Hired Wife

Hired Wife

Year: 1940

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: English

Director: William A. Seiter

Comedy

Ad executive Stephen Dexter persuades his secretary Kendall to marry him as a loophole to protect his finances during a crucial business deal. After the deal closes, he asks for a divorce, but Kendall refuses, leaving both caught in an unexpected legal and emotional battle.

Hired Wife (1940) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Hired Wife (1940) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the high‑stakes arena of corporate advertising, the pressure to outmaneuver rival conglomerates is relentless. Stephen Dexter, the charismatic head of a fast‑growing cement‑supply firm, feels the weight of an imminent injunction that could unravel everything he has built. The atmosphere is suffused with a blend of sleek office polish and an undercurrent of desperation, where boardroom decisions carry the gravity of a legal battle and every handshake hints at hidden agendas.

Amid this frantic pace, Kendall Browning serves as the executive’s incisive right‑hand, her sharp intellect matched only by her dry humor. Their professional rapport has long teetered on the edge of something more, and when a clever, if unorthodox, solution to the looming financial threat emerges, she finds herself drawn into a scheme that blurs the line between business strategy and personal compromise. Adding to the mix is Roger Van Horn, a longtime friend and trusted lawyer whose pragmatic counsel often leans toward the absurd, and Phyllis Walden, Stephen’s alluring girlfriend, whose presence injects both warmth and tension into the already fragile dynamic.

The core of the story rests on a daring, marriage‑by‑convention plan that promises a temporary shield against the corporate peril threatening Stephen’s empire. What begins as a calculated partnership quickly spirals into a delicate dance of secrecy, entitlement, and unexpected attachment, turning a simple legal loophole into a labyrinth of emotional stakes. The tone oscillates between sly wit and earnest drama, inviting the audience to watch as professional ambitions collide with personal desires, leaving everyone involved questioning where the line between duty and love truly lies.

Last Updated: December 05, 2025 at 10:04

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Fast-talking romantic comedies like Hired Wife

Witty characters find love through a whirlwind of social chaos and clever deceptions.If you enjoyed the witty chaos of Hired Wife, explore more movies like it. This collection features classic screwball comedies with clever deceptions, rapid-fire dialogue, and romantic entanglements that turn business arrangements into affairs of the heart.

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Narrative Summary

Stories typically begin with a pragmatic or deceptive premise, such as a business arrangement or a social lie, that forces two opposites together. The plot unfolds at a breakneck pace through a series of misunderstandings, confrontations, and witty exchanges, ultimately revealing the true romantic feelings beneath the surface chaos.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared foundation in the screwball comedy genre, characterized by a light tone, fast pacing, and a central romantic plot driven by clever wordplay and social farce rather than overt sentimentality.

Movies where a fake relationship becomes real like Hired Wife

A pragmatic arrangement unravels into unexpected, genuine love.For viewers who liked the fake marriage plot in Hired Wife, this list features similar movies where a relationship of convenience—be it for business, immigration, or inheritance—slowly transforms into true love amidst comedic and romantic misunderstandings.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a familiar arc: a contract is drawn for mutual benefit, but prolonged proximity and shared experiences lead to genuine emotional connection. The central conflict arises when the original deal must be confronted, forcing characters to choose between their initial practicality and their newfound hearts.

Why These Movies?

These movies share the specific plot trope of a sham relationship that becomes authentic. They focus on the humorous and heartfelt tension between a character's logical plans and the unpredictable nature of love, creating a satisfying emotional payoff.

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Hired Wife Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Hired Wife

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Hired Wife

More About Hired Wife

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