Word to the Wives, A (ca. 1955)

This comical film centers around two housewives, one of whom devises a clever plan to help the other, Jane, get a new kitchen. Jane’s husband, George, doesn’t see the need for a new house or kitchen, but his attitude changes after he experiences the chaos of kitchen duties. The film is narrated by the housewife with the perfect kitchen, who shows off her modern appliances and convinces Jane to join her on shopping sprees, enjoying the “freedom” from kitchen chores.

The plan involves Jane leaving George to fend for himself for two days. George’s hilarious struggles in the kitchen include overcooking meals, wrestling with the refrigerator, a garbage bag disaster, and a broken kitchen cabinet. After these misadventures, George is invited to dinner at the other couple’s house, where discussions about modern conveniences like a garbage incinerator and a hot water heater convince him that a new house might be a good idea after all.

The film concludes with George’s humorous narration, reflecting on whether he was tricked or not, and encouraging viewers to embrace “Happy Homebuilding!”

Producer: Edmund M. Tate. Director: Norman Lloyd. Writer: Jerome Brondfield. Camera: William Steiner. With Darren McGavin (George Peters).

We digitized and uploaded this film from the Prelinger Archive. Email us at footage@avgeeks.com if you have questions about the footage and are interested in using it in your project.