He Married His Wife

I do not know Roy Del Ruth's worth as director but, on the strength of HE MARRIED HIS WIFE, he seems technically capable, with sound cinematography support from Earnest Palmer. I find it harder to appraise his quality in other departments, not least because of the rather childish screenplay by Sam Hellman and John O'Hara. The joke about Joel McCrea's excessive interest in horses and horseraces wears off in less than 20 minutes and the film pretty much limps on from then on with Nancy Kelly in the enviable if rather cretinous position of collecting generous alimony from ex-hubby McCrea and getting Cesar Romero and Lyle Talbot to fight for her hand, while McCrea's lawyer Roland Young does not seem overly interested, let alone proactive, in his efforts to assist his client.

In a rather muddled ending, the ever likable McCrea, who has always encouraged Kelly to find a new spouse so he can stop paying alimony, ultimately wins by a neck to the sound of a radio commentary. It that does not tell you that this film is a complete waste of time and treats the viewe like an idiot, I doubt anything will. 6/10.