by her, because, on paper, they are just ordinary lines, and would remain so without her crisp delivery, rich implication, and more-than-perfect timing.

You wouldn't be wrong to think this movie is not worth the time of anyone except Rosalind Russell fans. On the other hand, if you don't know her work, this could make you one.

Delightful and smart

[HotToastyRag · 8/10 · 17 August 2020]

The same year Myrna Loy had to invent a fake husband in order to save her professional career in Third Finger, Left Hand, Brian Aherne had to participate in a sham marriage to save his company in Hired Wife. While the two movies aren't exactly similar, there are similarities that make them both delightful. Whichever one you watch first, you won't think the other's a copycat; instead, you'll just want to make your evening a double feature!

Brian's a successful businessman who gets spring fever every year with a different blonde. His faithful and capable secretary, Rosalind Russell, is in love with him. She sees the flings come and go, and she's not above lending a hand to help them go faster. When his company is in jeopardy, his lawyer Robert Benchley suggests the only way to save it is to get married and put every asset in his wife's name. Brian wants to propose to his current sweetie-pie, Virginia Bruce, so he sends Roz while he tends to the paperwork. Roz isn't keen to see him marry another woman, so she just might louse up the proposal on purpose!

This movie is so delightful, it's bound to make a Rosalind Russell fan out of her biggest critic. I've never liked her very much, but she's very cute in this movie. It's not a screwball comedy, but it's smart and savvy with enough humor to have you laughing at every minute. Brian is handsome, clueless, forgiving, and hilarious; why else would Roz go through so much trouble to land him? For a very funny evening, or a perfect matinee day, check out Hired Wife.

A very funny comedy that could have been even better

[SimonJack · 9/10 · 19 February 2022]

"Hired Wife" is a very funny 1940 comedy romance with a sterling cast. But, with this cast and the plot, it should and could have been a great comedy. The front and back parts have some hilarious dialog. The problem with the middle section is too much time devoted to Stephen wining and dining Phyllis Walden, with very little humor. That could have been greatly condensed and then have a couple of instances toward the beginning with Kendal helping get Stephen out of some gold-digger relationships. One can just imagine the humorous dialog there could be here with Kendal. But for that slow middle section, this could have been among the very best comedy films.

Rosalind Russell is Kendal, the private secretary and behind-the-scenes manager who keeps the Dexter Cement company afloat. Her bachelor boss isn't inept, but isn't very good at handling things when he lapses into one of his overboard infatuations. Kendal bides her time until the day she hopes he'll open his eyes and fall for her. Brian Aherne's Stephen Dexter isn't a wolf or playboy, but a guy who romanticizes about romance. He's looking for the right girl, and every so often he falls for some damsel, who turns out to be a gold-digger. So, Kendal gets him out of the jam. That's the setting when this film opens, and the boss has just returned from a trip.

Robert Benchley is Roger Van Horn, the Dexter Company attorney. And John Carroll is José de Briganza, a long-time acquaintance of Kendal's. They contribute a lot of the humor. Since Kendal mostly runs the business, when Stephen flips over his latest heart-throb, she hires José to run interference - in the form of luring Phyllis away from Stephen. Benchley is a hoot as Van Horn. One of scenes that had me laughing so hard had the three leads together when Roger sends Kendal to go packing her bags. Stephen asks where she's going, and she says to his house. Stephen says, "My house, my house?" And Roger comes back with a reply about "Your house, house" and more. Because Benchley was a humorist, including writing for magazines and newspapers columns, I wondered if this wasn't an ad lib on his part in the film, and it was so funny that Universal kept it in.

Aherne and Russell were in three other comedies together. While they were all very good, they weren't among the best of the comedies for either one. Two of Brian Aherne's films are among the best comedies of all time, and seven of Roz Russell's comedies area among the best of all time.

Here are some favorite lines from this film.

Stephen Dexter, "Mac. I want a new campaign. And it must be warm, and it must be human." Kendal Browning, "The cement you love to touch." Stephen, "Yes, uh, the cem... you love... no, no, no. I mean we must make our cement stand out - give it personality."

Kendal Browning, "I'll tell you what you could do - you could perfume it."

Kendal Browning, "I think you've got something there - Little Annie Cement, that'd be kinda cute."

Stephen Dexter, looking at the billboard on the building opposite his office window, "Kendal, uh, who is that girl?" Kendal Browning, "Well, I don't know her name, but her face in on the canned tomatoes I use."

Stephen Dexter, "Get ahold of her. I'll see her myself." Kendall Browning, going out the door, "Wouldn't it be easier and quicker to pay her off right now?"

Kendal Browning, "If you're sure this is the real thing, my blessings, Stephen. I won't try and stop you. I'm through." Stephen Dexter, "What? Y, yo, you're not going to leave me with all this work...."

Kendal Browning, "I'm not through working for you. I'm just through caring what you do outside office hours." Stephen Dexter, "Mmm, well that's better." Kendal, "For me, not for you."

Roger van Horn, "All you've got to do is marry someone. It doesn't make any difference who she is or what she is. Of course, it would be better if she was a girl you could trust. But all she's really got to do is say, 'I do.'" They both look at Kendal. Stephen Dexter, "Kendall, whatta you say?" Kendal Browning, "I do."

Kendall Browning, "I wish I could afford to strangle you."

Roger Van Horn, "Well, Kendal, you better go home and start parking." Stephen Dexter, "You going away?" Kendall Browning, "Oh, heh, your attorney advised me to move." Stephen, "Move? Where?" Kendal, "Your house." Stephen, "My house? My house!" Roger, "Naturally your house, your house. Would Kendal move into my house, my house?" Stephen, "She's capable of anything."

Stephen Dexter, "What are you doing to me now?" Kendal Browning, "Not to you - for you."

Kendal Browning, "What's this item, one cockatoo?" José de Briganza, waving one hand behind his head, "You know, cockatoo?" Kendal, "Yeah, I know what they are, but what I wanna know is how do you use them in making love?" Jose, "Phyllis want one for the pet, so I give her the bird." Kendal, "Oh, that's all right by me. But, uh, José, $75 for one bird." Joseé, "It talks." Kendal, "For that amount of money it ought a read, write and vote."

Roger Van Horn, after Kendal makes a racket to wake him up, "Hey, cut that out. I'm asleep." Kendal Browning, to Stephen, "Ask grandma - he was in the house all night." Roger, "Oh, go to bed."

Stephen Dexter, "Roger, get me a divorce." Roger Van Horn, "You mind waiting until morning?" Stephen, "How soon can I get one?" Roger, "Well, is Kendal willing?" Kendal Browning, "Uh, no." Roger, "Well, if she fights..." Kendal, "She will." Roger, "Then it'll take years." Stephen, "Years?" Roger, "Five years. You're best chance is to disappear and be given up for dead. Course, it's just a curbstone opinion."