Borrowed Wives
Plot
Peter Standish, a young man facing a midnight deadline to marry or lose his substantial inheritance, desperately searches for a bride. His uncle, who stands to inherit if Peter fails, lives in a supposedly haunted house and plots to prevent the marriage. In his frantic quest, Peter encounters various women and comedic situations, including mistaken identities and misunderstandings. The film follows his increasingly desperate attempts to find a willing bride before the stroke of midnight, with the haunted house serving as both a literal and metaphorical obstacle. The climax involves a race against time as Peter must secure his marriage while navigating the spooky mansion and his uncle's interference.
About the Production
Filmed during the early transition period from silent films to talkies, this production utilized the new sound technology while still incorporating some visual comedy techniques from the silent era. The haunted house sequences were likely filmed on studio sets, as was common practice for the time.
Historical Background
Released in November 1930, 'Borrowed Wives' emerged during the Great Depression's early stages, when audiences sought escapist entertainment. The film industry was undergoing massive technological changes with the complete transition to sound, and many smaller studios were producing low-budget comedies to compete with major productions. The early 1930s saw the rise of the 'talkie' comedy, with filmmakers learning to blend visual humor with dialogue. This period also reflected changing social attitudes toward marriage, relationships, and inheritance, themes frequently explored in the era's popular entertainment. The film's release coincided with the beginning of the Hays Code enforcement, which would soon heavily influence film content.
Why This Film Matters
While not a major commercial or critical success, 'Borrowed Wives' represents the type of popular entertainment produced by smaller studios during Hollywood's transition to sound. The film exemplifies the marriage comedies that were prevalent in the early 1930s, reflecting societal concerns about courtship, marriage, and financial security during the Depression. It also demonstrates how filmmakers of the era were combining genres, mixing comedy with elements of mystery and horror through the haunted house subplot. The film serves as a time capsule of early sound film techniques and the types of stories that resonated with audiences seeking light entertainment during difficult economic times.
Making Of
The production of 'Borrowed Wives' took place during a pivotal moment in Hollywood history as the industry fully embraced sound technology. Director Frank R. Strayer, having begun his career in silent films, had to adapt his directing style to accommodate microphones and dialogue recording. The cast, particularly Rex Lease, had successfully transitioned from silent to sound films, which was not the case for many actors of the era. The haunted house sets were likely constructed on studio backlots, using the same techniques that would later become standard in horror films. The comedy timing had to be adjusted for the new medium, as visual gags that worked in silent films often needed to be supplemented or replaced with verbal humor.
Visual Style
The cinematography by Arthur Martinelli likely utilized the standard techniques of early sound films, with relatively static camera positions to accommodate microphone placement. The lighting would have been designed to create atmosphere in the haunted house sequences while maintaining visibility for the comedy scenes. The visual style would have been more functional than artistic, typical of programmer films of the era. The black and white photography would have emphasized shadows and contrasts in the haunted house settings, creating the appropriate mood while still allowing the comedy to remain visible.
Innovations
As an early sound film, 'Borrowed Wives' represents the technical capabilities of the period, including improved sound recording over the first experimental talkies. The film would have used the Western Electric sound-on-film system or similar technology. The production would have faced the technical challenges of recording dialogue in various settings, including the potentially difficult acoustics of haunted house sets. The film demonstrates the industry's progress in synchronizing sound with picture and achieving better audio quality than the first generation of talkies.
Music
The musical score would have been typical of early sound comedies, featuring light, upbeat music during comedic scenes and more mysterious, atmospheric music during the haunted house sequences. As was common in 1930, the film likely included musical numbers or at least musical accompaniment throughout. The sound design would have been relatively basic, focusing on clear dialogue recording and essential sound effects. The transition from silent to sound meant that many films of this period were still experimenting with how to effectively use music and sound to enhance comedy.
Did You Know?
- This film was released during the early sound era when many studios were still experimenting with dialogue and sound effects in comedies
- Director Frank R. Strayer was a prolific filmmaker who directed over 100 films between 1920 and 1950
- The film's premise of a marriage deadline was a common trope in early 1930s comedies, reflecting societal concerns about marriage and inheritance
- Rex Lease was a popular leading man in B-movies during the late 1920s and 1930s, often appearing in action and comedy films
- The haunted house element combines comedy with the popular horror/mystery genre that was gaining traction in early sound cinema
- This film was likely made on a modest budget, typical of many productions from smaller studios during the Depression era
- The runtime of 66 minutes was standard for second-feature films of this period
What Critics Said
Contemporary reviews of 'Borrowed Wives' were generally modest, with critics noting it as a typical programmer comedy of its era. The film received limited coverage in major publications, as was common for smaller studio productions. Modern critical assessment is scarce due to the film's relative obscurity and limited availability for viewing. Film historians who have encountered it generally view it as representative of the B-movie comedies produced during the early sound period, neither particularly innovative nor notably poor in execution.
What Audiences Thought
Audience reception in 1930 was likely moderate, as the film served as second-feature entertainment in double bills. The comedy elements and familiar plot devices would have provided the escapist entertainment that Depression-era audiences sought. The combination of romance, comedy, and mystery elements was designed to appeal to broad tastes. However, as a lower-budget production from a smaller studio, it would not have generated the excitement or word-of-mouth of major studio releases. Modern audience awareness is limited due to the film's rarity and lack of home video distribution.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- Silent film comedies
- Stage farce traditions
- Early sound comedy experiments
- Gothic horror tropes