Theodora Goes Wild

Director: Richard Boleslawski Richard Boleslawski

Overview

In this film, Irene Dunne plays a prim small town schoolteacher, raised in an oppressive environment by two maiden aunts. Seeking surreptitious adventure, Dunne writes a steamy romance novel in her spare time -- which becomes a scandalous best-seller.

Product Details

Release Date:	04/02/2013
UPC:	0043396424654
Original Release:	1936
Rating:	NR
Source:	ALLIED VAUGHN
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Sales rank:	6,204

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Irene Dunne	Theodora Lynn
Melvyn Douglas	Michael Grant
Thomas Mitchell	Jed Waterbury
Thurston Hall	Arthur Stevenson,Reporter
Rosalind Keith	Adelaide Perry
Spring Byington	Rebecca Perry
Elisabeth Risdon	Aunt Mary,Aunt Mary
Margaret McWade	Aunt Elsie
Nana Bryant	Ethel Stevenson
Henry Kolker	Jonathan Grant
Leona Maricle	Agnes Grant
Robert Greig	Uncle John
Frederick Burton	Gov. Wyatt
Mary Forbes	Mrs. Wyatt
Grace Hayle	Mrs. Cobb
Sarah Edwards	Mrs. Moffat
Mary MacLaren	Mrs. Wilson
Wilfred Hari	Toki
Laura Treadwell	Mrs. Grant
Corbet Morris	Artist
Ben Hendricks Jr.	Taxi Driver
Frank Sully	Clarence
James T. Mack	Minister
Billy Benedict	Henry
Carolyn Lee Bourland	Baby
Paul Barrett	Adelaide's Husband
Leora Thatcher	Miss Baldwin
Billy Wayne	Photographer
Harold Goodwin	Photographer
Jack Hatfield	Photographer
Harry Harvey	Reporter
Don Brodie	Reporter
Eddie Fetherston	Reporter
Eddie Hart	Reporter
Lee Phelps	Reporter
Ralph Malone	Reporter
Beatrice Curtis	Reporter
Maurice Brierre	Waiter
Sven Hugo Borg	Bartender
Dennis O'Keefe	Man
Rex Moore	Newsboy
Georgia Cooper	Woman
Jane Keckley	Woman
Jessie Perry	Woman
Noel Bates	Woman
Betty Farrington	Woman
Stella Adams	Woman
Isabelle La Mal	Woman
Georgia O'Dell	Woman
Dorothy Vernon	Woman
Eddie Fetherstone	Actor
Morris Stoloff	Composer

Technical Credits

Sidney Buchman

Richard Boleslawski	Director
Sidney Buchman	Screenwriter
Everett Riskin	Producer

Editorial Reviews

If Theodora Goes Wild falls just a little bit short of being a truly classic screwball comedy (like Bringing Up Baby or My Man Godfrey), it's certainly not for want of trying on the part of the actress assaying the title role. Recognizing her chance to break out in new directions, Irene Dunne grabs Theodora (the part and the movie) and runs with them for all they're worth. It's a delicious, irresistible star turn by a delicious, irresistible star, and the joy, the skill, and the humor that Dunne brings to the film make up for any of its deficiencies. There are a few problems, however, but most notably that the film is never as wild as its title indicates -- and as its setup dictates it must be. It's not the fault of the extremely well-structured screenplay (although it could stand a few more laughs here and there) so much as it is of director Richard Boleslawsky, whose work is good but not as sharp and pointed as is needed to make a perfect screwball comedy. Fortunately, Dunne and the rest of the cast are so good that most viewers won't notice, let alone care, about this. Melvyn Douglas is the perfect partner for Dunne, Thurston Hall is blustery fun, and Spring Byington is dead-on as the town gossip. All in all, Theodora is enormously entertaining.