''Second Hand Wife'' is a 1933 American

pre-Code Pre-Code Hollywood was an era in the Cinema of the United States, American film industry that occurred between the widespread adoption of sound in film in the late 1920s and the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code censorship gui ...

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

written and directed by

Hamilton MacFadden Hamilton MacFadden (April 26, 1901 – January 1, 1977) was an American actor, screenwriter and film director. Early years MacFadden's parents were Rev. Robert A. MacFadden and Edith Hamilton MacFadden. His father died in 1909, leaving his mo ...

. The film stars Sally Eilers,

Helen Vinson Helen Vinson (born Helen Rulfs, September 17, 1907 – October 7, 1999) was an American film actress who appeared in 40 films between 1932 and 1945. Early life Vinson was born in Beaumont, Texas, the daughter of oil man Edward Rulfs. She dev ...

Ralph Bellamy Ralph Rexford Bellamy (June 17, 1904 – November 29, 1991) was an American actor whose career spanned 65 years on stage, film, and television. During his career, he played leading roles as well as supporting roles, garnering acclaim and award ...

, and

Victor Jory Victor Jory (November 23, 1902 – February 12, 1982) was a Canadian-American actor of stage, film, and television. He initially played romantic leads, but later was mostly cast in villainous or sinister roles, such as Oberon in ''A Midsummer Ni ...

. The film was released on January 8, 1933 by

Fox Film Corporation The Fox Film Corporation (also known as Fox Studios) was an American independent company that produced motion pictures and was formed in 1914 by the theater "chain" pioneer William Fox (producer), William Fox. It was the corporate successor to ...

Plot

At Cavendish and Bartlett secretary Sandra Trumbull is becoming infatuated with the vice-president, Carter Cavendish. When Carter's regular secretary is ill Sandra is sent to the Cavendish house, where Carter is recovering from an injury. Carter's wife, Betty, discusses matters with their daughter Patsy's violin teacher, Lotzi Vadja. Betty and Lotzi are having an affair, and Lotzi wants Betty and Patsy to move to Paris with him, so that he can be with Betty, plus mentor Patsy, who is a child prodigy.TCM synopsis
/ref> Betty persuades Carter to allow her to go to Paris with their daughter, to further Patsy's music skills. Betty encourages her husband to become romantic with secretary Sandra. Carter rejects that idea, but later becomes attracted to Sandra's pleasant personality. Though they both have feelings for each other Carter and Sandra keep their relationship caste. Carter organizes a golf tournament in another city, and Sandra goes along to help him. Carter tells Sandra that he plans to divorce his wife, and hopes that he and Betty can share custody of Patsy. Betty hires a detective, who finds Carter in Sandra's hotel room. Nothing improper was happening but Betty threatens to cause everyone to think a scandal has taken place unless Carter gives her full custody of Patsy. Carter chooses Sandra over custody of his daughter and, after the divorce, he and Sandra have a quiet wedding. During the honeymoon Patsy is injured and Carter rushes off to be with his daughter. Later on Sandra gives birth to a daughter who only lives for a few hours. Patsy becomes a world-famous violinist. Carter goes to a performance and sees his daughter for the first time in years. Patsy states she doesn't want to return to Paris, for Lotzi treats her harshly. Sandra tells Betty she knows that Betty changed dates on court papers, she is not legally divorced, and Sandra is willing to expose her wrong doing if Carter is not allowed custody of his child. Betty gives up custody of Patsy, and works on obtaining a legal divorce. Sandra stays with her mother until she can remarry Carter after the divorce officially becomes final. Afterwards Carter, Sandra, and Patsy go on vacation together.

Cast

* Sally Eilers as Sandra Trumbull *

as Betty Cavendish *

as Carter Cavendish *

as Lotzi Vajda *

Nella Walker Nella Walker (March 6, 1886 – March 22, 1971) was an American actress and vaudeville performer of the 1920s through the 1950s. Biography The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Walker, she was born and raised in Chicago. In 1910, she marrie ...

as Mrs. Cavendish

References

External links

*
AllMovie synopsis
{{Hamilton MacFadden 1933 films American black-and-white films Fox Film films American drama films 1933 drama films Films directed by Hamilton MacFadden 1930s English-language films 1930s American films