Second Wife (1936)
A 1936 RKO domestic drama in which divided loyalties and the weight of blended family life are put to the ultimate test.
Second Wife - Movie Information
- Release Year: 1936
- Directed by: Edward Killy
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Age Rating (US): NR
- Runtime: 59m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): August 21, 1936 (United States - NR)
- Production Companies: RKO Radio Pictures
- Production Countries: United States of America
Second Wife - Plot
Kenneth discovers that his son by his first wife is ill in a remote Swiss village, and is forced to leave Wife Number Two alone during childbirth.
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Second Wife - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Edward Killy
Main Cast
- Gertrude Michael
- Walter Abel
- Erik Rhodes
- Emma Dunn
- Lee Van Atta
- Florence Fair
- Brenda Fowler
- Frank Reicher
- George P. Breakston
- Ward Bond
Writers
- Thomas Lennon
Second Wife - FAQs
What is Second Wife about?
Second Wife follows Kenneth, a man torn between two families when he learns his son from a previous marriage is gravely ill in a Swiss village. Forced to travel abroad, he must leave his new wife alone as she faces childbirth, testing the bonds of loyalty, love, and sacrifice in their fragile marriage.
Who are the main actors in Second Wife?
Second Wife stars Gertrude Michael as Virginia Howard and Walter Abel as Kenneth Carpenter Sr. The supporting cast includes Erik Rhodes, Emma Dunn, Lee Van Atta, Florence Fair, Brenda Fowler, Frank Reicher, George P. Breakston, and Ward Bond in an uncredited role.
Who directed Second Wife?
Second Wife was directed by Edward Killy, a journeyman Hollywood director who worked primarily at RKO Radio Pictures during the 1930s. Killy helmed a number of compact, efficiently produced B-pictures for the studio during this period.
When was Second Wife released?
Second Wife was released on August 21, 1936, in the United States. It was produced and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures as part of the studio's output of shorter dramatic features during the mid-1930s.
How long is Second Wife?
Second Wife has a runtime of 59 minutes, making it a brisk, tightly constructed drama typical of the B-picture format that RKO Radio Pictures regularly produced during the 1930s. Despite its short length, the film covers considerable emotional ground.
What is the age rating for Second Wife?
Second Wife is rated NR (Not Rated), as the film predates the modern MPA rating system. Released in 1936, it was produced under the guidelines of the Hollywood Production Code, which governed content standards for American films during that era.
Is Second Wife based on a true story?
Second Wife does not appear to be based on a true story. The screenplay was written by Thomas Lennon and draws on the dramatic conventions of 1930s domestic melodrama rather than any specific real-life events or biographical source material.
What does the tagline of Second Wife reveal about its themes?
The film's tagline — describing a woman with "a ring on her finger, a rope on her neck, and a chip on her shoulder" — signals its central tension: a second wife navigating social stigma and emotional hardship while striving to build a stable home for a man and his child from a prior marriage.
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