On This Day...Dream Wife (1953)

Today in 1953 saw the release of Cary Grant's 59th full length film, Dream Wife...which I first reviewed in my blog post on June 19, 2020. 

Summary:

A business tycoon decides to wed a Middle Eastern princess whose customs dictate the pair must live apart for several months before marrying; even more complications settle in when the tycoon's ex-fiancée is assigned to chaperone the pair.

Cast:

Cary Grant... Clemson Reade

Deborah Kerr... Effie

Walter Pidgeon...Walter McBride

Betta St. John... Tarji

Eduard Franz... Khan of Bukistan

Buddy Baer... Vizier

Les Tremayne... Ken Landwell

Donald Randolph... Ali

Bruce Bennett... Charlie Elkwood

Richard Anderson... Henry Malvine

Dan Tobin... Mr Brown

Movita... Rima

Gloria Holden... Mrs Jean Landwell

June Clayworth... Mrs May Elkwood

Dean Miller... George

Steve Forrest... Louis

Jonathan Cott... Marine

Patricia Tiernan... Pat

Did You Know?

After making this film Cary Grant announced his retirement from acting in February 1953. However, 18 months later he agreed to return to acting in To Catch a Thief (1955).

According to the AFI Catalog entry for this film, this is the first picture directed and produced by Sidney Sheldon, although he is uncredited in the producer role.

Eduard Franz as "Khan of Bukistan" is speaking gibberish as an English "translation" scrolls across the bottom of the screen at the beginning of the film.

First credited feature film role for Betta St. John.

Quotes:

Clemson Reade: We haven't been able to make a definite plan since we met.
Effie: Well, we went to Vermont for two weeks.
Clemson Reade: Yes. Yes, that's right. To her grandfather's farm. For two wonderful relaxing weeks in glorious Vermont.
Walter McBride: Tim'll be there in September.
Clemson Reade: We spent *one* day there. She had to leave to take care of the crisis in Sahara; some of the sand was missing.
Effie: Well, you stayed on.
Clemson Reade: With grandfather. It wasn't the same thing.

Effie: Clem...
Clemson Reade: [softly] What?
Effie: I am afraid that we'll have to postpone the wedding till after the oil deal is signed.
Clemson Reade: [alarmed] What?
Effie: I don't see any other way. Truly I don't. There are so many things to get done. Meetings, conferences, reports, and all of them so urgent.
Clemson Reade: So is our wedding.
Effie: But I mean *really* urgent.

Mr. Brown: Mr Reade...
Clemson Reade: Oh, good evening.
Clemson Reade: I've been waiting to talk with you.
Mr. Brown: Really? Anything wrong?
Mr. Brown: Yes. It's about that, er, bearded gentleman.
Clemson Reade: You mean our friendly skyscraper?
Mr. Brown: He's been trying to buy our chambermaids!
Clemson Reade: He has?
Mr. Brown: Yes. He's been offering them positions in the Khan's harem.
Clemson Reade: I hope he hasn't offended them.
Mr. Brown: Offended them? Six of the girls have already accepted.

Clemson Reade: Oh, I didn't mean that. What you are doing *is* important.
Effie: But not as important as cooking your breakfast. You don't need me for that. You can buy it for a dollar an hour. We've been emancipated, Mr. Reade. Have you heard of Susan B. Anthony?
Clemson Reade: Can she cook?

Clemson Reade: [as they walk toward the altar for their wedding] What can you expect from a woman? You're weak, helpless, and nothing but trouble. And that goes for all of you. Harriet Beecher Stowe. She wrote about slaves, didn't she? Well, it sure takes one to know one.
Tarji: She great woman. She write Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Clemson Reade: Susan B. Anthony...
Tarji: Susan B. Anthony fight for woman's vote. And that not all. Carry Country...
Clemson Reade: Carry Nation!
Tarji: Carry Nation.

Lobby Cards:

Directed by Sidney Sheldon
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Running time: 98 minutes.

Artwork by Rebekah Hawley of Studio 36.