By Glenn Erickson
Don't Tell the Wife
Brief Synopsis
A milquetoast banker gets caught in an investment swindle.
Cast & Crew
Read More
Christy Cabanne
Director
Guy Kibbee
Malcolm J. Winthrop
Una Merkel
Nancy Dorsey
Lynne Overman
Steven Dorsey
Thurston Hall
Major Manning
Guinn Williams
Lazarus Hubert Gregory "Cupid" Dougal
Film Details
Also Known As
Once over Lightly
Genre
Comedy
Adaptation
Release Date
Mar
5,
1937
Premiere Information
New York opening: 18 Feb 1937
Production Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the play Once Over Lightly by George Holland (production undetermined).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 2m
Sound
Mono (RCA Victor System)
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
7 reels
Synopsis
Immediately upon his release from prison, confidence artist Major Manning recruits his cohorts for a stock market scam involving a gold mine he had won gambling with a rich cellmate. Sure that the new scheme is arrest-proof, Manning then talks former gang member Steven Dorsey, who has "retired" to the country with his wife Nancy, into joining the operation. To secure the necessary capital, Dorsey tries to convince Nancy that the deal is legal and worthy of a $50,000 loan from their joint bank account by claiming that "Wall Street Winthrop" has endorsed the stock. Ever suspicious, Nancy insists upon meeting "Winthrop," thus forcing Steven to comb the city for a willing dupe named Winthrop. Eventually the gang produces Malcolm J. Winthrop, the wide-eyed financial editor of a Yonkers newspaper, whom they "hire" as the president of their new company, "The House of Winthrop Investments." Convinced by Malcolm, Nancy gives Steven the money, and veteran solicitors begin selling the "Golden Dream" stock over the telephone.
To keep Malcolm busy, Steven encourages him to sell the stock to his Yonkers' friends, but forgets to tell him not to put any promises in writing. When one of the friends to whom Malcolm has written then contacts Inspector Mallory about a possible fraud, Mallory demands to see Malcolm. Although Steven tries to keep Malcolm away from Mallory, Malcolm discovers the gang's plot and, with a furious Nancy, threatens to confess all to the police. On the way to police headquarters, however, Malcolm, sensing Nancy's love for her incorrigible mate, decides to fly to New Mexico to inspect the mine. When Malcolm learns that the mine actually is brimming with gold, he returns to New York and uses Nancy's money to buy shares through reputable stockbrokers.
In the meantime, Cupid, a dim-witted gang member, sells Inspector Mallory 200 shares of the stock and promises him in writing that they will "go to ten" in a week. To save themselves, the gang desperately starts buying back all of the previously sold shares, hoping to drive the price up, but discover too late that Nancy's money is gone. As Nancy prepares to leave Steven for Europe, Malcolm shows up and reveals the truth about Golden Dream. Reformed, Steven then rushes to stop now rich Nancy at the dock.
Director
Christy Cabanne
Director
Cast
Guy Kibbee
Malcolm J. Winthrop
Una Merkel
Nancy Dorsey
Lynne Overman
Steven Dorsey
Thurston Hall
Major Manning
Guinn Williams
Lazarus Hubert Gregory "Cupid" Dougal
Frank M. Thomas
Inspector Mallory
William Demarest
Larry Tucker
Lucille Ball
Ann Howell
Harry Tyler
Mike Callahan
George Irving
Warden
Bradley Page
Hagar
Cy Jenks
Sam Taylor
Harry Jans
Martin
Charles West
Joe Hoskins
Hattie Mcdaniel
Mamie
Alan Curtis
Customer's man
Donald Kerr
Smith
Bill Jackie
Rooney
Barney Furey
Signpainter
Crew
Film Details
Also Known As
Once over Lightly
Genre
Comedy
Adaptation
Release Date
Mar
5,
1937
Premiere Information
New York opening: 18 Feb 1937
Production Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the play Once Over Lightly by George Holland (production undetermined).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 2m
Sound
Mono (RCA Victor System)
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
7 reels
Articles
Don't Tell the Wife -
Now strongly associated with the Warner Bros. stock company, the portly and jovial actor Guy Kibbee is best remembered as a gullible sugar daddy in 42nd Street and a colonial governor in Captain Blood. But Kibbee also had a starring run in comedies for RKO. In the 1940s the studio featured him in a series of "Scattergood Baines" films, as a country philosopher with an adage for every occasion. Sourced from a play called Once over Lightly, 1937's Don't Tell the Wife is a farce about city slickers, country bumpkins and a stock market swindle. Retired racketeer Steve Dorsey (Lynne Overman), can't resist re-teaming with his former gang to sell worthless gold mine shares. To convince his wife Nancy (Una Merkel) to let him invest their jointly owned savings, he fakes an endorsement from a non-existent tycoon called "Wall Street Winthrop." Tasked to produce the man in the flesh, the gang locates Yonkers newspaper editor Malcolm J. Winthrop, a gullible innocent, and draws him into the scheme as their patsy. But Malcolm turns out to be more financially savvy than the crooks give him credit for. Don't Tell the Wife compensates for its unoriginal storyline with sprightly performances. The animated Kibbee receives strong support from the delightful Una Merkel but also colorful contributions from William Demarest and Lucille Ball. Dimwitted gang member Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams handles the low slapstick. The director Christy Cabanne began his career behind the camera as an assistant to D.W. Griffith. Cabanne turned out quality work at a breakneck pace; in 1937 alone he directed eight feature films.
By Glenn Erickson
By Glenn Erickson
Don't Tell the Wife -
Now strongly associated with the Warner Bros. stock company, the portly and jovial actor Guy Kibbee is best remembered as a gullible sugar daddy in 42nd Street and a colonial governor in Captain Blood. But Kibbee also had a starring run in comedies for RKO. In the 1940s the studio featured him in a series of "Scattergood Baines" films, as a country philosopher with an adage for every occasion. Sourced from a play called Once over Lightly, 1937's Don't Tell the Wife is a farce about city slickers, country bumpkins and a stock market swindle. Retired racketeer Steve Dorsey (Lynne Overman), can't resist re-teaming with his former gang to sell worthless gold mine shares. To convince his wife Nancy (Una Merkel) to let him invest their jointly owned savings, he fakes an endorsement from a non-existent tycoon called "Wall Street Winthrop." Tasked to produce the man in the flesh, the gang locates Yonkers newspaper editor Malcolm J. Winthrop, a gullible innocent, and draws him into the scheme as their patsy. But Malcolm turns out to be more financially savvy than the crooks give him credit for. Don't Tell the Wife compensates for its unoriginal storyline with sprightly performances. The animated Kibbee receives strong support from the delightful Una Merkel but also colorful contributions from William Demarest and Lucille Ball. Dimwitted gang member Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams handles the low slapstick. The director Christy Cabanne began his career behind the camera as an assistant to D.W. Griffith. Cabanne turned out quality work at a breakneck pace; in 1937 alone he directed eight feature films. By Glenn Erickson
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working title of the film was Once over Lightly. According to Film Daily, Guy Kibbee replaced Fred Stone in the film's lead. RKO borrowed Kibbee from Warner Bros., Una Merkel from M-G-M and Lynne Overman from Paramount for the production. Hollywood Reporter news items add Mary Gordon and Ted Thompson to the cast, but their participation in the final film has not been confirmed.
