An anytime bore if ever there was one, this is a Clayton's sex comedy – namely the sex comedy you have when you're not having a sex comedy. In fact, the word "sex" is never so much as breathed, let alone mentioned. Indeed, we are given to understand that although the thoughts of both protagonists (played respectively by Ty Power and Linda Darnell) may have strayed towards marital indiscretions, no such indiscretions have actually taken place. Mind you, the movie does provide a good reason for straying. The wife won't even allow her husband to sleep with her. Oddly, this fact is not pointed out in the dialogue at all, although it is visually presented to our amazed eyes at least a dozen times. (I was going to say at least fifty times, but maybe that's a slight exaggeration). In all, Day- Time Wife (a true title if ever there was one) is a forced, witless excuse for a comedy. Although it is beautifully photographed by Miss Darnell's husband, Pev Marley, and gloriously mounted (Royer costumes, Wright sets), the mindless chatter and hokey plot wears out long before the movie is even half over. What makes it watchable, however, is sixteen-year-old Linda Darnell. Never has such a beauty been so eloquently captured by a movie camera, either before or since, at such a young age. (This one was available on a Fox DVD at a special low price for insomniacs, but I understand it has now sold out.)

Day-Time Wife is an absolute gem of a film that is easily enjoyable for its own sake, not merely as a vintage curiosity.Linda Darnell is sparkling as the young, neglected wife and Tyrone Power very watchable as the handsome but wandering husband.The scene in which the two secretaries and their bosses end up at the same restaurant, where Darnell more than gets her revenge on her excruciated husband, is exquisite.The ending also manages to be truly sweet and happy in a plausible way. He's been a fool, but not a total fool.The only implausibility, perhaps, is the notion of a man neglecting a young wife as beautiful and vivacious as Darnell for his significantly older, less pretty and less amusing secretary. Not that Wendy Barrie isn't a beauty in her own right, but she's eclipsed from every angle by Darnell.Definitely give this one a watch: it's hugely funny, with a plot that's strong enough to merit a modern remake. This would also be excellent as a play.

Despite the bad reviews on this site, I enjoyed "Daytime Wife." It's a little comedy, very much of its time, but I enjoyed seeing the supporting actors - Warren William, Joan Davis, and Binnie Barnes - in their roles as well as the stars, Tyrone Power and Linda Darnell. Personally, I didn't find anything wrong with Power's comedy. I thought he was quite funny. There was a comment about Darnell's high-pitched voice, and it is interesting - in Fallen Angel, six years later, her voice had dropped an octave. She must have been a smoker. She's very pretty and very young in this film - she actually grew into her great beauty a little bit later.Darnell and Power are married, and she suspects, against her will, that he's cheating on her with his secretary. At the risk of coming off as a cynic, if I were married to someone who looked like Tyrone Power, I wouldn't let him out of my sight. Anyway, she takes a job as a secretary to find out why a man is drawn to a woman other than his wife. She's able to deftly turn the tables on Power when he's involved in a business deal with her boss (Warren William) and they all wind up at a nightclub - William, Darnell, Power, and his secretary, played by Wendy Barrie.It's a cute movie, though inconsequential, certainly given the mammoth films that were produced in 1939. This film was Zanuck's punishment film to Tyrone Power for getting married to Annabella, whom Zanuck had tried to force back to Europe. Power was 25 when this film was made. He is absolutely glorious looking and for the drool factor alone, Daytime Wife is worth it.

Stupid stupid stupid! Tried very hard to sit through this incredibly ridiculous, terrible excuse for a movie, I just could not do it. It is quite awful. Even though Tyrone Power has hardly ever given a performance worth watching (except for NIGHTMARE ALLEY), he in particularly painful to watch in this idiotic hokum. I usually don't like to give a movie a bad rap, but rather move on and find praise for one. However, this I must warn you about. It's just plain silly and not even worth seeing for the great character people that pop up, Marie Blake, Leonid Kinskey and Mary Gordon. As usual, Power and Darnell look great, as does the art direction, but thats about it. Steer clear!