The Wiser Sex

The Wiser Sex

Year: 1932

Runtime: 76 mins

Language: English

Director: Berthold Viertel

DramaComedy

Two women engage in a tense battle of wits as a young woman goes undercover, gathering evidence to exonerate her boyfriend, an attorney falsely accused of murder. The investigation pits her against a clever adversary, creating a high‑stakes cat‑and‑mouse game to uncover the truth.

The Wiser Sex (1932) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at The Wiser Sex (1932) 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 a world where courtroom drama meets the glitter of high society, the atmosphere crackles with elegant tension. The city’s sophisticated veneer hides a relentless fight for truth, and every polished lounge or exclusive party feels like a stage where personalities clash as sharply as legal arguments. The film balances sleek, period‑perfect design with a sly, suspense‑laden wit, inviting the audience to wonder what lies beneath the surface of charm and propriety.

Margaret Hughes returns to a bustling metropolis carrying more than a suitcase; she is driven by love for David Rolfe, a sharp‑tongued attorney whose reputation has been unexpectedly jeopardized. Their relationship, already tested by ambition and differing priorities, is now tangled in a shadowy legal quagmire that threatens to separate them forever. As David struggles to defend himself against a serious accusation, Margaret feels compelled to intervene, believing that the only way to clear his name is to step outside the conventional bounds of the courtroom.

The heart of the conflict centers on an unexpected rivalry between Margaret and a formidable, resourceful woman known for her persuasive talents. Claire Foster moves through the same glittering circles with poise and an uncanny knack for reading people, turning social gatherings into strategic battles of intellect. Margaret adopts an undercover persona, slipping into the world of gold‑diggers and high‑stakes negotiations, where every conversation could yield a clue or a trap. Their duel of wits becomes a delicate dance, each trying to outmaneuver the other while maintaining a veneer of sophistication.

All the while, the film’s tone remains a shimmering blend of suspense and sly humor, a cat‑and‑mouse game that thrives on clever dialogue and the subtle power plays of the “wiser sex.” The stakes are high, the allure is palpable, and the audience is left anticipating how far each woman will go to protect the truth she holds dear.

Last Updated: December 05, 2025 at 10:19

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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.

Movies with Clever Female Sleuths like The Wiser Sex

Stories where sharp-witted women use their intelligence to outsmart adversaries.If you liked the cunning investigation in The Wiser Sex, you'll enjoy these movies featuring smart, determined women who unravel mysteries. Discover similar stories of female-led sleuthing, undercover operations, and tense cat-and-mouse games where intellect is the ultimate weapon.

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Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread often follow a proactive female character who, often operating outside official channels, uses her perceptiveness and cunning to solve a crime or expose a conspiracy. The plot revolves around her gathering evidence, navigating dangerous social situations, and engaging in a psychological duel with a formidable opponent.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on a specific character archetype: the intelligent female investigator. They share a tone of tense suspense driven by intellectual conflict, a steady pacing that allows for strategic plotting, and a theme of justice being achieved through wit and determination.

Tense Procedural Thrillers like The Wiser Sex

Methodical investigations where tension builds through evidence and strategy.Fans of the methodical, evidence-driven tension in The Wiser Sex will appreciate these movies. Explore similar steady-paced stories focused on investigations, legal maneuvering, and cat-and-mouse games where the plot unfolds through clever strategy and logical progression rather than violence.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a central mystery or injustice that is resolved through a careful, often intellectual process. The plot moves forward deliberately as characters gather information, outthink their opponents, and navigate complex situations. The primary conflict is a battle of intelligence, with tension deriving from the high-stakes consequences of each strategic move.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a very specific narrative engine: a steady, procedural pace combined with a tense tone. The experience is defined by the logical unfolding of an investigation, the satisfaction of piecing together clues, and the suspense of a high-stakes intellectual conflict, all without relying on frantic action or extreme violence.

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The Wiser Sex Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Wiser Sex

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Wiser Sex

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