Tonight's Movie: Dear Wife (1949)

The entire Wilkins clan of DEAR RUTH (1947) returns for more fun in DEAR WIFE (1949). This time around, Judge Wilkins (Edward Arnold) is running against his son-in-law Bill (William Holden) for New York State Senate, thanks to the machinations of the judge's irrepressible teenage daughter, Miriam (Mona Freeman).

Joan Caulfield is back as Bill's wife Ruth, with Mary Philips (Mrs. Wilkins), Billy DeWolfe (Albert), and Marietta Canty (Dora, the cook) also reprising their roles from the earlier movie.

DEAR WIFE perhaps isn't on the same level as DEAR RUTH, which had a very sharp script by Arthur Sheekman, based on Norman Krasna's play. It's nonetheless entertaining and has some good lines, supplied this time around by Sheekman and N. Richard Nash.

The plot may sound far-fetched, but nothing's impossible where Miriam's concerned -- after all, it was her ghostwritten letters which landed Bill as Ruth's husband in the first movie! She's still as politically conscious and harebrained as ever, played with peculiar charm by Mona Freeman. Freeman would reprise the role one more time in DEAR BRAT (1951), with Arnold, Philips, and DeWolfe also returning, as well as Patty Lou Arden as Miriam's friend Clara.

Holden and Caulfield are charming as the young marrieds, with Arnold and Philips quite amusing as Ruth and Miriam's parents. It's most enjoyable spending time with the Wilkins family in their lovely home.

There's a marvelous scene with a radio crew invading the house during Sunday breakfast; Harry Von Zell is the radio announcer, and there's a terrific bit by Irving Bacon as the sound effects man. (Bacon, in fact, played a delivery man in the first film.)

The movie was directed by actor Richard Haydn, who has a cameo in the final scene. DEAR WIFE was one of three movies Haydn directed, the others being MISS TATLOCK'S MILLIONS (1948), starring John Lund and Wanda Hendrix, and MR. MUSIC (1950), with Bing Crosby and Nancy Olson. Haydn also had roles in the other two films he directed.

The movie runs 88 minutes.

None of the films in the trilogy have been released on DVD, but DEAR RUTH and DEAR WIFE have been released on VHS.

DEAR WIFE, like DEAR RUTH, is a well-crafted movie made to order for those seeking lighthearted family entertainment.

Update: Here's a review of the final film in the trilogy, DEAR BRAT (1951).