I'll tell you why so serious

good back-story, and good acting

An Exercise In Nonsense

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

Day-Time Wife starred Tyrone Power and Linda Darnell together for the first time, they went on to do two more films and much better ones, The Mark Of Zorro and Blood And Sand. Look very closely at Darnell she was only 16 at the time playing a relatively new bride with only two years of marriage under her belt. Back then Darnell's mother added a couple of years to her resume so she would be hired and it worked. In fact this was only Linda Darnell's second feature film all together.The story involves the age old gambit of the spouse starting to suspect the husband is cheating on her. In this case Darnell has a candidate with the flirtatious Wendy Barrie who is Ty's secretary and would love to have him nail her. Darnell also has a confidante in the older much married Binnie Barnes who is functioning as Eve Arden here. She feeds Darnell's suspicions with a good wisecrack or three.So Linda goes out in the working world and becomes a secretary to another man with a roving eye, Warren William. Of course that Power and William are business associates she doesn't know and finds out after she's taken the job. That's when the film gets interesting.Joan Davis is in Day-Time Wife as the receptionist at William's office and she's somewhat subdued and a bit wasted here. Her zaniness was not all that in evidence.Day-Time Wife will never make the list of best screwball comedies of the era nor of the top ten films of Tyrone Power or Linda Darnell. Still it's a pleasant and none too taxing diversion for the viewer.

Linda Darnell is at home alone waiting on hubby Tyrone Power to come home. But why, in the roofing business, does he keep such hours away from her? She planned a surprise anniversary party that he couldn't come home to, so they went to him at the office and HE WASN"T THERE! She convinces herself, along with help from good friend Binnie Barnes, that he's out with his secretary, not having an affair, just having a gay old time. After all, secretaries get some of the husband's attention lavished on them. Binnie should know, she says, with her three divorces. To see the advantage of being a secretary, Linda proceeds to get a job at an architect's office, played wonderfully by Warren William. But, it's kept a secret from Ty, of course. Unfortunately, not only does he know Tyrone, but he does business with him, causing Linda to dash out of the office, whenever Ty shows up. One thing leads to another and the last 30 minutes are a total hoot. I didn't expect such an hilarious escapade from Ty and company, but it sure is a crowd pleaser. You feel so upbeat and good after watching this.(And, Tyrone, already a great looking man, looks so cute acting so sheepish, when shown up.) This unknown film can be found on a Tyrone Power DVD collection and should be seen more than it is. Despite Warren William being at the peak of his form, he does seem to be older than his costars. Not that he looks bad, but their glowing youth and good looks make him appear to be somewhat out of place. Nonetheless at 74 minutes, this should be enjoyed by all who love screwball comedies. Discover "Day Time Wife" today!

This comedy is a watchable time-passer and nothing more. It's really amazing, as Tyrone Power was a hugely popular actor at the time and 1939 is known to cinema historians as probably the best year for Hollywood films ever. Well, to every rule, there must be exceptions. Now I am not saying this is a bad film, but it certainly isn't particularly good thanks to a rather poor script. Also, while I think one of the reviewers was a tad too harsh on Power, I do agree that Cary Grant could have probably made this film work a bit better--Tyrone just isn't a great actor in this style of film.DAY-TIME WIFE begins with Linda Darnell and Power as husband and wife. By the way their apartment looks, Power's job must make him a ton of money and you'd think they would be wildly happy (I know I would have if I was married to Darnell!). However, Power is not a particularly good husband and appears to be cheating on her. Now here's where it gets weird. Darnell is positive that he's lying about working late nights and there is every reason to assume that he's cheating. So what does she do? She gets a job as a secretary and investigates what lecherous bosses want from their comely employees. In other words, after getting a job with a real heel (Warren William in a role rather typical for him), she'll learn the tricks secretaries know to attract men. Why secretaries are suddenly experts, why Darnell is so forgiving of Power and why she goes to so much trouble just doesn't make sense. She is a lousy role model for women, that's for sure!! Later in the film, it turns out that Darnell's boss and Power have a working relationship and this is bad because she doesn't want her husband to know that she's working. So, there are a few kooky times they almost meet in the work place and ultimately they do meet--when she goes out with William for a night on the town as well as some hanky-panky....and Power and his secretary come along for the fun.Overall, a silly and rather sleazy plot that makes little sense but somehow works due to the usual 20th Century-Fox polish and decent acting from Darnell and William. As for Power, this is a sad episode and was fortunately soon forgotten. He was just so much better in dramas or swashbucklers than in this sort of silly fluff. His next film, JOHNNY APOLLO, was a dandy film and thankfully he was soon back to form.

Stupid stupid stupid! Tried very hard to sit through this incredibly ridiculous, terrible excuse for a movie, I just could not do it. It is quite awful. Even though Tyrone Power has hardly ever given a performance worth watching (except for NIGHTMARE ALLEY), he in particularly painful to watch in this idiotic hokum. I usually don't like to give a movie a bad rap, but rather move on and find praise for one. However, this I must warn you about. It's just plain silly and not even worth seeing for the great character people that pop up, Marie Blake, Leonid Kinskey and Mary Gordon. As usual, Power and Darnell look great, as does the art direction, but thats about it. Steer clear!