Guest Wife

Guest Wife

Year: 1945

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

Director: Sam Wood

ComedyRomance

Bank executive Christopher Price idolizes his childhood friend, famed war correspondent Joseph Jefferson Parker. Mary, Price’s weary wife, dislikes Joe. Before their second honeymoon in New York, Joe asks Mary to pose as his wife to fool his boss, who thinks Joe married abroad. Mary decides to teach the men a lesson by feigning attraction to Joe.

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Timeline & Setting – Guest Wife (1945)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Guest Wife (1945). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Keetoosen, Ohio, New York, Long Island

Keetoosen is depicted as a humdrum town where ordinary life frames the early setup of the story. New York serves as a bustling backdrop where the press conference and public exposure intensify the stakes. Long Island stands in for an upscale social sphere, hosting Arthur Worth's house and representing the clash between private desire and public propriety.

🏙️ Small-town roots 🗽 Urban spotlight 🏝️ Affluent suburbs

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:10

Main Characters – Guest Wife (1945)

Meet the key characters of Guest Wife (1945), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Joe Parker (Don Ameche)

Joe Parker is a charming newspaper reporter who fabricates a wife to extend his vacation and save his job. He is resourceful, opportunistic, and willing to bend the truth to protect his career. His deception triggers a cascade of consequences that test friendships and marriages.

🗞️ Reporter 🕵️ Deception 💑 Comedy

Mary Price (Claudette Colbert)

Mary is a married woman who becomes entangled in Joe's deception; she navigates social expectations and shows resourcefulness while maintaining her dignity. She pretends to be in love with Joe to help him, but ultimately reveals her loyalty to Chris.

🎭 Drama 💞 Romance 👩‍🎨 Wife

Christopher Price (Dick Foran)

A calm, practical banker who loves his wife; he is initially willing to help Joe's ruse by lending Mary, but he becomes suspicious and protective when the truth surfaces.

💼 Banker ❤️ Husband 🔥 Tension

Arthur Truesdale Worth (Charles Dingle)

Mary's boss; suspicious of the couple's actions; uses the potential scandal to protect his employer's image and to control the narrative around the affair.

🏛️ Boss 🕵️‍♂️ Suspense

Susy (Wilma Francis)

Mary's friend who becomes aware of the rumor mill surrounding Joe and Mary; she provides social commentary and supports Mary as the situation unfolds.

👯 Friend 🎀 Social circle

Nosey Stationmaster (Irving Bacon)

A local observer who recognizes Mary in New York, representing the town's watchful eye and the early danger of being discovered.

🕵️‍♂️ Observer 🧭 Small-town

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:10

Major Themes – Guest Wife (1945)

Explore the central themes of Guest Wife (1945), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Deception

Deception drives the plot, as letters are faked and Mary pretends to be in love with Joe. The film explores how lies ripple through relationships, threatening trust and domestic harmony. Characters must decide whether to protect a friendship at the cost of truth, or to stand up for honesty even when it risks loss.

🤝 Loyalty

Chris' willingness to help his friend initially reveals a tolerant, forgiving nature, but ultimately he asserts his own marriage. The conflict tests loyalty to spouse against loyalty to a friend. The resolution shows that true loyalty includes defending those you love, not merely complying with convenient deception.

🗞️ Public Image

The press conference and the photographs transition private conversations into public spectacle. The characters are portrayed in headlines, forcing choices about how much of personal life should be shared. The movie critiques how public perception can shape reality and impact relationships.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:10

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Guest Wife Summary

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Guest Wife Summary

Guest Wife Timeline

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Guest Wife Timeline

More About Guest Wife

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Guest Wife (1945) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

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