The Office Wife
Encyclopedia
The Office Wife is a 1930 American Pre-Code romantic drama film directed by Lloyd Bacon
, released by Warner Bros.
, and based on the novel of the same name by Faith Baldwin
. It was the talkie debut for Joan Blondell
who would become one of the major Warner Bros. stars for the following nine years.
than that between husband and wife. He persuades Kate Murdock (Joan Blondell) to write a novel based on this premise with these points and promises of riches.
When Larry's secretary ( Dale Fuller) learns of his plans to marry Linda (Natalie Moorhead), the secretary has a nervous breakdown because she is in love with him herself. A new secretary, Anne Murdock (Dorothy Mackaill), is hired while Larry is on his honeymoon. She is attractive, intelligent and efficient. Larry, a workaholic, begins to neglect his wife working with his secretary, and they both fall in love. Meanwhile, his wife is seeing another man named Mr. Jameson (Brooks Benedict) with whom she falls in love.
Eventually, Larry kisses Anne while they are working together at his apartment, while Linda makes love with her young gigolo. Mr. Jameson gives her the key to his apartment and says goodnight. Linda returns to her husband (after giving them enough time to compose themselves) and tells Larry that they should go to bed as it is very late. Anne watches as Larry goes to the bedroom with his wife and closes the door behind him. She is heartbroken and decides she will give him her resignation in the morning...
Lloyd Bacon
Lloyd Francis Bacon was a screen, stage, and vaudeville actor and film director.-Life:Bacon was born in San Jose California, the son of actor Frank Bacon, later the co-author and star of the long running Broadway show 'Lightnin' , and Jennie Bacon. He was not related to actor Irving Bacon whom he...
, released by Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
, and based on the novel of the same name by Faith Baldwin
Faith Baldwin
Faith Baldwin was a very successful U.S. author of romance and fiction, publishing some 100 novels, often concentrating on women juggling career and family...
. It was the talkie debut for Joan Blondell
Joan Blondell
Rose Joan Blondell was an American actress who performed in movies and on television for five decades as Joan Blondell.After winning a beauty pageant, Blondell embarked upon a film career...
who would become one of the major Warner Bros. stars for the following nine years.
Plot
Larry Fellowes (Lewis Stone) believes the personal secretary/stenographer spends more time with the busy executive and makes more decisions than his wife, which creates a stronger bond between secretary and bossWork spouse
A work spouse is a co-worker, usually of the opposite sex, with whom one shares a special relationship, having bonds similar to those of a marriage; such as, confidences, loyalties, shared experiences, and a degree of honesty or openness...
than that between husband and wife. He persuades Kate Murdock (Joan Blondell) to write a novel based on this premise with these points and promises of riches.
When Larry's secretary ( Dale Fuller) learns of his plans to marry Linda (Natalie Moorhead), the secretary has a nervous breakdown because she is in love with him herself. A new secretary, Anne Murdock (Dorothy Mackaill), is hired while Larry is on his honeymoon. She is attractive, intelligent and efficient. Larry, a workaholic, begins to neglect his wife working with his secretary, and they both fall in love. Meanwhile, his wife is seeing another man named Mr. Jameson (Brooks Benedict) with whom she falls in love.
Eventually, Larry kisses Anne while they are working together at his apartment, while Linda makes love with her young gigolo. Mr. Jameson gives her the key to his apartment and says goodnight. Linda returns to her husband (after giving them enough time to compose themselves) and tells Larry that they should go to bed as it is very late. Anne watches as Larry goes to the bedroom with his wife and closes the door behind him. She is heartbroken and decides she will give him her resignation in the morning...
Cast
- Dorothy MackaillDorothy MackaillDorothy Mackaill was an English-born American actress, most notably of the silent film era and into the early 1930s.-Early life:...
as Anne Murdock - Lewis StoneLewis StoneLewis Shepard Stone was an American actor.Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, son of Bertrand Stone and Philena Heald Ball. Stone's hair grew gray by the time he was twenty. He fought in the Spanish-American War, then returned to a career as a writer. He soon began acting...
as Larry Fellowes - Natalie Moorhead as Linda Fellowes
- Hobart BosworthHobart BosworthHobart Bosworth was an American film actor, director, writer, and producer.-Early life:Born Hobart Van Zandt Bosworth, he was a direct descendant of Miles Standish and John and Priscilla Alden on his father's side and of New York's Van Zandt family, the first Dutch settlers to land in the New...
as J.P. McGowan - Joan BlondellJoan BlondellRose Joan Blondell was an American actress who performed in movies and on television for five decades as Joan Blondell.After winning a beauty pageant, Blondell embarked upon a film career...
as Katherine Murdock - Blanche FridericiBlanche FridericiBlanche Friderici , sometimes credited as Blanche Frederici, was an American film and stage actress.-Early life and education:She was born in Brooklyn, New York.-Theatre:...
as Kate Halsey - Brooks Benedict as Jameson
- Dale FullerDale FullerDale Fuller has worked at a senior level in various software companies and is currently Chairman of the board at Webgistix Corporation.- Biography :...
as Secretary Andrews - Walter Merrill as Ted O'Hara