The Toy Wife
| The Toy Wife | |
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Theatrical poster
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| Directed by | Richard Thorpe |
| Produced by | Merian C. Cooper |
| Written by | Zoë Akins |
| Starring |
Luise Rainer Melvyn Douglas |
| Music by | Edward Ward |
| Cinematography | Oliver T. Marsh |
| Edited by | Elmo Veron |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
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Release date
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Running time
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96 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $485,000 |
| Box office | $855,000 |
The Toy Wife is a 1938 American drama film directed by Richard Thorpe. The period film was produced by Merian C. Cooper, written by Zoë Akins and had Luise Rainer and Melvyn Douglas in the leading roles.
Set during the American Civil War, The Toy Wife tells the story of Frou-Frou, a 16-year-old coquette. She has been in France to attend a prestigious school, but is now returning to her family plantation in Louisiana. Craving to go to New Orleans, she fakes a toothache to visit a dentist there. She is chaperoned by Madame Vallaire, but soon ditches her to attend a ball. There, she meets Vaillare's son Andre, a wastral whom she is immediately attracted to.
After returning home, Frou-Frou and her older sister Louise befriend Georges Sartoris, a family friend who received a knife wound after prosecuting a white man for killing a black slave. Louise is in love with him, but encourages her sister to marry him after finding out Georges is more interested in Frou-Frou. As suggested, Frou-Frou and Georges marry. Five years later, their four-year-old son celebrates his birthday. Georges is worried his wife is after all those years still youthful and flirtatious.
Fearing she would be unable to give up her life style to become attached to the household, Georges asks Louise to teach her sister how to be a wife. Things don't work out as planned and eventually it is Louise who is doing all the chores. Meanwhile, Frou-Frou becomes reacquainted with Andre while rehearsing a new play she will star in. At home, she realises her sister is taking over her life, winning over the heart of both Georges and her son. Outraged, she confronts Louise and soon elopes with Andre.
Six months later, Frou-Frou's father Victor is informed by Madame Vallaire that his daughter and Andre are currently living in New York City. Distraught, Victor collapses and dies the same day. Meanwhile, Frou-Frou and Andre are living in poverty due to Andre's gambling debts. Her father's will leaves her with half of his plantation, but she forfeits her share to her son Georgie. When she and Andre return to New Orleans, jealous ex-husband Georges challenges Andre to a duel. Everybody suspects Andre will win, but he is shot and killed. It is hinted that Andre had purposely chosen to be the loser in the duel, because he chose pistols as the weapons, rather than his actual preference of swords.
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