My Favorite Wife (1940) in Color — Starring Irene Dunne & Cary Grant

My Favorite Wife (1940) — Buy This Classic in Color

My Favorite Wife (1940) is a sparkling screwball comedy starring Cary Grant and Irene Dunne, with Randolph Scott, Gail Patrick, and Donald MacBride. Directed by Garson Kanin, this professionally colorized version brings the comedic chaos and star chemistry to delightful new life. Buy your colorized copy today for €15.00 and own this hilarious classic movie in color.

Plot Summary

Nick Arden (Cary Grant) has just had his wife Ellen legally declared dead after she went missing in a shipwreck seven years ago, and on the very same day — almost the very same hour — he has married the elegant, sophisticated Bianca (Gail Patrick). As the newlyweds prepare to depart on their honeymoon to a luxury hotel in Yosemite, Ellen (Irene Dunne) turns up alive, beautifully tanned, and completely well, having just been rescued from the remote Pacific island where she has been stranded for seven years. Nick is now caught between two legal wives — and his predicament gets considerably worse when he discovers that Ellen was not alone on that island. She spent all seven years marooned with the handsome, athletic Stephen Burkett (Randolph Scott), a fact she desperately tries to conceal from the increasingly jealous and suspicious Nick.

What follows is a brilliantly funny series of deceptions, misunderstandings, and escalating complications worthy of a finely tuned Swiss watch. Nick checks into the honeymoon hotel with Bianca but cannot bring himself to consummate the marriage, inventing increasingly absurd excuses — headaches, insurance policies, sudden medical emergencies — to postpone the wedding night. Ellen, meanwhile, turns up at the same hotel determined to reclaim her husband, leading to a farcical game of room-switching, mistaken identities, and comic confrontations in hallways and lobbies. When Nick learns about Stephen and demands to meet this fellow castaway, Ellen introduces him to a short, bald, elderly man — but the real Stephen is a specimen of masculine perfection who makes Nick even more frantic with jealousy. A hilarious courtroom scene, a family judge trying to sort out the legal tangle, and the involvement of Nick’s delighted children all add to the chaos as this classic movie delivers screwball comedy at its absolute finest.

Cast & Crew

Director: Garson Kanin

Stars: Cary Grant, Irene Dunne, Randolph Scott, Gail Patrick, Donald MacBride, Ann Shoemaker, Scotty Beckett, Mary Lou Harrington, Granville Bates, Hugh O’Connell

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

This colorized version of My Favorite Wife reveals the elegant 1940s interiors, the courtroom comedy, and the glamorous stars with sparkling new visual charm. The original black and white film captured the impeccable comic timing of Grant and Dunne perfectly, but the professionally colorized restoration brings out Irene Dunne’s stylish return-to-civilization wardrobe and Gail Patrick’s fashionable bridal ensembles, the luxurious wood-paneled hotel suites and marble lobby of the Yosemite resort, the rich leather and dark wood of the courtroom and judge’s chambers, the sunlit California exteriors and lush garden settings, and the wonderful physical comedy moments in vivid detail with frame-by-frame precision. The visual contrast between the elegance of the hotel and the chaos happening inside it mirrors the film’s comedic brilliance. Watch this restored classic film in bright, lively color. Now also available in colour.

Buy My Favorite Wife in color today for just €15.00. Your DRM-free MP4 download is available for instant access.

Historical Significance

My Favorite Wife was one of the biggest hits of 1940 and the third pairing of Cary Grant and Irene Dunne, following The Awful Truth (1937) and Penny Serenade (1941, in production at the same time). The chemistry between the two stars is legendary — their effortless interplay, overlapping dialogue, and ability to shift from slapstick to genuine emotion in a single beat set the standard for romantic comedy pairings. The casting of the tall, supremely handsome Randolph Scott — who was Cary Grant’s real-life housemate at the time — as the rival adds a layer of knowing in-joke that delighted contemporary audiences. The film’s premise, inspired by Tennyson’s poem Enoch Arden, proved irresistible to Hollywood and has been remade multiple times, most notably as Move Over, Darling (1963) with Doris Day and James Garner. Leo McCarey, who had directed Grant and Dunne in The Awful Truth, produced and contributed extensively to the script. The colorization adds visual sparkle to this quintessential Hollywood screwball comedy.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD restored
• Colorized: Professionally colorized from original black and white
• Audio: Original mono restored
• Runtime: Approximately 88 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — watch on any device
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Is this a Cary Grant and Irene Dunne film?
A: Yes, My Favorite Wife is their beloved third pairing and one of the finest screwball comedies of the era, showcasing their legendary on-screen chemistry.

Q: Is Randolph Scott in this film?
A: Yes, Randolph Scott plays the handsome castaway Stephen Burkett, and his real-life friendship with Cary Grant adds an extra layer of fun to their scenes together.

Q: Is this the complete version?
A: Yes, this is the full 1940 theatrical release starring Cary Grant and Irene Dunne, presented in its colorized version with all scenes intact.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: DRM-free MP4, compatible with virtually any device or media player.

Q: How much does it cost?
A: €15.00 for instant download. The colorization process ensures every scene looks stunning in color.

Q: Can I watch on multiple devices?
A: Absolutely. The file is DRM-free, so you can watch on your TV, tablet, phone, or computer.

Related Colorized Classics

• The Lavender Hill Mob (1951)
• Follow the Fleet (1936)
• Unfaithfully Yours (1948)
• The Model and the Marriage Broker (1951)
• Ladies of Leisure (1930)