They call this a movie, but really it is just a collaboration between Robert Taylor and Barbara Stanwyck who would end up getting married to each other. They are a nice couple, but that doesn't make an interesting story. This poorly written does nothing to exploit the talents of Taylor and Stanwyck even though the performances are good. The dialogue lacks sparkle, and fails to provide anything to engage the audience. No wonder it hasn't stood the test of time. Good actors and performances don't necessarily make a good film. You need a good script first and foremost for a good film, even if it is poorly made. This absurd film is not the fault of the actors, but the script writer.

This is a terrible film, though you can't tell for almost the first half of the movie. But then, the plot gets really weird and it becomes a second-rate soap opera that is so ridiculously improbable that it might make you laugh--all this despite it having two of the biggest stars in Hollywood in the leads.Playboy and scientific researcher(?) Robert Taylor meets and falls in love with Barbara Stanwyck only ten days before he's due to depart for the tropics to conduct dangerous research on Spotted Fever. But a bad gambling debt nearly gets him in trouble and he's at a loss. He knows he must go to the tropics to help mankind (uggh) but he wants to stay and marry Barbara but he's also racked up a huge gambling debt--what is this irresponsible jerk to do? Well, his brother convinces him to go overseas anyway and the brother will arrange to pay the debt--leaving Barbara out in the cold (i.e., jilted).Now here's where it gets REALLY screwy. Barbara goes to work for the guy owning the gambling hall but only if the gambler gave her the bad note owed by Taylor. Why? Who knows. But a bit later, she's vamping Taylor's good brother and she leaves him a shattered mess AFTER marrying him! Apparently, she resented the brother's interference and this was her way to pay him back. Huh?! Then, later, Taylor returns on furlough and finds out that his brother's reputation is in ruins but Barbara STILL wants to run off with Taylor! How scandalous, huh? So the two original lovers run off to the tropics--leaving the poor brother to sulk.Once abroad, the two sleazy characters seem in love--that is until Taylor gets word that his brother has divorced Barbara. Apparently, Taylor spirited her off to the tropics in order to force the divorce. Now that it's final, he tells Barbara to kiss off--it's all been a ruse and he hates her.Now, Barbara decides to play Miss Nobility and deliberately infects herself with Spotted Fever. Now it's up to Taylor and his new serum to save her. In the end, they are indeed in love again and get married! Doesn't this all sound 100% ridiculous and contrived? If not, then you might want to consult with a therapist. Too bad Taylor and Stanwyck didn't--it might have saved them from appearing in this god-awful turkey. It only manages to get a 3 for the first half of the film--the rest is 100% grade-A baloney!! By the way, as a way of letting you know how silly and syrupy this mess was, get a load of the line delivered by Jean Hersholt "love,...it puzzles me more than science...". Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Robert Taylor (as Chris Claybourne) is a playboy doctor who falls in love with model Barbara Stanwyck (as Rita Wilson). This is a film for Barbara Stanwyck and Robert Taylor (he takes off his shirt as a bonus) fans only.Otherwise, "His Brother's Wife" is an absurd movie. The opening switches around from an infested Jungle Fever… to Mr. Taylor as a seemingly alcoholic doctor… to Ms. Stanwyck playing Roulette… Then, Stanwyck and Taylor go on a prolonged date where she discovers he has a fetish for collecting and/or trading hats, which seems to disappear with his alcoholic tendencies - actually, he's an excellent doctor. Later, listen for Stanwyck to tell Taylor he smokes too much. *** His Brother's Wife (1936) W.S. Van Dyke II ~ Robert Taylor, Barbara Stanwyck, Joseph Calleia, Jean Hersholt

Folks, this one is from 1936 so we have to take it for what it is. During the early years of talkies, Hollywood came up with some very interesting tales to tell. His Brother's Wife is one of them. Robert Taylor plays the younger brother to the brother that Barbara Stanwyck marries in retaliation for Taylor's going into the depths of the Jungle to find a cure for some god-awful plague. Confusing? It is? Confusing and almost silly. Yet, there is a touch of that old classic film magic that makes it a delight to watch.There is something about the on-screen chemistry between Taylor and Stanwyck, (most likely spurning from their real life romance), that makes you keep watching. The scenes between the two stars make the whole twisted tale worth sitting through.Now, don't be fooled, there are many more films that have plots that are more contrived than His Brother's Wife, but there is something about the jump form New York, to the Jungle, and then back to New York, then to the Jungle again, that makes this film a little more silly than most. But, lets face it, if you choose to watch this film you are doing so all for the man with the perfect profile's smile (Robert Taylor) and The Ball of Fire's spunk (Barbara Stanwyck).All and all this is a fun film to watch. It by no means is predictable--most likely due to the fact that the plot is out of this world.Enjoy. I did.