Wife Wanted (1946) in Color — Starring Kay Francis & Paul Cavanagh

Wife Wanted (1946) — Buy This Classic in Color

Discover Wife Wanted, the 1946 drama directed by Phil Karlson and starring Kay Francis, now available as a professionally colorized version. Career-slipping movie star Carole Raymond buys in as a real estate partner of Jeff Caldwell. Actually, through his secretary, Nola Reed, Caldwell runs a matrimonial bureau and, with the aid of his associate, Lee Kirby, they defraud and blackmail a large group of lonely people. Carole, unknowingly, is used as bait for one of their victims, Walter Desmond, who “commits suicide.” Reporter William Tyler thinks otherwise. This suspenseful drama explores themes of deception, fraud, and the exploitation of loneliness in post-war America. Own this classic movie in color as a DRM-free MP4 digital download for just €15.00.

Plot Summary

Career-slipping movie star Carole Raymond buys in as a real estate partner of Jeff Caldwell. Her career in decline, Carole sees the real estate investment as a way to secure her financial future. She invests her remaining savings in Caldwell’s business, unaware that the real estate operation is a front for a more lucrative and criminal enterprise.

Actually, through his secretary, Nola Reed, Caldwell runs a matrimonial bureau and, with the aid of his associate, Lee Kirby, they defraud and blackmail a large group of lonely people. The matrimonial bureau promises to find love for lonely hearts but instead delivers disappointment and financial loss. The victims, desperate for companionship, are easy targets for the sophisticated scam that exploits their vulnerability.

Carole, unknowingly, is used as bait for one of their victims, Walter Desmond, who “commits suicide.” When Walter’s body is discovered, the police rule it a suicide, but reporter William Tyler thinks otherwise. Tyler begins investigating the circumstances of Walter’s death, uncovering the connection to Caldwell’s operation and the involvement of Carole Raymond, who was used to lure Walter into the trap. The film builds to a climax where the truth about the matrimonial bureau is exposed and the perpetrators face justice.

Cast & Crew

Director: Phil Karlson

Stars: Kay Francis, Paul Kelly, Otto Kruger, Gertrude Michael, John Eldredge

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

Wife Wanted was originally filmed in black and white, with cinematography that captured the glamour of the movie star’s world and the shadowy operations of the fraudulent matrimonial bureau. This professionally colorized restoration enhances every scene with frame-by-frame precision, from the elegant Hollywood settings where Carole Raymond tries to revive her career to the seedy offices where Caldwell runs his scam. The colorized version reveals new visual richness in the film’s settings, where the period-accurate 1940s American clothing, Hollywood glamour, and urban environments gain authenticity that transports viewers to post-war America. Kay Francis’s legendary screen presence gains additional dimension in color, her face conveying the vulnerability and determination of a fading star caught in a criminal scheme. Now also available in colour.

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

Historical Significance

Released in 1946, Wife Wanted reflects the post-war American cinema’s engagement with the social anxieties of the period, including the loneliness epidemic that followed World War II. The film’s focus on a matrimonial bureau that exploits lonely people speaks to the era’s concerns about the social dislocation caused by the war and the difficulties of reintegrating into civilian life. Many veterans and civilians struggled with loneliness in the post-war period, making them vulnerable to exploitation.

The film’s portrayal of a fading movie star reflects the challenges faced by Hollywood actors whose careers declined with the changing tastes of post-war audiences. The studio system was breaking down, and many actors found themselves struggling to maintain their careers in a rapidly changing industry. Carole Raymond’s desperation to secure her financial future through real estate investment reflects the economic uncertainties faced by many in the post-war period.

Director Phil Karlson, known for his work in film noir and crime dramas, brings his characteristic visual style to this suspenseful drama. The film’s blend of Hollywood glamour with criminal conspiracy reflects the noir genre’s fascination with the dark underbelly of American society. Through modern colorization, this suspenseful drama reaches new audiences who can appreciate its exploration of post-war social anxieties, its noir elements, and Kay Francis’s powerful performance. Now also available en couleur.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 / MKV digital download
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Professionally colorized from original black and white
• Audio: English original mono
• Runtime: 75 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: Who stars in Wife Wanted?
A: Kay Francis stars as Carole Raymond, with supporting performances by Paul Kelly, Otto Kruger, Gertrude Michael, and John Eldredge.

Q: What is the plot of Wife Wanted?
A: A fading movie star invests in a real estate business that is actually a front for a fraudulent matrimonial bureau, becoming unknowingly involved in a scheme that leads to murder and investigation.

Q: Who directed Wife Wanted?
A: The film was directed by Phil Karlson, known for his work in film noir and crime dramas, who brought his characteristic visual style to this suspenseful story.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as MP4 and MKV files that play on virtually any device.

Q: Is there DRM on the file?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free so you can watch it on any device without restrictions.

Q: How quickly can I watch after purchase?
A: Your download link is available instantly after payment, so you can start watching within minutes.

Related Colorized Classics

• The Manxman (1929)
• Thunderhoof (1948)
• City for Conquest (1940)
• Homicide Bureau (1939)
• The Slime People (1963)