W. S. Van Dyke directed this romantic melodrama, written by Leon Gordon and John Meehan, based on a story by George Auerbach.
His Brother’s Wife was the first of three films starring Stanwyck and Robert Taylor; the couple married in 1939 (they divorced in 1952)
The tale concerns a scientist preparing to leave for the jungles of South America to work on a cure for fever. Seeking fun before his trip, he goes to a gambling club where he meets a beautiful model while falling deep into debt. When he turns to his brother for help, his brother agrees to cover the debt, but only if he leaves without her. While the scientist is away, his brother and the model get married.
Upon its theatrical release, the film received mixed reviews that praised its expert direction and glossy production values, but criticized its “outrageous implausibility.”
His Brother’s Wife was originally planned for Jean Harlow and Clark Gable, to be directed by E. A. Dupont. Gable was later replaced by Franchot Tone, with Richard Boleslawski taking over as director. After W. S. Van Dyke was brought in, filming was completed in only thirteen days.
Produced by Lawrence Weingarten for MGM, His Brother’s Wife was released on August 7, 1936.
The film earned $1,196,000 in the US and $466,000 elsewhere, resulting in a profit of $755,000.
Cast
Barbara Stanwyck as Rita
Robert Taylor as Chris
Jean Hersholt as Professor Fahrenheim
Joseph Calleia as “Fish-Eye”
John Eldredge as Tom
Samuel S. Hinds as Dr. Claybourne
Phyllis Clare as Clara
Leonard Mudie as Pete
Jed Prouty as Bill Arnold
Pedro de Cordoba as Dr. Capolo
Rafael Corio as Captain Tanetz
William Stack as Winters
Edgar Edwards as Charlie
