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5.7/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. His Brother's Wife remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you're a die-hard Barbara Stanwyck fan, you’ll probably find something to latch onto here. If you prefer your romances to have, you know, logic, you might want to skip this one. It’s a bit of a soap opera that loses the plot about halfway through.
Honestly, the whole premise hinges on a woman deciding the best way to deal with a breakup is to enter a legally binding relationship with her ex’s sibling. It’s the kind of decision that makes you want to yell at the screen. But, that’s 1936 for you.
Stanwyck is doing a lot of heavy lifting. She’s got this way of looking at a room that makes you believe she’s plotting something, even when the script is just asking her to stand there and look sad. She’s far too sharp for this material, but she makes it work.
There's a scene near the middle where she’s just staring out a window, and you can tell she's already bored with the guy she married. It’s the most honest moment in the whole film. The rest of it feels like the writers were just throwing darts at a board of relationship tropes.
The pacing is all over the place, too. One minute we're in a high-stakes medical drama, and the next we're in a living room squabble that feels like it’s been going on for three hours. It’s like the movie couldn't decide if it wanted to be a serious picture or just a really long, frustrating argument between two people who shouldn't be together.
Still, watching Stanwyck navigate this nonsense is kind of like watching a pro athlete play in a backyard game. She’s overqualified, but you’re still going to watch because, well, it’s her. Just don’t expect to remember much of the plot by the time the credits roll. 📽️