{{Short description|1937 British film by Arthur B. Woods}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox film | name = The Compulsory Wife | image = The_Compulsory_Wife_film_advertisement_(1937).jpg | caption = Trade advertisement for the film<ref>{{Cite journal|date=11 March 1937|title=The Compulsory Wife|id={{ProQuest|2594589334}}|magazine=The Daily Film Renter|volume=|issue=3109|pages=8}}</ref> | director = Arthur B. Woods | producer = Irving Asher | writer = John Dighton<br />Reginald Purdell | starring = Henry Kendall<br />Joyce Kirby | music = | cinematography = Basil Emmott | editing = | distributor = Warner Brothers-First National Productions | released = {{Film date|1937|03}} | runtime = 57 minutes | country = United Kingdom | language = English }} '''''The Compulsory Wife''''' is a 1937 British quota quickie comedy film, directed by Arthur B. Woods and starring Henry Kendall and Joyce Kirby.<ref name="BFIsearch">{{Cite web |title=The Compulsory Wife |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150027241 |access-date=5 March 2026 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}}</ref> It was written by John Dighton and Reginald Purdell.

== Preservation status == The British Film Institute has classed ''The Compulsory Wife'' as a lost film.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Missing Believed Lost: The Great British Film Search |publisher=British Film Institute |year=1992 |isbn=0851703062 |editor-last=Eyles |editor-first=Allen |pages=78 |chapter=The Compulsory Wife |editor-last2=Meeker |editor-first2=David}}</ref> Its National Archive holds a collection of ephemera but no film or video materials.<ref name="BFIsearch" />

== Plot == Farcical complications arise when a pair of strangers have to spend a night alone together in a country cottage when their hosts are detained in town. Overnight all their luggage is stolen by a burglar, leaving them with nothing but their nightclothes. Then the next morning their hosts and the other guests start arriving.

==Cast== * Henry Kendall as Rupert Sinclair * Joyce Kirby as Bobbie Carr * George Merritt as Thackeray * Margaret Yarde as Mrs. Thackeray * Robert Hale as Craven * Agnes Lauchlan as Mrs. Craven

==Reception== ''The Daily Film Renter'' wrote: "Introducing time-honoured trappings of near-farce, action has moments of amusing fun, punning dialogue, and usual misunderstandings, while Joyce Kirby gives piquant portrayal in lead. Acceptable light quota support."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=25 March 1937 |title=The Compulsory Wife |volume= |issue=3121 |pages=4 |id={{ProQuest|3303420946}} |magazine=The Daily Film Renter}}</ref>

''Kine Weekly'' wrote: "It wouid be unfair to dwell too critically on this production, which has obviously been made for quota purposes and has no pretensions to compete as entertainment with pictures made with a definite box-office appeal. Even as a minor contribution from a British studio it is palpably weak in story value, while the semi-facetious dialogue is irritating. Its attraction can only be assessed as extremely limited."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1 April 1937 |title=The Compulsory Wife |volume=242 |issue=1563 |pages=26 |id={{ProQuest|2338164448}} |magazine=Kine Weekly}}</ref>

''Picturegoer'' wrote: "Henry Kendall struggles valiantly with a role which puts him in impossible situations, and he does not get a lot of help from the rest of the cast.&nbsp;... Direction and production are very weak.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=4 August 1937 |title=The Compulsory Wife |volume=7 |issue= |pages=24 |id={{ProQuest|1771121785}} |magazine=Picturegoer}}</ref>

''Picture Show'' wrote: "It is artificial and fairly amusing."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=7 August 1937 |title=The Compulsory Wife |volume=37 |issue=954 |pages=20 |id={{ProQuest|1880296245}} |magazine=Picture Show}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{IMDb title|0028734|The Compulsory Wife}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090116103821/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/29835 ''The Compulsory Wife''] at BFI Film & TV Database

{{Arthur B. Woods}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Compulsory Wife, The}} Category:1937 films Category:1937 British films Category:1937 comedy films Category:1937 English-language films Category:1937 lost films Category:British black-and-white films Category:English-language comedy films Category:Films directed by Arthur B. Woods Category:Lost British comedy films