Craig's Wife Reviews

Russell's first step to the bigtime. Obsessive bitch cares more about her spotless museum home than the love of her husband. Roz was only 28 when she undertook the role but her imperious manner, deep voice and matronly looks added a weightiness to the interpretation. George Kelly's Pulitzer Prize-winning play had been made as a silent in 1928 with Warner Baxter as Craig and Irene Rich as the shrew. Harry Cohn wisely handed over the adaptation chores to Mary McCall who added an Oedipal touch (Kelly objected) to the husband-wife relationship. Dorothy Arzner was given direction chores; therefore the project has a feminist feel that is rare in old Hollywood. Russell's big chance is enhanced by Boles, Burke, Darwell, and Westman, and the production team breathes life into what threatened to remain a stagebound work. In 1950, Joan Crawford would take the role she had been playing most of her life, in HARRIET CRAIG.