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Recommendations
Senior Film Conservator
The United States-born brilliance of The Trouble with Wives offers a unique cult status, the juxtaposition of cult status and narrative makes it a Comedy outlier. Dive into this collection and find the spiritual successors to Malcolm St. Clair's vision.
In the Pantheon of Comedy cinema, The Trouble with Wives to elevate Comedy to the level of high art.
Someone has said, whether aptly or no, that the real trouble with wives is that "they they spend too much, flirt too much, nag too much and wear too little." The particular wife in this story is Grace Hyatt, and her husband William is the owner of an exclusive bootery, a high-sounding name for a shoe-shop. Grace is, at heart, a perfectly loving and amiable wife who desires more than anything else on earth to be alone with her husband, to dine only with him and to sit before the fireplace memorizing the days of their romance, but always and ever it seems that her plans are frustrated by the presence, as guest, of either Al Hennessy, her husband's good-hearted former college chum who always seems to do the wrong thing at the wrong time, or her mother, whom she adores, but who seems to inconveniently intrude. Despite all of this her faith and confidence in her husband is unbounded until a day comes when Hennessy accounts for Hyatt's temporary absence by informing her he has gone to lunch with Dagmar, designer of shoes, from Paris. And she discovers them together, which fans the flames, and mother adds a bit of fuel, making it a rather warm situation for Hyatt. Just when William has almost squared himself with Wifie and Mother-in-law, Dagmar persuades him to come to her apartment for the purpose of interesting him in some newly created slipper models. He goes there, but much to her disappointment brings Hennessy with him. Here a new phase of the triangle gets off to a flying start when Al falls for the girl, who in turn is very strong for Hyatt. That night the two men dine at Hyatt's home. After dinner Hennessy blunders along with no damage until he inadvertently mentions that they both have been to the designer's apartment. Mrs. Hyatt picks up the cue and the storm breaks in all its fury. She accuses her husband of being so interested in the designer he forgot to call at the jeweler's for her watch. Hyatt hastens to reassure her that he did call for the watch and it is in his brief-case at the office. He will go get it. He starts for the office and then suddenly remembers that the case was left at Dagmar's apartment. Arriving there the girl plans to hold him and has a siren-like idea which she puts into effect. She pretends to sprain her ankle and faints in his arms. The mark of her lip rouge is pressed on his collar and her perfume scents his coat. That starts the war all over again when he arrives home, and the battle ends in the morning at three when he leaves home for a hotel. The next day Grace makes her decision to divorce him, but happily before the papers are drawn AI Hennessy proves that he may be a blunderer at times but at other times he is a fast worker. He brings Dagmar to the broken home and introduces her as his wife to Mrs. Hyatt. That mean one divorce lawyer loses a mighty good fee and they live happily ever after, etc.
Based on the unique cult status of The Trouble with Wives, our vault has identified these titles as the most compelling follow-up experiences for fans of Comedy cinema:
Dir: Herbert Blaché
After Schuyler Rutherford's divorce from his rich wife Caroline, who was his meal ticket, his sister Kathleen is so humiliated by the fact that her penniless condition was brought to light during the court proceedings that she seeks solace in her sculptor friend Mary Carter, who offers her a job as her secretary. While working, she becomes acquainted with Mary's wealthy cousin Robert Winston when she overhears him denouncing parasitic girls like Kathleen. Vowing revenge, Kathleen assumes a false name and obtains a position as Robert's secretary, determined to make him fall in love with her. Kathleen's plan succeeds, and then, to spite Robert, she announces her engagement to wealthy Murray Van Allan. After a series of incidents, Robert makes Kathleen realize that she really loves him and, after forgiving him, she agrees to be his wife.
Dir: Unknown Director
The Judge needs a present for his wife's birthday, so Harry suggests a new corset. They go to the shop, but he's so embarrassed to ask the saleslady he hides in a phone booth.Harry goes in, but finds a GUY wearing one, and runs out.They both dress as women to get back in, but Mrs. Rummy gets there and chases him out.
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Dir: Jerome Storm
Ne'er-do-well Homer Cavender ventures to the city from Mainsville in an effort to find fame and fortune. Both elude him, and after clerking for two years, Homer returns home for a vacation. Impressed by his flashy clothes, the townspeople assume that Homer has achieved success. Attempting to win Rachel Prouty from his rival, Arthur Machim, Homer continues the deception by announcing that his employer, Kort and Bailly, has dispatched him to enroll stockholders for a proposed new plant to be built in Mainsville. Machim discovers the sham and denounces Homer as a crook. Meanwhile, Homer returns to New York, convinces his employers of the merits of his plan and comes home triumphant, with a proposal for both the new plant and for Rachel's hand in marriage.
Dir: Robert Thornby
Mary Willard takes over her father's railroad after his death. Her major competitor is a ruthless crook named Harvey Judson. She arranges for Judson to be kidnapped and taken to an isolated spot deep in the forest and turned loose to fend for himself. She accompanies the kidnappers to the wild and Judson, not knowing who she is, begins to fall in love with her. Complications ensue.
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Dir: Lloyd Ingraham
While walking along the street one day, Arthur P. Hampton, an impoverished young doctor, and his chums, Stub Masters and Johnny Stokes, are persuaded to part with their last remaining funds by tag day solicitor Mary Jane Smith, with whom the doctor promptly falls in love. Doc's friends then hit upon a get-rich-quick scheme. Knowing that his Uncle George has promised a large sum of money upon his nephew's marriage, they persuade Doc to send out fake wedding invitations naming Mary Jane as the blushing bride. Uncle George, elated at the good news, writes to Mary Jane's aunt, Angelica Burns, an old sweetheart, to invite Mary Jane and Angelica to be his guests on an ocean voyage. Meanwhile, Mary Jane pays a visit to the doctor's office and, upon seeing the wedding invitations, becomes so flustered that she trips and sprains her ankle. Doc comes to her rescue and then begs her to pose as his wife. She agrees, but at ship-side, Stub and Johnnie confess all to Uncle George, who flies into a rage until Doc announces that he and Mary Jane have chosen a wedding at sea.
Dir: Hal Roach
An American book salesman (Lloyd) is persuaded to go to the kingdom of Thermosa to impersonate the Prince. He is greeted by a peasants' revolt before the real prince shows up to claim his throne and princess. The revolution succeeds, and the American is elected president of the new republic.
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Dir: Maurice Campbell
Carver Endicott, a young sophisticate, is rejected by his fiancée for being too foppish and dull. When she feigns an interest in his father, Carver attempts to disgrace his family name by working as a farmhand and later as a busboy in a hotel. However, the newspapers only praise him for his self-sacrificing principles; and finding that he cannot bring shame to the family through menial labor, he takes up with a notorious actress. But when this maneuver also fails, he returns to his former fiancée, who has no further complaint about his being an inexperienced dullard.
Dir: Frank Moser
The simple story is about two siblings, little brother Bud and big sister Susie. After they've been reading "Huckleberry Finn" they dream of adventures on the Mississippi River.
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Dir: Unknown Director
The village youths are rivals for the hand of the local belle. Their battles lead them to the village store, where chaos soon reigns, terminating in the place being blown up, leaving Bobby a happy victor.
View DetailsAnalysis relative to The Trouble with Wives
| Film Title | Atmosphere | Complexity | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| On Strike | Gothic | Linear | 92% Match |
| The Walk-Offs | Gothic | High | 88% Match |
| A Fitting Gift | Surreal | Layered | 96% Match |
| Homer Comes Home | Ethereal | Linear | 93% Match |
| The Deadlier Sex | Gothic | Layered | 97% Match |
This guide was algorithmically generated using the cinematic metadata of Malcolm St. Clair's archive. Last updated: 6/20/2026.
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