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Craig's Wife is a 1936 American drama film starring Rosalind Russell as a domineering wife.[1] It was based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1925 Broadway play of the same name by George Kelly (the uncle of Grace Kelly),[2] and directed by Dorothy Arzner. Former MGM star William Haines was the film's production designer. Previously filmed in 1928, Craig's Wife was remade in 1950 as Harriet Craig, rewritten (and updated) as a vehicle for Joan Crawford and co-starring Wendell Corey.

Craig's Wife
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Dorothy Arzner
Written by	Mary C. McCall Jr.
Based on	Craig's Wife 1925 play by George Kelly
Produced by	Harry Cohn
Starring	Rosalind Russell John Boles
Cinematography	Lucien Ballard
Edited by	Viola Lawrence
Music by	R.H. Bassett Emil Gerstenberger Milan Roder
Production company	Columbia Pictures
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date	September 25, 1936 (1936-09-25)
Running time	74 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Plot

The plot centers on twenty-four hours in the life of Harriet Craig (Rosalind Russell), and the home life she has created for herself and her husband. Harriet values material things more than her husband and goes to great lengths to protect her life as she has created it, regardless of what the outcomes are to those around her. The story's message is stated by Mr. Craig's aunt, Ellen Austen (Alma Kruger), who says, "Those who live for themselves, are left to themselves," as one by one, all her disgusted family and servants abandon her, leaving her entirely on her own.[3]

Cast

• Rosalind Russell as Harriet Craig
• John Boles as Walter Craig
• Billie Burke as Mrs. Frazier
• Jane Darwell as Mrs. Harold
• Dorothy Wilson as Ethel Landreth
• Alma Kruger as Ellen Austen
• Thomas Mitchell as Fergus Passmore
• Raymond Walburn as Billy Birkmire
• Elisabeth Risdon as Mrs. Landreth
• Robert Allen as Gene Fredericks
• Nydia Westman as Mazie
• Kathleen Burke as Adelaide Passmore
• George Offerman Jr. as Tom
• Wallis Clark as Mr. Burton (uncredited)

Reception

• Louella Parsons wrote, "How well I remember 'Craig's Wife," a typical woman's play, and it's smart business therefore not only to sign Rosalind, but to hand the direction over to Dorothy Arzner, the only woman director in the business."[4]
• "The supporting cast of 'Craig's Wife' is one of the strongest ever to be assembled in one picture."[5]
• "This dynamic drama, baring the life of all womankind, is a screen triumph no wife or sweetheart dare miss! ... The play that electrified Broadway and won the Pulitzer prize, now lays bare the heart of a woman and her consuming passion!"[6]
• "'Craig's Wife' is likely to appeal chiefly to women audiences and to attract attention mainly from those who demand that their movies be intelligent. It deserves better treatment than that for it is well made and excellently played."[7]

References

External links

• Craig's Wife at IMDb
• Craig's Wife at the TCM Movie Database
• Craig's Wife at AllMovie
• Craig's Wife at the American Film Institute Catalog

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