Dream Wife(1953).

Dream Wife(1953). Romantic/comedy. Cast: Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, Walter Pidgeon and Betta St. John, Eduard Franz, Buddy Baer, Richard Anderson, Dan Tobin, Dean Miller and Movita. Directed by Sidney Sheldon. After performing in this film, Cary Grant retired from acting, turning down many films including: Sabrina and A Star Is Born. In 1955, director Alfred Hitchcock wanted Grant to perform in, To Catch A Thief, which maybe gave Grant the change that he was looking for.

While on a business trip to Bukistan, Clemson Reade, is invited to the home of the Khan of Bukistan. There he watches the princess Tarji, perform a seductive dance just for him. Her father Khan tells Clemson, that Tarji has been "trained" to devote her life to her husband. Clemson, loves the idea of a devoted wife, but he already has a fiancee Priscilla, who works for the United States, State Department. After he arrives home, Effie tells him that the wedding must be postponed until after the big oil deal is signed.

After, spending the afternoon with his co- workers complaining about independent women, Clemson, sends a marriage proposal to Tarji. The princess father quickly sends goats as part of her dowry. McBride, worried that Clemson will do something to ruin the oil deal, asks Priscilla to chaperon the two to make sure that things do not become.. too complicated.

Soon after, Tarji arrives Clemson, is surprised to learn that Eastern custom forbids any physical contact until after their marriage. To add to his frustration Clemson, is told that the wedding date is three months away. Tarji, soon learns how to speak English and loves the life that American women live.

One day, Tarji meets a group of young men and allows them to believe that she is single, which later causes a fight to break out and Tarji lands in jail.

After, hearing the news of the scandal, the Khan rushes to America and announces the end of his daughter's engagement with Clemson. Now, worried about the oil contract, Effie charms Khan and changes his mind about their engagement.

The day before he and Tarji are to marry, Clemson realizes that he is still in love with Effie. Will he find the courage to break off his engagement with Tarji?

Even though Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr make a wonderful couple and Grant's very cute facial expressions, this movie is just not one of their best performances.

Fun Facts:

First of three movies that paired Deborah Kerr and Cary Grant.

Betta St. John (26 November 1929). She made her film debut at age 10 in the unbilled role of a little girl who sings Marlene Dietrich's song "Little Joe" in the film, Destry Rides Again (1939).

She also performed in the films, Our Gang short and Jane Eyre (1943). Rodgers and Hammerstein took notice of this singing/dancing talent and cast her in, Carousel(1945). When the musical team were ready to cast the role of "Liat" for their new musical South Pacific(1949) they wanted Betta. Betta made her first adult role in the film, Dream Wife (1953).

Deborah Kerr in DREAM WIFE (1953)

Comedy that pairs Deborah with Cary Grant for the first time. They would later team up for the classic film, An Affair To Remember. Dream Wife is an okay little comedy. Not one of the stars best works but gets by thanks to their effortless charms. Grant is a business tycoon named Clemson Reade who is ready to settle down with Effie, a U.S. diplomat (played by Kerr). Well Effie is too busy with work and is not ready to settle down. In comes Tarji, a visiting Eastern princess (played by Betta St. John) who is trained in the art of pleasing men. Clemson is admittedly smitten and begins a courtship of Tarji. With her father being king of an oil rich country, America definitely don't want to ruffle his feathers. So the government tasks a diplomat to oversee the courtship of Clemson and Tarji to make sure everything goes smoothly and no hanky panky occurs before the wedding. And guess what diplomat gets assigned to be baby-sitter? Yep, Effie. And she has a lot of fun making Clemson do as she asks. Like I said Dream Wife is a decent enough comedy that gets by on the wonderful chemistry of Grant and Kerr. Just don't expect too much.

Film: B-
Deborah's Performance: B